The spouse of Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm, Ngô Phương Ly (front row, 4th from right), and her guests at the meeting in Hà Nội on October 11. VNA photo

HÀ NỘI - The spouse of Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm, Ngô Phương Ly, met with the Executive Board of the ASEAN Women’s Circle of Hà Nội (AWCH) and invited guests in Hà Nội on the morning of October 11.

Established on August 11, 2015, the AWCH groups female ambassadors, ambassadors’ spouses, female leaders and officials from the ASEAN embassies in the capital, as well as spouses of officials and female representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

At the reception, AWCH Honorary President Vũ Bích Ngọc highlighted the group’s expansion over the years, creating a network that now involves 19 ASEAN partners and extends to ASEAN capitals.

She noted that its activities had consistently received strong support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the spouses of high-ranking leaders over the years.

The spouse of the top leader said the AWCH’s cultural and people-to-people exchanges, such as celebrations of ASEAN Family Day and International Women’s Day, international culinary festivals, and other events, contributed to bolstering the bloc’s unity. Its operation promoted women’s roles and contributions within society and spread positive community values across member states and beyond.

Ly pledged her continued support for the AWCH’s future endeavours to enhance intra-bloc relationships, unity, and friendship.

Speaking on behalf of the female ambassadors and spouses in attendance, Lao Ambassador to Việt Nam Khamphao Ernthavanh noted that Việt Nam played a crucial role in advancing women’s empowerment and highlighted the enduring contributions of Vietnamese women to nation-building and socio-economic progress.

The diplomat held that the AWCH’s efforts exemplify the contribution of ASEAN women in diplomacy, serving as a bridge for fostering friendships between ASEAN and its partners and other countries.

The event treated participants to a friendly exchange, traditional Vietnamese dishes, and a fashion show of áo dài – Việt Nam’s traditional dress. They also observed the crafting of Kim Hoàng paintings, a traditional Vietnamese art form from the late 18th century in Kim Hoàng Village, Hoài Đức District, Hà Nội. VNS