Speech of mme. Nguyen Thi Binh, Former Vice-President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, President of Vietnam Kovalevskaia Prize Committee

Hanoi, 12^th March 2010

Distinguished guests!

In the joyful atmosphere of the country o­n the occasion of the new lunar year, together with the celebration of women to commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the International Women’s Day 8^th March and 1970^th year of Hai Ba Trung’s Uprising, today, at the Center for Women and Development – the common roof of Vietnamese women, Vietnam Kovalevskaia Prize Committee organized the 25^th Anniversary of Kovalevskaia Prize in Vietnam. This is an opportunity for us to look back the development road of the Prize as well as the great contribution of women scientists in Vietnam to the national construction and development.

On behalf of the Prize Committee, I would like to send my best regards to leaders of the Party, State, ministries, departments, agencies, international friends, participants, former and present members of Prize Committee and women scientists winners from 1985 until now.

Especially, I would like to warmly welcome Dr. Neal and Ann Koblitz, the founders and sponsors of Kovalevskaia Fund who traveled from the U.S to Vietnam to attend the meeting with us today.

Distinguished guests,

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day 8^th March, many meetings, get-togethers, dialogues are organized everywhere in Vietnam to congratulate women cadres, women workers, women entrepreneurs as well as to express the love and respect to women in general who occupy a half of Vietnam’s population.They are mothers, sisters and wives of being “good both in family and society”. They are the happiness of the families. At the meeting today, o­nce again, we have the opportunity to recognize and praise women’s contribution, specifically women intellectual’s contribution to Vietnam.

I hope that the 25^thAnniversary of Kovalevskaia Prize will be forceful evidence of the ability as well as the role ofVietnamese women in the social fieldwhich people often think that is a place for men. I would like to say that is the field of science and scientific research.

Maybe, many of us are not satisfactory with the work that Vietnamese women have achieved in this important field. Furthermore, to meet with the demand of the national development, women must strive more so that Vietnam can keep up with the international and regional development and soon reach to a society of development and civilization from promoting the intellectual economy.

Nevertheless, women intellectuals have done a lot of work during the last time. We are proud of that many women were awarded with prizes. That achievements give us a strong belief that if we have will and determination as well as we receive more and more attention from the Party, the State, ministries, departments at all levels, besides the support of husbands and children, Vietnamese women intellectuals will be developed. As a result, the education level of women in the society will be improved and women will have greater contribution to the national construction and defense.

Forms of emulation and prize-awarding are stimulating and encouraging methods which bring in many positive results to the society. With this meaning, I wish Kovalevskaia Prize to continue its activities and operation in Vietnam and gain more fruitful achievements in the coming time.

I would like to wish you all with the best wishes.