On October 29 in Hanoi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Tô Lâm met women members of the 16th National Assembly. Party and state leaders also attended, including Bùi Thị Minh Hoài, chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; National Assembly Standing Vice Chairman Đỗ Văn Chiến; Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân; and Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Thị Thanh Trà.
Nguyễn Thị Thanh, National Assembly vice chairwoman and chairwoman of the Women Lawmakers' Group, said the 16th National Assembly has 150 women members, or 30% of all lawmakers. Of these, 149 have university or postgraduate qualifications. Founded in 2008, the Women Lawmakers' Group has become a forum for exchanging experience and mutual support. In the new term it plans to improve legislative and oversight work, use technology, expand international cooperation and work with communities.
The women lawmakers said they regarded taking part in lawmaking, oversight and decisions on important national issues as both an honor and a responsibility to the Party, the state, voters and the people. They said they would continue learning, stay close to residents and reflect their views in practical and humane policies.
Tô Lâm praised current and former women lawmakers. He said the 16th National Assembly is responsible for implementing the resolutions of the 14th Party Congress, meeting targets through 2030 and laying the foundation for development toward 2045. Rapid global change and advances in technology are raising demands for national autonomy, institutional quality and competitiveness. Decisions must address immediate needs while supporting long-term development.
He called for women's knowledge, ability and experience to be fully used. Gender equality is guaranteed by the Constitution and affects the quality of development: when a woman loses opportunities to study, work or contribute because of prejudice, the country loses part of its resources. Women lawmakers should join lawmaking from the early stages, check practical grounds, constitutionality and enforceability, identify shortcomings, propose initiatives in the public interest, maintain integrity and prevent group interests from influencing policy.
Tô Lâm also urged lawmakers to take part in economic and social decisions and budget discussions, connect growth targets with efficient use of resources in the 2027 plan and budget, assess how women can participate and benefit, and support production, jobs and incomes. He called for regular contact with residents, verified handling of voters' petitions and follow-up until resolution. Oversight results should improve laws and policy. He also called for wider opportunities for women, recognition of care work, support services, stronger preparation of women officials, renewed work by the Women Lawmakers' Group and active parliamentary diplomacy, with research, data and professional support for lawmakers.
Sources: Dân Trí
