The Vietnam-US Forum kicked off on November 24 in Hanoi in an effort to support women in international economic integration whilst promoting their role in people-to-people exchanges between the countries.

Ha Thi Nga, president of the Vietnam Women's Union addresses the event
(Photo: Phunuvietnam.vn)

During the course of the forum, Ha Thi Nga, president of the Vietnam Women's Union, highlighted the crucial role played by women in developing ties with the US. Indeed, women of both countries should increase exchange activities as a contribution to comprehensive co-operation for the purpose of boosting security, peace, and prosperity of each side and the wider international community.

Recent years has seen the Vietnam Women's Union organise a range of people-to-people exchange activities which have contributed to strengthening the comprehensive partnership between both sides.

Furthermore, the association has actively strengthened connectivity with other organisations as a means of welcoming delegations of American women to visit and work in the country. This has occurred whilst simultaneously dispatching groups to gain insights into the development experience of US women in fields such as female leadership, women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), along with the prevention of violence based on gender, Nga added.

He went on to note that several institutions under the association have co-operated with plenty of American partners in the fields of culture, publishing, economics, information, and education, with these efforts deepening the understanding and co-operation between women and people of the two countries.

Christopher Klein, deputy chief of the Mission of US Embassy Hanoi, said the US is proud to be a long-term partner in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in the nation and globally. They are especially committed to empowering women to participate in both the public and private sectors.

Currently, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is co-operating with the financial sector in order to help Vietnamese women gain access to financial sources. This is alongside efforts to work closely alongside the Vietnam Women's Union to launch activities worth US$39.5 million by the US Government with the aim of enhancing the capacity of the private sector in support of small and medium-sized enterprises, especially female entrepreneurs.