Nguyen Tan Trinh, president of the Vietnam Elderly Association highlighted the senior citizens’ important role in the history of national construction and defence, as well as the tradition of respect for the elderly in national culture. He quoted the late President Ho Chi Minh as saying the elderly are an invaluable source of internal force of the nation and added that history has shown the correctness and noble humanism of Ho Chi Minh Thought on the elderly.

Mr Thinh said over the past years the Party and State already issued many policies on the country’s senior citizens. The National Assembly adopted the Ordinance on the Elderly in 2000 and is currently drafting the Law on the Elderly. The Government also issued the National Programme of Action on the Elderly and the Prime Minister has recently signed a decision to establish the Elderly Care Fund of Vietnam.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vice Chairman of the Government Office delivered a message of greetings from Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, affirming the elderly’s role in bringing up the younger generations, rendering great services to the nation and participating in social charitable activities. The Deputy PM called on ministries, sectors, provinces and cities, businesses, foreign individuals and organigations as well as overseas Vietnamese to make more practical contribution to the fund.