Australian Senate President Sue Lines with the students at the KOTO humanitarian vocational training centre in the northern province of Bắc Ninh on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

BẮC NINH — President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines on Monday visited the KOTO humanitarian vocational training centre in Tiên Du District, the northern province of Bắc Ninh, as part of her official visit to Vietnam.

The Australian guest engaged in discussions, and joined several activities at the centre.

Founded in 2001 by Jimmy Pham, an Australian of the Vietnamese origin, the KOTO centre is a unique non-profit social enterprise in Việt Nam and globally. Over the recent times, the Australian government has shown considerable interest in and provided support for the centre's humanitarian and social activities.

The centre provides vocational training for nearly 120 students. It covers 100 per cent of the living and training expenses for disadvantaged youth, ethnic minorities, and those at risk or marginalised. More than 1,700 students have graduated from the centre since its establishment, with many of them becoming head chefs, sous chefs, hotel and resort general managers, and business owners.

The Australian official highly valued training activities of the centre, expressing her hope that the establishment will continue to better its humanitarian and training efforts to support more disadvantaged youth, thereby spreading positive values and contributing to families and society.

Earlier in the morning, she laid a wreath and visited President Hồ Chí Minh's Mausoleum in Hà Nội. — VNS

Australian Senate President Sue Lines visited and laid a wreath in tribute to Preident Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng