Further collaboration to promote Vietnamese and Russian women’s engagement in science and technology

Attending the virtual seminar were Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Member of the Party Central Committee, VWU President; Dr. Do Thi Thu Thao, VWU First Vice President; Mr. Vyacheslav G. Kalganov, Interim Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for External Relations and nearly 90 participants including  representatives of the Russian Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, government officials, female scientists, lecturers, and students from both countries.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Kalganov, Interim Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for External Relations acknowledged the VWU's significant role in enhancing Vietnam–Russia diplomatic relations, emphasizing the importance of advancing women’s contributions to science and technology.

Delegates attending the seminar in St. Petersburg

He highlighted that while female scientists in Russia have remarkable achievements across various research fields, gender disparity remains in the scientific community. The Russian Government is making efforts to support women’s participation in the domain such as addressing career interruptions due to motherhood and promoting female scientists’ achievements.

He noted that this online seminar helps deepen bilateral ties and supports the implementation of signed cooperation agreements between the VWU and the Committee.

Delegates attending the online seminar

In her welcome remarks, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Member of the Party Central Committee, VWU President underscored the global contributions of female scientists who have transformed human history and improved life quality. She detailed Vietnam's commitment to science development, noting the country's National Digital Transformation Program, the Law on Gender Equality as well as the National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2021-2030 as critical frameworks supporting women's pursuit of scientific research, contributing to the construction and sustainable development of the country.

She also stressed that the VWU has been carrying out practical activities to encourage women’s engagement in science and technology development, including promoting the establishment of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women (2011), issuing a resolution on supporting women’s international integration by 2030, and launching initiatives, most notably the Kovalevskaia Award, to encourage scientific research, innovation, start-up and participation in digital economy and society among women.

During the seminar, delegates focused on sharing science and technology policies/strategies in both countries, explored theoretical and practical approaches to encouraging women and girls’ involvement in these fields, spotlighted the achievements that women of both countries have obtained in science and socio-economic development as well as people-to-people diplomacy and proposed new initiatives to collaborate in exchange programs and online forums to promote women’s engagement in science development.

Dr. Do Thi Thu Thao, VWU First Vice President delivers closing remarks.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Do Thi Thu Thao, VWU First Vice President highly appreciated the presentations and insights shared by delegates from both countries. The seminar delivered a shared message that gender equality in science and technology is vital for sustainable development, and promoting the participation of women and girls in this field is a goal pursued by many countries, including Vietnam and Russia. She also emphasized the potential for enhanced cooperation between the women and peoples of both nations in advancing gender equality and sustainable development, thereby contributing to strengthening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Russia.