(VOVworld) - Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan joined at the opening ceremony of the 15th Francophone Summit in Dakar, Senegal on Saturday with the participation of 28 senior leaders of 77 member countries and representatives of many international organizations and media agencies. Delegates discussed the major role played by women and young people, especially in the current climate of economic difficulties and political tension.

As the only representative of the Asia-Pacific region speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice President Doan voiced her concern over complicated global political and security situations, especially sovereignty disputes, terrorism, climate change, poverty, and epidemics. She called on the Francophone community to boost solidarity, and make greater joint efforts in response to these challenges.
She stressed the need to settle disputes and conflicts via peaceful negotiations and cooperation, and expressed thanks for the Francophone community’s strong support for Vietnam and other ASEAN members to deal with disputes in the East Sea in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

The Vietnamese leader laid emphasis on mobilizing resources to overcome crisis, eliminate poverty, and combat epidemics, as well as boosting economic restructuring and cooperation among OIF member countries for peace and prosperity.

Ms. Doan also praised the role of women and youth in safeguarding peace, ensuring security and facilitating socio-economic development, and shared Vietnam’s experience in promoting gender equality.

She asked the Francophone community to allocate more resources to women’s rights and women and young people’s empowerment, particularly those of female entrepreneurs, to enable them to join political, economic, and social activities. She hoped the community would tighten relations with the Asia-Pacific region and vowed to do her utmost to enhancing cooperation with the Organization in the future.

She reiterated Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence and self-reliance for peace, cooperation, development, and international integration.