At the seminars, both sides focused on education exchanges, building education infrastructure system, supporting teachers’ training in all levels, providing voluntary teachers for specialized schools, and assistance in foreign language training.

>> Vietnam, NGOs to step up cooperation They also discussed the assistance in information technology for schools, especially those in rural, remote and mountainous areas, the intensive training for school students in social vices and the support in clean water and environmental sanitation at school. Regarding social issues, NGOs will continue to give help to reduce poverty and improve social welfares for children, the poor, vulnerable groups and ethnic minority people. NGOs will also cooperate with Vietnam in environmental protection and climate change response. At the seminar on overcoming the consequences of unexploded ordnances in Vietnam, stronger cooperation mechanisms between Vietnam and the foreign NGOs were proposed. In another seminar on the Agent Orange/Dioxin issues and support for the victims, the two sides highlighted measures to further speed up the handling of AO aftermaths and improving the living conditions for AO victims. In the fields of vocational training and employment, connections between Vietnam and foreign NGOs will be focused on the training of vocational teachers and the transfer of modern training models.

At a seminar on health care, NGOs suggested the Vietnamese side establish a healthcare working group to process their proposals and advices. Addressing the opening ceremony of this international conference held earlier the same day, Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said the Vietnamese Government will continue creating favorable conditions and further improving the legal environment to facilitate foreign NGOs’ aid activities.

According to the Committee for Foreign NGO Affairs, Vietnam has established ties with around 950 foreign NGOs. During the past decade, NGOs have implemented more than 25,000 programs, projects and aid packages totaling about US$2.4 billion in Vietnam. Of the amount, over $1.12 billion came from North America, more than $450 million from Asia-Pacific and about $813 million from Europe.