Vietnam respects all international support for social security: Deputy PM

Vietnam respects all international support for its social security, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (R) receives Chairman of Board of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cum Vice-Chancellor of the New Zealand’s Waikato University, Prof. Neil Quigley. (Photo: VGP)
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (R) receives Chairman of Board of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cum Vice-Chancellor of the New Zealand’s Waikato University, Prof. Neil Quigley. (Photo: VGP)

The senior government official made the statement during meetings with international guests at the ongoing 35th ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Board Meeting in Nha Trang city, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, on September 18.

Deputy PM Dam hosted receptions for Office of the Secretary General of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), Jens Schremmer; Senior Pension Economist at the World Bank (WB), Robert Palacios; and Chairman of Board of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cum Vice-Chancellor of the New Zealand’s Waikato University, Prof. Neil Quigley.

Prof. Quigley highly praised the close cooperation of Vietnam Social Security in implementing the cooperation agreement with Wakaito University including organising specialised English training courses for Vietnamese social insurance officials in New Zealand, developing a postgraduate training programme on social security and coordinating in activities in scientific research, international conferences and donor programmes and projects.

In the near future, the two sides will coordinate in postgraduate training, exchanging experience, and transferring teaching methods from the University of Waikato for training institutions in the social insurance sector in Vietnam to ensure the sustainability of cooperation.

Jens Schremmer said that with 338 members as social security organisations in 157 countries around the world, the ISSA regularly hosts global forums to exchange and update social security information. The association also supports members in improving the capacity and effectiveness of social security management and strengthening the adaptability of the social security reform process, aiming to broaden the coverage and better preparedness to cope with the effects of population change.

Meanwhile, Robert Palacios said that WB's technical assistance projects in support of Vietnam Social Security have been promoting positive effects, helping to improve and develop the social insurance policy system towards streamlined, professional, modern, reliable, transparent, and international integration.

Highly praising the active support from ISSA, the WB and Wakaito University, Deputy PM Dam expressed his wish that these organisations continue to share experiences and provide technical assistance to Vietnam Social Security’s agencies.

He informed his guests that in addition to Vietnam Social Security, other insurance companies are also allowed to participate in several areas of insurance related to social security in Vietnam, especially health insurance.

Around 30 insurance companies have signed more than 16 million health insurance contracts. The government also encouraged Vietnam Social Security to work with these companies to provide additional insurance packages to expand their coverage, he added.