Hanoi (VNA) –The 13th National Women’s Congress opened at the NationalConvention Centre in Hanoi on March 10, with the participation of959 official delegates representing women of all classes across the country.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Vietnam Women’sUnion to firmly grasp and concretise views, guidelines and policies of the Party, continueto consolidate its organisational structure and renovate the operation method tobecome a professional and effective organisation for women’s comprehensivedevelopment and the country’s strength and prosperity.  

He expressed the belief that after this congress, officials and membersof the union will have new awareness and spirit, thus creating a new developmentmomentum for women's movement in the country.

In her openingremarks, Ha Thi Nga, President of the VWU highlighted the significance ofthe event, saying that this is an importantpolitical event and a great festival for Vietnamese women nationwide.

In the last term, theParty and State continued to issue and implement guidelines and policies ongender equality and for the development of women, she said.

The Secretariat of theParty Central Committee has issued Directive 21-CT/TW on continuing topromote women-related affairs in the new situation.

The Government also issued the NationalStrategy on Gender Equality for the 2011-2020 period and approved national target programmes withmany important contents, creating opportunities to support women'scomprehensive development and step by step promoting gender equality in asubstantive manner.

In the context of complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnamesewomen from all walks of life are both important participants in preventing and controllingthe pandemic, and beneficiaries of timely and practical support policies.

Activities of the VWU’s chapters have been renovated, gradually meetingpractical requirements and closely following the intimate needs of women andthe political tasks of localities and units, Nga affirmed.

According to Vice President of the VWU Do Thi Thu Thao, under the leadership of theParty, all classes of women nationwide have united and made great efforts to create great achievements in all fields.

Vietnam has recorded remarkable progresses in implementing national goals ongender equality, creating conditions and opportunities for women to affirmtheir important role in family and society, Thao said.

In the next term, the VWU’s Central Committee willcontinue to closely follow and concretise the Party's guidelines and policies andthe task of socio-economic development and national defence; promote creativity, self-reliance, and solidarity of women; and take care of and protect their rights and legitimate interests, thus further upholding the finetradition of Vietnamese women./.