Hanoi, July 11, 2025 – The Europe Today: Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and his spouse on Thursday evening hosted a special meeting with Vietnamese and international female diplomats in Hanoi to mark the United Nations’ International Day of Women in Diplomacy (June 24), while also looking ahead to the upcoming 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Minh Hằng expressed her pride in serving as a female diplomat, emphasizing that a diplomat’s strength lies in their country’s historical traditions, cultural values, and national interests. She underlined that harmonizing these values with global goals enables diplomats to build peace, foster development, and promote international solidarity.
Deputy Minister Hằng recalled the legacy of Madame Nguyễn Thị Bình, Vietnam’s first female Foreign Minister and head of the delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, as a beacon for generations of female diplomats. She affirmed that the current generation remains committed to innovation and dedicated service, contributing to Vietnam’s global integration and national progress.
UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam, Pauline Tamesis, praised the pioneering contributions of Vietnamese women in diplomacy and governance. She highlighted that Việt Nam has significantly improved its global gender equality index ranking and continues to champion the UN’s gender equality agenda. Noting that women make up over 30 per cent of the National Assembly, she called for continued efforts to elevate women into leadership roles across all levels of government.
Romanian Ambassador Cristina Romila, the first female envoy of her country to Vietnam, shared her admiration for the resilience of the Vietnamese people and noted Vietnam’s open, inclusive, and progressive stance on women’s participation in all sectors of society.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Chính underscored the historical and cultural respect accorded to women in Vietnamese society, stating they are the “backbone of every family.” He highlighted the vital role of women in the nation’s struggle for independence, post-war recovery, and ongoing development.
He affirmed the Vietnamese Party and Government’s unwavering commitment to gender equality, noting Việt Nam’s global standing in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality. Women currently constitute 30.26 per cent of deputies in the 15th National Assembly, a figure that places Việt Nam among the leading nations globally and within the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).
The Prime Minister also recognized Vietnam’s active role in UN peacekeeping operations, where women account for 16 per cent of deployed personnel. Uniquely, he added, Việt Nam observes two national days honoring women annually — March 8 (International Women’s Day) and October 20 (Founding Anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Union).
Highlighting iconic figures such as Madame Nguyễn Thị Bình, PM Chính reaffirmed the government’s appreciation for the contributions of female diplomats. He encouraged continued dedication to multilateralism, peacebuilding, and global cooperation.
Calling for a people-centered, inclusive, and comprehensive approach in diplomacy, the Prime Minister urged all female diplomats to strengthen their roles as connectors among nations and champions of peace and sustainable development.
The event concluded with warm exchanges, reinforcing the importance of women in global diplomatic efforts and celebrating their growing influence on the world stage.
