Vietnam Women's Union

Over the past 20 years since Vietnam and Korea established their diplomatic ties, the relations between the two countries and the two women have seen a rapid development. However, the potentials for cooperation between women’s organizations and those interested in women’s issues in Vietnam and Korea remains vast. To enhance this cooperation, the VWU and Korean partners decided to organize the Vietnam-Korea Women’s Forum, which is to rotate between the two countries, to share information and experiences on policy advocacy, activities to promote the women’s advancement and gender equality, and to seek cooperation opportunities between the two womens. The focal points for the Vietnamese and Korean sides are VWU and KWDI respectively.

VWU President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa announced the establishment of the Forum and delivered an opening speech to the first Vietnam - Korea Women’s Forum. She highlighted the meaning of this Forum, which is to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations and women, and to help realize the potentials of cooperation between women’s organizations, women-related organizations and women experts of the two countries.

Speaking on behalf of the Korean delegation, Ms. Keum Sook Choe, KWDI President hoped this Forum would open up a new page of cooperation between two sides, uniting experts on women from Vietnam and Korea for a brighter future for the women of the two nations.

Ms. Myung Ock Ahn, former senate of Korea, co-founder of the Forum, regarded this as a special tie; hoping this forum would gather outstanding women of the two countries to uphold their inner strength and contribute to building a society full of love and happiness for all.

The Forum welcomed a special guest, Mr. Han Soo Lee, Mayor of Iksan city,the first city awarded with the title “Women Friendly City” by the Korean Government (March 2009). Mr. Lee paid high attention and support to women’s development, considering women a driving force to the development. “If women are happy, others will be happy,” he said.

In the forum, the participants focused on exchanging experience in developing and implementing policies and laws on female human resource, vocational training and job introduction for women. They also discussed cooperation opportunities and topics of the next forum to be organized in Korea.

On this occasion, VWU and KWDI signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in several areas, namely researching, publishing, exchanging scholars and information, developing and implementing development projects, and organizing forums.