Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long addresses the event. (Photo: VNA) Representatives of theNGOs gave proposals on measures to assist Vietnam’s socio-economic expansionprocess, especially in the fields of health care, science-technology, climatechange, support to poor communities and ethnic minority groups, as well aswomen and girls’ empowerment. They also asked for more favourable conditionsfor their operations.
Vietnamese AmbassadorNguyen Hoang Long hailed the contributions from NGOs in general and those fromthe UK in particular to Vietnam’s development, affirming that the VietnameseEmbassy is ready to connect and support British NGOs during their operations inVietnam.
Peter Lidgard, President of Medical & Scientific Aid for Vietnam, Laos andCambodia (MSAVLC) thanked Vietnamese agencies and partners for supporting theorganisation’s activities. The great assistance, along with the courage,openness, honesty, friendliness and tolerance of Vietnamese people are adriving force for MSAVLC, which was established in 1965 to provide medicine andmedical equipment for Vietnam, to continue to work in the country even though thewar had ended for many years.
SrikaranSrivivekanandarajah from Phan International said that one of the difficulties the organisation is encountering in Vietnam is the prolonged approval process for new aid projects, affectingthe implementation of its time-limited projects.
Srivivekanandarajah saidthat global challenges such as climate change and economiccrisis have increasing impacts on lower-middle-income countries and Vietnam isnot an exception, pointing out that inequality is affecting vulnerable groups,especially young people suffering poverty, human trafficking and gender-basedviolence. This is a challenge that Plan International is working to address, hesaid.
Meanwhile, Olivia Hearn, CEO of Christian Noble Chidren’s Foundation, said thatalthough Vietnam has made great achievements in poverty reduction, the countryis facing many challenges, especially the engagement of youngsters in the process.
She suggested Vietnam promote efforts to support the poor and ethnic minoritycommunities in accessing education and health care services to improve their livingconditions.
Elizabeth Wells from Cherie Blair Foundation for Women said that it isnecessary to strengthen coordination between Vietnam and the UK, especiallyBritish organisations and businesses operating in Vietnam to meet the needs of the communities.
At the event, held withinthe framework of the Vietnam Days in London from March 28 to April 27 tocelebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-UK diplomaticrelations, Ambassador Long presented the British NGOs certificates in recognition of their contributions to Vietnam’s development./.
VNA
