Addressing around 300 Vietnamese and foreign delegates, Truong Thi Mai – Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Secretariat, and head of the Party Central Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission – highly valued the efforts of domestic and foreign organisations in raising funds for humanitarian activities in Vietnam, particularly those supporting vulnerable groups.

She said many people, especially low-income earners, are still faced with hardships as a result of natural disasters or epidemics. Aside from the work of local authorities, support for those less privileged also needs contribution by organisations, individuals, enterprises, as well as more efforts by the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

According to VRC President Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, the VRC has provided humanitarian aid worth VND2 trillion (US$85.7 million) to assist 7 million disadvantaged people annually over the last five years.

VCCI Chairman Vu Tien Loc noted that Vietnamese entrepreneurs have always taken the lead in performing their social responsibilities for the benefit of the greater community. Each company has joined in the work under different forms, depending on their capacity and business fields.

Meanwhile, VUFO Standing Vice President and Secretary General Don Tuan Phong noted that the union has raised about US$300 million each year, donated by nearly 1,100 foreign non-governmental organisations. Of the sum, 35% has been spent on promoting healthcare, 19% on solving social issues, 17% on economic development, 11% for environmental causes, and 9% for education and training.

At the conference, 12 agencies and organisations inked coordination agreements with the VRC. Domestic and foreign organisations and businesses also committed more than VND185 billion (US$7.9 million) towards humanitarian activities.