Launching the Action Month for the Vietnamese Elderly in 2024 in Hai Duong

Attending the launching ceremony were comrades: Le Thanh Long, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Committee on the Elderly; Nguyen Thanh Binh, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Head of the Central Organizing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Committee on the Elderly, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly; Le Van Hieu, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Duong province.

Also attending were members of the National Committee on the Elderly, representatives of leaders of ministries, departments, branches, and central organizations; leaders, former leaders, members of the Standing Committee, Executive Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly; Heads of the Elderly Affairs Committee, and leaders of the Association of the Elderly in the northern provinces and cities.

Members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, leaders of the People's Council, People's Committee, and Fatherland Front Committee of Hai Duong province; representatives of departments, branches, sectors, unions, districts, towns, cities and 332 elderly delegates of Hai Duong province representing more than 17 million elderly people nationwide attended.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly Nguyen Thanh Binh expressed his joy to come to the land of the East, a land of spiritual and talented people, to attend a special event for the elderly in Vietnam. He affirmed that under the leadership of the Party, the elderly have made many important contributions, just as Uncle Ho said: "The older you are, the stronger your will is", truly "a precious asset of the nation, an important force of the country, a pillar of the family and Vietnamese society".

The theme of the 2024 Vietnam Action Month for the Elderly is "Joining hands to protect, care for and promote the role of the elderly", the United Nations' International Day of Older Persons on October 1 this year has the theme "Aging with dignity: The importance of strengthening support and care systems for the elderly worldwide". Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly Nguyen Thanh Binh said that the themes have profound humanistic significance, especially in the context of Vietnam being a country with a very rapid population aging rate, the elderly are increasing in number and are an important force that needs to be actively promoted. However, there are still a number of elderly people facing the risks of natural disasters, no longer able to work, no savings, sick, and homeless. He hopes that in the coming time, elderly people in difficult circumstances will receive more practical attention and support from the whole society, ensuring that no one is left behind.

On behalf of the Central Executive Committee of the Association, comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh respectfully acknowledged and highly appreciated the effective support of businesses, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, organizations, individuals, and the noble gestures in the cause of protecting, caring for, and promoting the role of the elderly, especially the sharing and support for the elderly in difficult circumstances affected by storm No. 3.

In response to the requirements of the cause of innovation, especially in the context of population aging, continuing the noble values ​​of the Action Month for the Elderly in Vietnam, the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly calls on the elderly nationwide to continue to promote the role of "The older the age, the higher the ambition, setting a shining example for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland", actively contributing to the innovation process led by our Party. Associations at all levels continue to improve the effectiveness of the emulation movement "Older age - Bright example", strongly promoting the experience, intelligence and prestige of the Vietnamese elderly. Strengthening propaganda work, unifying awareness of the elderly as an important revolutionary force...

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the National Committee on the Elderly of Vietnam, sent his best wishes and wished the elderly nationwide good health, happiness and longevity. At the same time, he respectfully acknowledged, highly appreciated and commended the results as well as the practical and effective contributions of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly and the elderly nationwide in the past time.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long informed that on November 24, 2023, the 13th Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW on continuing to innovate and improve the quality of social policies to meet the requirements of national construction and defense in the new period, in which the work of the elderly is identified as one of the major policies and orientations. The Resolution sets a target of 60% of people after retirement age receiving monthly pensions, social insurance and social retirement benefits; the average life expectancy of people is about 75 years old, the number of healthy years is at least 68 years; at the same time, it directs "Increasing sustainable employment opportunities for people in and after working age to adapt to the rate of population aging".

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long affirmed that the Action Month for the Elderly in Vietnam and the International Day of Older Persons on October 1 every year are occasions for us to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to previous generations who have devoted their lives to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. The elderly are a treasure trove of knowledge, experience and valuable lessons that each generation after us needs to cherish and learn from.

To better care for the elderly, further promote the role of the elderly, and consider the elderly as a valuable "resource", he suggested that all levels and sectors join hands and take many specific and practical actions to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons and respond to the launching ceremony of the Month of Action for the Elderly in Vietnam with the theme "Joining hands to protect, care for and promote the role of the elderly".

Affirming that Vietnam is entering the stage of population aging, posing many challenges and opportunities in caring for and protecting the rights of the elderly, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long called on all levels, sectors, organizations and individuals to actively respond to the "Month of Action for the Elderly"; create all favorable conditions for the Elderly Association at all levels to operate, the elderly to be protected, cared for and promote their roles and experiences, contributing to socio-economic development, ensuring political security, social order and safety. Agencies, organizations, each family and each individual in society should really care and take specific actions to care for and protect the rights of the elderly; organize practical activities to improve the quality of life of the elderly, helping the elderly to live healthy, happy and meaningful lives.

At the ceremony, Mr. Le Van Hieu, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee, expressed his honor to the Party Committee, government and people of Hai Duong province when the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly trusted and selected him as the locality to host the launching ceremony of the Action Month for the Vietnamese Elderly in 2024. On this occasion, he gave an overview of the political, economic and social situation in Hai Duong in recent times. The children of Hai Duong today - the ancient Dong land - are always proud of the fine cultural traditions of the sacred land of talented people, and have been making efforts to inherit and promote those traditions of previous generations, of the elderly in today's life.

In order to strongly respond to the Action Month for the Elderly in Vietnam in 2024 with the theme "Joining hands to protect, care for and promote the role of the elderly", on behalf of the provincial leaders, the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee respectfully thanks and fully accepts the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long; at the same time, requests that Party committees at all levels, authorities, agencies, organizations, enterprises and people in the province develop programs, action plans, tasks, and specific, practical and effective solutions in the work of protecting, caring for and promoting the role of the elderly.

Besides, Mr. Le Van Hieu, Standing Deputy Secretary of Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee, suggested that the elderly in the province uphold the spirit of "old age - bright example, old age - higher ambition", self-reliance, solidarity, creativity, promote their role, experience, intelligence, pioneering and setting examples in all areas of social life to build and develop a prosperous and happy homeland of Hai Duong.

Hai Duong currently has about 374,000 elderly people, accounting for 18% of the population. With a deep awareness that the elderly are valuable assets of the homeland and the country, in recent years, along with the cause of economic development, the Party Committee and the government of Hai Duong province have regularly led, directed, and organized the timely implementation of social security policies; the work of protecting, caring for, and promoting the role of the elderly has received special attention and achieved many positive results. Hai Duong province has issued many mechanisms and policies to contribute to improving the material and spiritual life of the elderly.

At the program, 12 centenarians in 12 districts, towns and cities of Hai Duong province were honored to receive congratulatory gifts from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly.

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly also donated 200 million VND to the Association of the Elderly in Hai Duong province to help the elderly in difficult circumstances overcome the consequences of storm No. 3.

In addition, the Central Association also awarded certificates of honor to 19 businesses that have made many contributions to the care of the elderly.