Social News in Brief First statue of Ho Chi Minh in Japan presented to Mimasaka city A statue of Vietnam’s late President Ho Chi Minh was presented to Mimasaka city of Japan’s Okayama prefecture on November 21. On behalf of the Party and State leaders of Vietnam, Chairman of the Vietnamese President Office Dao Viet Trung presented the statue, which depicts Ho Chi Minh reading newspaper, to representatives of the Mimasaka administration and people. The first Ho Chi Minh statue in Japan was presented when the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 45th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2018. Aside from the statue presentation, the “Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh Space” was also inaugurated at the Mimasaka City Museum. Chairman of the President Office Dao Viet Trung said the statue of Ho Chi Minh is a symbol of the two countries’ friendship and extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia. He also valued the Mimasaka Mayor and people’s sentiment towards the late President, acknowledging the cooperation between the city and its people and Vietnam’s relevant agencies in installing the statue and opening the space. Mayor Hajiwara Seiji said on behalf of the city’s administration and people, he had sent a letter to the Vietnamese Prime Minister to express their wish to have a statue of Vietnam’s beloved leader Ho Chi Minh, who is admired by Japanese people. Mimasaka is proud to be the first place in Japan to have a statue of the late President, he noted, voicing his belief that the statue and the Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh Space will help attract more Japanese and foreign tourists to the museum. Winners of Vietnam Cultural Heritage photo contest awarded The 16 winners of the Vietnam Heritage Photo Award 2017 were honoured at an award ceremony on November 21. Accordingly, Dinh Cong Tam, Ha Van Dong and Ngo Minh Phuong won the first prizes. Three second prizes, three third prizes and seven consolation prizes were also presented to the winners. Speaking at the ceremony, Hoang Trung Thuy, chairman of the jury board, said this year’s contest received 3,400 entries from photographers nationwide. The participants followed the content required by the organising board and expressed the topics through their eye-catching pictures, he said. The photos were divided into five categories: Nature (landscapes, marine resources, forest resources, geological resources, plants, wildlife, the environment), Tangible heritage (architecture, sculpture, art, crafts, cultural-historical relics, antiques, and national treasures), Intangible heritage (music, dance, festival, folk games, religion), Life (daily life scenes, customs, practices, portraits), and Markets. The category that received the most entries was Life, in which photographers portray daily life from many interesting angles. In the category Markets, the entrants brought viewers to markets in different regions nationwide and expressed the identity, culture and customs of local people in each place. The photo contest is held annually to celebrate the Vietnam National Heritage Day on November 23.  On the occasion, the organisers also handed over 100 photos to a charity group for a fundraising campaign, which will support people affected by recent floods. The same day, an exhibition on 100 photos comprising the winners of the Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2017 opened in Hanoi. Other exhibitions will be held in HCM City and the central city of Da Nang on November 22-23. Meanwhile, about 300 artefacts unearthed at various sites in the northern province of Hai Duong are on display at an exhibition at the provincial museum to mark Vietnam Culture Heritage Day. The objects date back to the Ly (1009-1225) and Tran (1226-1400) dynasties. The province has more than 2,000 sites where many tangible and intangible heritage values are preserved, including 220 belonging to the Ly and Tran dynasties, plus 700 traditional festivals and hundreds of traditional crafts. The exhibition runs until December 5. Christian Fellowship Church of Vietnam convenes 5th congress The Christian Fellowship Church of Vietnam (CFCV) convened its 5th congress in Thoi Tam Mon commune, Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City on November 21. The congress was attended by 500 delegates who are dignitaries and followers from 40 cities and provinces nationwide. Deputy Head of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs Tran Tuan Hung appraised efforts made by the Church in charitable work, poverty alleviation, and national development. He expressed his hope that CFCV dignities and followers will promote the sound achievements to develop the Church, making it a component of the national unity bloc. The congress will run until November 23. The CFCV was established in 1989 and received a certificate for operations from the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs in 2007. The Church is the third largest Protestant organisation in the country. Austrian trade union visits Vietnam to boost ties The current visit to Vietnam by the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions marks an important milestone in the cooperative relations with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL). Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan made the statement at a reception for President of the Austrian federation Erich Foglar in Hanoi on November 21. Quan highly valued the cooperation activities between the two countries’ trade unions and said the Vietnamese Party and State pay much attention to enabling the VGCL to integrate into the international community and boost collaboration with the Austrian counterpart. He added that the CPV wants to enhance cooperation with the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) and regards this as a political foundation for the bilateral relations in wide-ranging fields. Foglar stressed the need to strengthen cooperation and experience sharing between trade unions in the digital era and the fourth industrial revolution to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of workers. He hoped the CPV and the SPO will increase dialogues and information exchanges to bolster the bilateral relations. He affirmed effective measures will be implemented to propel the relations between Vietnamese and Austrian trade unions forward. Vietnam Buddhist Sangha eighth congress opens in Hanoi As many as 1,250 dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers attended the eighth congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) that opened in Hanoi on November 21. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, former Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An, former President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Pham The Duyet, and his successor Tran Thanh Man, international religious delegates, among others. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent congratulatory flowers to the event. Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and VFF President Tran Thanh Man presented flowers and congratulated Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the VBS on the occasion. Addressing the opening ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the seventh tenure VBS Executive Council, highlighted that this congress upholds the goal of “wisdom, discipline, integration, and development”. That shows all Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers are determined to stay united to develop a strong VBS under the motto “Religion – Nation – Socialism”, he affirmed. The congress will look into nine targets set for the 2017-2022 tenure, continue revising the VBS Charter in accordance with the Law on Belief and Religion, and the development visions through 2030. He underlined the achievement the VBS has gained over the past 36 years, saying that its chapters have been established in all 63 localities nationwide. It has hosted numerous important religious events and festivals, including the 50th anniversary of Quang Duc bodhisattva lighting himself on fire, and the revolution of the southern Vietnamese Buddhists (1963); the 705th anniversary of the attainment of Nirvana of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong. The VBS hosted successfully the UN International Day of Vesak 2014 under the theme “Buddhist Perspective towards Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals'; inaugurated pagodas on Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, in border areas in Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh provinces. In the past tenure, numerous delegations were sent abroad to help overseas Vietnamese communities and the Associations of Vietnamese Buddhists were set up in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Angola and Mozambique, while those in Laos and Cambodia have been consolidated. The VBS also raised billions of Dong for social, charity work during its past term, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon said. Addressing the event, Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue highlighted the Vietnamese Buddhism’s 2000-year journey of accompanying the nation and its significant contributions to the nation protection and building. Over the course, Buddhism has mingled with the daily life and inspired Vietnamese people to follow its good values, Hue said, adding that the history has attested the contributions the Vietnamese Buddhists have made to the nation. He attached significance to the eighth congress of the VBS, saying that it affirms the growth of the Vietnam Buddhism. The Party and State have acknowledged the role of the Vietnam Buddhism and its contributions to the national liberation and the current Doi moi (renewal), Hue said, calling on all dignitaries, monks, and nuns to continue showing the values of the religion. He expressed his hope that participants will select capable members for the next tenure of the VBS, while encouraging monks, nuns and all people continue observing policies of the Party, State, fulfilling their citizen obligations and responsibility, ensuring solidarity, peace and harmony among Buddhists, with other religions and all people. The VBS will continue to serve as a bridge connecting with the Associations of Vietnamese Buddhists, Vietnamese expats, so they will turn to the home country and join their hands in the national protection, building and development, Hue said. According to the Deputy PM, the State respects and ensures the freedom of religion and belief practice, acknowledges the contributors to the nation, facilitates religious people to practice and fulfill their citizen obligations. For his part, VFF Chairman Tran Thanh Man hailed the achievements Vietnamese Buddhists at home and abroad have made to the national great unity and national protection and building in the past tenure, hoping that they will continue doing so in the next term. He suggested that the VBS send more monks and nuns to assist the religion’s affairs in the northern mountainous provinces, the Central Highlands region, and the Khmer Theravada Buddhism in the Southwest and pay more attention to operations of the Associations of Vietnamese Buddhists overseas. At the occasion, dozens of dignitaries, individuals, and units were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the religion, and the nation-building efforts. Int’l experts applaud Vietnam’s reform achievements Vietnam has made progress after more than 30 years of doi moi (reform), with reduced poverty rate, increased income and changing life and career of residents, said international experts. They made the remark at the Vietnam Update 2017 conference, which took place at the Australian National University in Canberra on November 20 and 21 to examine the politics of life in Vietnam. During the function, 16 academic specialists analysed significant developments in the Southeast Asian country’s society, politics and international relations.  They said together with uncertainties in regional situation, human security in Vietnam is challenged by regional power disparities, social inequalities, environmental problems and state incapacity. The Vietnam Update is a series of annual conferences that focus on recent economic, political and social conditions in Vietnam and provide in-depth analyses on a select theme of particular relevance to Vietnam’s socio-economic development. The first Vietnam Update was organised in 1990 by ANU researchers at the university. In recent years, the conference series has been organised in conjunction with researchers from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore, with financial assistance provided by the Australian Aid, ANU, ISEAS, and the Ford Foundation. VOV General Director pledges to popularise image of Laos Director General of the Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) Nguyen The Ky has pledged to popularise the beauty, traditional customs and people of Laos during the Lao Tourism Year 2018.  During a reception hosted by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on November 21, Ky informed the host about the outcomes of talks between VOV and the Lao National Radio (LNR) a day earlier, saying that both sides have realised the 2015-2018 cooperation agreement, including popularising events during the Vietnam - Laos Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2017.  VOV will do its best to train LNR officials, reporters, technicians and managers and help the Lao broadcaster upgrade several television and audio equipment, he said.  The Lao PM spoke highly of collaboration between VOV and LNR over the past years, affirming that radio services play a significant role in disseminating news, especially in remote and mountainous areas.  On the occasion, he thanked the Vietnamese Party and State and VOV in particular for providing effective support for LNR, which he said further tightens ties between the two radio stations and between Laos and Vietnam in general.  During talks with the LNR delegation led by its Director General Phosy Keomanivong, Ky also agreed to send VOV reporters to Laos to share experience and cover the country’s images.  During the stay, the VOV leader paid a courtesy call to Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and head of the LPRP Commission for Propaganda and Training Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune. Lý Trần artefacts on display About 300 artefacts unearthed at various sites in the northern province of Hải Dương are on display at an exhibition at the provincial museum to mark Việt Nam Culture Heritage Day (November 23). The objects date back to the Lý (1009-1225) and Trần (1226-1400) dynasties. The province has more than 200 sites where historical relics have been found, plus 700 traditional festivals with associated handicrafts More than 200 historical sites are dedicated to historical figures, of which 93 date back to the Lý dynasty and the rest to the Trần dynasty. The exhibition runs until December 5. Hoài wins fifth stage of cycling tournament Nguyễn Tấn Hoài of Domesco Phamarcy Đồng Tháp triumphed in the fifth stage of the Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Cycling Tournament yesterday. Hoài won the 103km stage from Nha Trang to Đà Lạt City, which he completed in a time of 3:22.20. Mai Nguyễn Hưng of VUS-HCM City and Hoài’s teammate Phan Hoàng Thái were the runners-up. Thái won the red jersey award as the King of the Mountain with 17 points. He successfully conquered two mountain passes of Khánh Lê and Giang Ly during the race. Trần Thanh Điền of VUS-HCM City ranked seventh but still won the yellow jersey for best overall time of 18:10.02 after five stages. Trần Lê Minh Tuấn of Military Zone 7 and Nguyễn Nhật Nam of Domesco Phamarcy Đồng Tháp remained in second and third positions. Lê Nguyệt Minh of HCM City took the green jersey award as the best sprinter with 42 points, while Ngô Văn Phương of Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang retained the white jersey as best young cyclist with a total time of 18:13.00. Seminar looks into development in ethnic minority groups A seminar was held in Hanoi on November 21 to announce data from a 2015 national survey on the socio-economic performance of 53 Vietnamese ethnic minority groups.  Speaking at the event, Irish Ambassador to Vietnam Cait Moran said Vietnam has made socio-economic and gender equality progress over the past two decades, but challenges remain.  Dinh Thi Tu, head of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs’ Department of Ethnic Minorities, said the rate of poor ethnic minority households was 23.1 percent in 2015, four times above the national average. In particular, 14 ethnic minority groups had at least 41 percent poor households while three others posted more than 70 percent, including La Hu (83.9 percent), Mang (79.5 percent) and Chut (75.3 percent).  Nearly 24,000 women were illiterate in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang as of April 30, 2015. In 2014 alone, 10 out of 53 ethnic minority groups saw high rates of early marriage, amounting to 45 percent. In six ethnic minority groups, the rate was over 50 percent, namely Brau, Ro Mam, La ha, Xinh Mun, O du and Mong.  On personnel work, among the total number of officials and civil cadres working in the central, provincial, district and communal level, ethnic minority people only accounted for 7.51 percent as of April 30, 2015, reported the Ministry of Home Affairs.  Head of the UN Women Office Elisa Fernandez said Vietnamese government agencies, including the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, should strengthen resources and take creative measures to identify the socio-economic situation in ethnic minority groups. Can Tho – potential partner of Germany in Mekong Delta As an economic centre of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho city is a potential partner of Germany in several investment projects, including urban transport development, renewable energy application, environmental protection and climate change adaptation. Speaking at a working session with the municipal People’s Committee on November 21, Deputy Consul General of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City Daniela Scheetz said German businesses have described Can Tho as a potential market for investment in energy, technology, and smart city.  Can Tho boasts dynamic development, special position in the region, and competitive advantages of young and high-quality human resources and favourable investment policies and mechanisms, she added.  The German Consulate will implement more exchange and cooperation activities with the Mekong Delta city to further promote bilateral friendship, she affirmed.  In 2016, a delegation of experts from the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) began conducting fact-finding tours to collect information on the transport situation in Can Tho and to talk with local agencies about procedures in transport planning. As a result, Can Tho has been listed among cities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to get German government support to develop the transport sector, with a project starting this year. The main purpose of the German transport development project is to help Can Tho avoid shortcomings in the field, especially traffic jams. It will be carried out over three years, starting from the end of this year, with total investment of about 3.8 million USD, including the transfer of technology to managerial officials, technical assistance, and human resources training in urban transport management and development.  Meanwhile, the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) will study and evaluate the development potential of different forms of renewable energy in Can Tho such as wind, solar and biogas energy.                                                The GTZ will also support the Mekong Delta city to pilot new technological application projects to produce renewable energy in hi-tech agriculture or aquatic processing. Effective models will be expanded to cities and provinces in the south western region.  The German agency will also work with Can Tho to implement clean air projects in Ninh Kieu and Binh Thuy districts and major processing and industrial parks such as Tra Noc 1 and 2, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve water drainage management and waste treatment to increase the city’s resilience to climate change. Austrian trade unions ready to share experience with Vietnam President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Bui Van Cuong had a working session on November 21 with President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (OGB) Erich Foglar, who said the OGB is ready to share experience with its Vietnamese counterpart. At the event in Hanoi, VGCL President Cuong described the OGB’s working visit to Vietnam as historic and an important milestone in the relationship between the two sides. Both the VGCL and OGB can support each other’s activities with their experience, especially at grassroots level trade unions, helping protect workers’ rights and interests, improve working conditions, and ensure proper employment for all labourers, he said. He also briefed the Austrian guests about the VGCL and its priorities, adding that the 12th congress of Vietnam’s trade unions, slated for the third quarter of 2018, will discuss major plans and targets for the upcoming years, aiming to develop both Vietnamese trade unions in quantity and quality in order to better express workers’ aspirations, protect their rights and interests, and improve their income, living standards and working conditions. Foglar said there are 1.2 million trade union members in Austria, accounting for 35 percent of the country’s workforce. OGB is the only trade union centre representing Austrian workers and comprises seven sectoral trade unions. He noted that his federation is ready to support and share experience with the VGCL and provide information about services that OGB gives to its members. It will also help improve the capacity of Vietnamese trade unions’ staff, especially in the non-State sector, and boost exchanges with trade unions of corresponding sectors in Vietnam. Vietnamese, Chinese military officers hold exchange A delegation of young officers from the Vietnam People’s Army, led by lieutenant colonel Tran Viet Nang, is attending an exchange with their Chinese peers in Beijing from November 19 to 25. On November 20, the Vietnamese officers were received by Liu Zhong Bin, head of the Office for International Military Cooperation’s Asia division, under the Communist Party of China’s Central Military Commission. Liu said he believes the visit will help reinforce fruitful friendship between the two armies. Stressing sound outcomes resulted from collaboration between Vietnamese and Chinese young officers and armies, he hoped more exchanges will be held to enhance ties towards effectiveness.  For his part, Nang stated the visit of his delegation aims to boost friendship exchanges between the two armies and countries. The same day, the Vietnamese officers visited the 3rd Guard Division in Beijing to learn about its history, functions, structure, and arms.-VNA   Hanoi: Various activities held during HIV/AIDS prevention month Various activities are underway in Hanoi to promote early HIV testing so as to achieve the 90 – 90 – 90 targets by 2020, also the theme of this year’s action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control from November 10 to December 10. Deputy Director of the municipal Preventive Medicine Centre La Thi Lan said during the month, Hanoi will hold conferences and workshops on community-based HIV testing and assess the implementation of the 90 – 90 – 90 targets.  These targets aim that by 2020, 90 percent of all people with HIV know their HIV status, 90 percent of all people with diagnosed HIV will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90 percent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. Different activities to help prevent HIV/AIDS and raise public awareness have been implemented across 30 districts and townships in Hanoi. They include the distribution of more than 1.7 million free syringes and more than 260,000 free condoms to female sex workers and gay men. Since the beginning of 2017, the local health sector has worked with non-Governmental organisations to expand HIV screening at the communal and ward level. There are 14 advisory offices on voluntary HIV testing at the district level currently. Lan said the municipal Department of Health will run communication activities to raise public awareness, focusing on eradicating HIV stigma and discrimination, the benefits of early HIV testing and periodic testing for high-risk groups, and the benefits of antiretroviral therapy and early access to HIV/AIDS treatment services. Eighteen establishments providing methadone treatment for HIV patients have worked effectively in Hanoi. As of the end of September, about 4,800 persons with HIV had received methadone treatment in the capital, Lan noted, adding that methadone replacement therapy has resulted in positive outcomes, helping improve drug abusers’ health and reduce the use of heroin. Hanoi recorded 982 new HIV cases in the first nine months of 2017. The Asian Epidemic Model forecasts the number of HIV-infected people in the city to exceed 27,000 by 2020. Floods kill one in Thua Thien-Hue Province Torrential rains over the last two days have caused serious flooding in Thua Thien-Hue Province and, as a result, many parts of roads in lowland areas are inundated and isolated. Floods also killed one person in Phu Loc town, Hue City and submerged nearly 10,000 houses. Nguyen Van Ty, president of Quang Nam-Da nang Railway Management Company, said the railroad running through Hai Van Pass was re-opened on the evening of November 20 and the Pass was cleared after 10-hour of traffic congestion.  However, huge mud and rock flows blocked the north-south railway again on the morning of November 21. Many trains had to stop at Kim Lien and Da Nang stations waiting for a solution to the incident. Vietnam launches project on alternative care for vulnerable children The Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs launched a 12-year project on alternative care for disadvantaged children on November 20.  Funded by the UK-based organisation Care for Children (CFC), the project consists of four stages, with the pilot stage running in Hanoi and Thai Nguyen in the north for 2017 – 2020. The organisation will collaborate with local agencies at different levels to provide personnel training for public social protection centres to be in charge of alternative care, including the selection of suitable foster families and assessment of fostering process. Care for Children will also design specific materials and training syllabuses for Vietnam.    Robert Glover, chief executive of Care for Children, said it aims to bring a better life for children. He noted that childcare centres are often costly, while the cost of fostering children within the community might be high at first, but will gradually decrease. Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan said the point is to replicate the model nationwide. The United Nations estimated that approximately 8 million children worldwide live in social centres.  Bac Kan tourism week promotes regional tourism cooperation The Ba Be - Bac Kan Tourism Week 2017 kicked off on November 18 at Ba Be Lake in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan. The tourism week opened a series of cultural events that aim to strengthen tourism cooperation between the six participating provinces of Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang. The week’s activities introduce and promote the historical and cultural relics, the landscape, people, food and culture of the northern mountainous provinces. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Dang Thi Bich Lien said, “The northern provinces of Vietnam have several historical and cultural relics along with the spectacular landscape and unique cultural identity.   They are attracting an increasing number of both domestic and international tourists. However, the result has not yet reached its full potential. “The Ba Be-Bac Kan Tourism Week this year is important for the northern mountainous provinces in strengthening cooperation in tourism, promoting and attracting investment for tourism and the preservation of historical and cultural relics. The plan is to develop tourism into a spearhead of the local economy,” Lien added. More than one thousand of artists from the participating provinces joined the performances at the opening event. Activities included singing, dancing and “dan tinh” (the traditional gourd lute of the Tay ethnic people) performances. The event, which lasts till November 21, features traditional musical performances, a traditional costume show, food fair, folk and sports games, flower garlands and a photo exhibition featuring the landscape and people of the northern mountainous provinces. Festival-goers can also join a boat tour around the scenic Ba Be Lake. Ba Be National Park is a highlight of Bac Kan’s tourist destinations. About 70 kilometres from Bac Kan centre, Ba Be covers more than 23,000 ha and is home to more than 1,000 species of flora and fauna, a series of caves and a gigantic fresh water lake, which was recognised as the country’s third Ramsar Site, an indication of its international significance, by UNESCO in 2011. Ba Be Lake is located 145 metres above sea level and is said to have formed more than 200 million years ago. NA Vice Chairwoman meets UNICEF representative in Vietnam National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong received UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Youssouf Abdel-Jelil in Hanoi on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day – November 20. Phong took note of Vietnam’s work to care for children, saying it was the first country in Asia and second in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  More attention is given to Vietnamese children in border, island and disadvantaged areas, she said, adding that there are still problems noticed in the implementation of children’s rights. She said the country will work harder to foster the younger generation comprehensively and organise more meetings for children to voice their concerns. Youssouf Abdel-Jelil lauded attention from Vietnamese NA leaders given to child policies. He stressed that the UNICEF is willing to stand side by side with Vietnam in tackling child-related issues.  Also attended the reception were Vietnamese children, who took part in the national children’s forum in late August. VNN