The potential and knowledge of the elderly are valuable internal strengths of the nation, said Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Commission for Mass Mobilization, Ha Thi Khiet.

Addressing the 4th Congress of the Vietnam Elderly Association (VEA) in Hanoi on November 11, Ms Khiet emphasized that the elderly have played an important role in family and society. Senior citizens have made an active contribution to the national construction and defense. The recent 11th National Party Congress also set orientations for helping the elderly live a healthy and happy life.

Ms Khiet asked the association to bring the Law on the Elderly to life in the 2011-2016 period, and to conduct research on characteristics of old people in each locality across the country to further promote their role. In addition, she said it is necessary to socialize activities geared at taking care of senior citizens and to finalise the association’s apparatus and draw up its long-term development strategy.

Reviewing the previous term and 16 years of construction and development of the association, Vice President of the VEA, Cu Thi Hau stated that the association has boosted its activities in taking care of the elderly, and welcomed over 86 percent of the elderly to the body.

She also added that in the 2011-2016 term, the association will continue to perfect its mechanism by formulating policies that help improve the living conditions of the elderly and offer more opportunities for senior citizens to become involved in social activities.

Source: VOV