The delegation was led by the association’s President Komura Masahiko and its executive chairwoman in the 2009-2010 term, Nguyen Thieu Ngan who is also the wife of the Vietnamese ambassador to Japan. 

At the reception, Minister Ngan thanked ALFS for its attention to Vietnam since 1992 and highlighted the association’s recent charitable activities. She expressed the hope that the association will continue to provide support to Vietnam.

Minister Ngan also informed the delegation of Vietnam’s achievements in poverty reduction and hunger eradication, as well as in gender equality work. She said Vietnam has made great efforts in promoting gender equality and the role of women in economic, cultural and social development. In Vietnam, women now make up 52 percent of the population and 25 percent of the National Assembly deputies. The number of women holding key positions in business is only 2 percent lower than men, a rather high figure compared to other countries in Southeast Asia.

For her part, ALFS President Masahiko affirmed that women are always an important issue. Over the past 40 years, ALFS has stood side-by-side with women in the Asia-Pacific region to elevate their position in the world. In particular, the association has organised many charity bazaars to heighten mutual understanding among women in the region. President Masahiko expressed her wish to contribute to strengthening cooperative relations between the two countries and learn more about Vietnamese culture and people.

During its visit to Vietnam from October 25-31, the delegation will visit Quang Ninh, Hoi An, HCM City and Tien Giang.

The Asia Pacific Ladies Friendship Society (ALFS) is an organization, which includes the wives of diplomats from 24 nations in the Asia-Pacific region and Japan. The association was established 40 years ago under the sponsorship of the Japanese government.