Thanh highlighted the fruitful development of the Vietnam – RoK relationship over the past three decades, noting that bilateral relations are currently at their best ever, with political trust being continuously reinforced, fueled in part by the active and constructive engagement of the two countries’ legislative bodies.

She affirmed that the NA and Government of Vietnam always give priority to the promotion of gender equality, the empowerment of women, and the building of progressive and sustainable families. Vietnam has enacted the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, while also signing and rigorously implementing the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Currently, over 30% of NA deputies are women, and the proportion of female leaders across the political system continues to rise, she said.

Vietnam always regards the RoK as an important and long-term strategic partner; and hopes that the two sides will work together to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a more substantive, effective, and comprehensive manner in the coming time, Thanh stressed.

She called on the RoK committee to strengthen cooperation with relevant Vietnamese agencies to enhance delegation exchanges; expand interactions between lawmakers, especially young parliamentarians; and promote the bridging role of the countries’ friendship parliamentary groups.

Thanh also urged closer collaboration in reviewing, assessing, and improving policies to protect the rights of immigrant women in both countries.

She suggested the two sides strengthen professional exchanges between committees and agencies specialising in gender, children, and family affairs; implement training programmes, experience-sharing initiatives, and exchanges to enhance legislative capacity in related areas; promote mechanisms for legal information provision and exchange in the fields of civil status and nationality; and boost close coordination in addressing civil status and nationality issues concerning citizens of the two nations.

The Vietnamese legislator expressed her hope that the Republic of Korea would continue implementing programmes to support women and children from multicultural families, launch pilot initiatives to help women reintegrate into society after divorce or upon returning to Vietnam, and encourage Korean businesses and local authorities to incorporate these women and children into targeted welfare schemes and actively involve them in local social and community development activities.

For her part, Lee affirmed that the RoK always attaches great importance to and prioritise gender equality in its activities; and exerts continuous efforts to improve its legal and policy frameworks, while raising public awareness of gender equality.

She emphasised that her committee would continue to collaborate closely with relevant Vietnamese agencies to promote an inclusive, safe, and equitable environment for women and children in multicultural families. At the same time, it aims to foster sustainable and respectful people-to-people exchanges, thereby contributing to global progress.

Lee added that the committee would recommend the Republic of Korea government to pay close attention to and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Korea, particularly in areas such as employment, education, and daily life, while ensuring their security, safety, and the protection of their legitimate rights.

During their meeting, the two sides exchanged and shared experience on the effective use of information technology, including cybersecurity, with particular attention to ensuring cybersecurity for women and children.

Vietnam completes 11 out of 20 gender equality targets: Minister

By 2023, Vietnam had fulfilled and exceeded 11 out of the 20 national targets set in the national strategy on gender equality until 2025, according to Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung.