National
Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Head of the Party Central Committee’s
Commission for Mass Mobilization Truong Thi Mai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party
Committee Hoang Trung Hai and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam attended the
event, among others.
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and the delegates
Speaking
at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam affirmed that the Vietnamese
Party and State always pay attention to and reserve resources for caring for
the elderly.
Not
only the Constitution but also the Law on the Elderly and guidance documents
have been improved to better care for and protect of old people, he said.
In
addition, the Government also launched a National Action Program for the
Elderly for 2012-2020 and organize the Action Month for the Vietnamese Elderly
in October every year, Dam added.
According
to the Deputy PM, Vietnam is one of the five countries with the fastest aging
rates in the world. The nation is home to 10.1 million old people, or 11
percent of the population. The figure is forecast to rise to 17 percent by 2030
and 25 percent by 2050.
Therefore,
more efforts are needed to take care of and protect the elderly, and promote
their roles in society, he noted.
Dam
also stressed the necessity to prioritize investment in developing geriatrics
at medical clinics, and continue implementing social welfare policies for the elderly,
especially homeless people and those living in difficult circumstances.
President
of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly Pham Thi Hai Chuyen said that after
22 years of founding and development, the association now has nearly nine
million members, or over 90 percent of the Vietnamese elder people.
The
association has actively coordinated with relevant agencies in making laws and
policies regarding the care for the elder and the promotion of their roles, and
their legitimate rights and interests.
At
the event, gifts were presented to elder people who are living in difficult
circumstances.
Source: VNA