Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made this affirmation at a dialogue organised as part of the “Proud Vietnamese Women” programme and the ceremony for the 2016 Kovalevskaia Award in Hanoi on March 7.

The two events were held by the Vietnam Women’s Union to celebrate the 107th anniversary of International Women’s Day and the the 12th National Women’s Congress.

The Prime Minister expressed his pleasure upon attending the event, which honoured talented Vietnamese women working in various fields of life.

He stressed that the Party and State have paid special attention to addressing women-related issues, such as violence against women and girls, human trafficking and food safety.

He reiterated the Government’s commitment to realise the goals of gender equality and women’s empowerment set under the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Government has also worked out policies to support small and medium-sized businesses run by women, he said, promising more practical and effective policies to boost women’s start ups.

At the event, Prime Minister Phuc and former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan presented the 2016 Kovalevskaia Award to Dr. Nguyen Kim Phi Phung, a lecturer on the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Natural Science under the Vietnam National University–Ho Chi Minh City.

Five female staff members from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology also received a Kovalevskaia 2016 award for their project on nano technology applied in agricultural production and healthcare. They are associate professor Dr. Tran Kim Anh; associate professor Dr. Pham Thu Nga; associate professor Dr. Nguyen Phuong Tung; associate professor Dr. Vu Thi Bich; and associate professor Dr. Tran Hong Nhung.

Also on this occasion, another 100 outstanding women who have made excellent achievements in science, education, healthcare, economy, agriculture and social work were presented with certificates of merit from the Vietnam Women’s Union in acknowledgement of their significant contributions to all fields of life.