In attendance were Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu; former President Truong Tan Sang; former President of Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Pham The Duyet; former Politburo member and former Party Central Committee (PCC)'s Secretariat Le Hong Anh; Politburo member, Secretary of the PCC and Head of the PCC’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai; and Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.
Addressing the congress, PM Phuc said that humanity, sharing and compassion are cultural values and traditional ethics upheld by the Vietnamese people.
He also emphasised that the Vietnam Red Cross was honourably founded by President Ho Chi Minh, who was its Honourary President for 23 years (from 1946 to 1969).
Over the past 70 years, the VRC has closely followed its function and mission to fulfil all of the tasks assigned by the Party and State in the humanitarian cause, significantly contributing to ensuring social welfare and people-to-people diplomacy activities, particularly those with Laos and Cambodia, added the PM.
The Government leader also expressed his respect and appreciation for the noble deeds of donors, organisations, enterprises and individuals throughout the country and abroad who have supported the VRC in carrying out their humanitarian activities.
PM Phuc noted that Vietnam still faces numerous difficulties and challenges, especially the consequences of war and regular disasters. He asked the VRC to continue improving the efficiency of its activities to help needy people in the near future.
The VRC should also proactively propose the policies and measures needed to scale up effective humanitarian models, in addition to closely coordinating with other agencies, particularly the VFF, to ensure synchronisation, transparency and efficiency, said the PM.
He also noted that it is crucial to strengthen international cooperation in accordance with the basic principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as attracting resources from the international community for domestic humanitarian activities.
PM Phuc called on the agencies at all levels, organisations, enterprises, donors and individuals in the country and abroad to continue upholding the humanitarian tradition of the nation, whilst proactively responding to humanitarian activities to aid needy people.
