Secretary of the Thai Nguyen provincial Party’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai (R) and Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil at the event (Photo: thainguyen.gov.vn)

Thai Nguyen (VNA) – The northernprovince of Thai Nguyen hopes to continue to receive Canada’s support forprojects that enhance the capacity of officials in charge of povertyreduction and social affairs relating to gender equality and the rights of the people, Secretary of the provincial Party’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai said onOctober 16.

She made the statement at a working session with adelegation from the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam led by Ambassador Shawn Steilto explore opportunities for connection, cooperation, and investment betweenthe two sides.

In recent years, within the framework of theComprehensive Partnership between Vietnam and Canada, cooperation projects withCanada in Thai Nguyen have primarilyfocused on education and training, Hai said. These projects involve experience sharing programmes to enhance capacity and skills, conducted by Thai NguyenUniversity, the University of Information Technology and Communications, and theCanadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

She cited some outstanding projects such as “Utilising Digital Technology to Enhance Online Business Efficiency for Women with Disabilities in the Red River Delta of Vietnam”, the enhancement of leadership skills and gender integration through training and action plan making in three mountainous communes in Mu Cang Chai district.

Regarding the project enhancing the capacity and skillsin the northern mountainous region on gender equalitysupported by CFLI for the Centre forResearch and Development of ethnic minority and mountainous women at ThaiNguyen University, Hai said that this activity is meaningful, helping equip officials from social organisations in northern mountainous provinces with knowledgeon gender equality and gender integration.

She called for strengthening collaboration withthe Canadian Embassy to promote investment, trade, and local economicdevelopment.

For his part, Ambassador Steil noted that Thai Nguyen holds animportant position in cooperation between Canada and Vietnam, with a focuson education and gender equality.

Canada's international development programme inVietnam has been carried out for over 30 years, with a specific emphasis on ethnicminority communities in the field of economic development, especially women inthis region. Thai Nguyen province serves as a gateway to the northernmountainous region, so that it has always received special attention from Canada for theimplementation of projects and programmes in this area, the Ambassador went on.

In the coming time, with a foreign policy prioritisingwomen, Canada will continue to pay due attention to and support women inethnic minority communities, including those in Thai Nguyen province, he 𓂃said,adding that the Canadian Embassy will study specific solutions to enhancecooperation in new areas proposed by Thai Nguyen./.