Vietnam Red Cross to be Trusted Support Hub: General Secretary, President Lam's Directive

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam attended the 12th National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, urging the organization to become a trusted support hub for those facing difficulties. The congress served as a crucial meeting to review the Vietnam Red Cross Society's activities over the past five years and set future directions. General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized the need for the Red Cross's activities, based on the spirit of humanitarianism, to strengthen support for the most vulnerable strata of society. He expressed expectations for contributions in areas such as disaster relief, health promotion, and poverty reduction. He also pointed out the importance of the Red Cross deepening its collaboration with local communities and encouraging volunteer activities to build a broader support network. This suggests Vietnam's stance of emphasizing the role of civil society organizations in its pursuit of social welfare improvement under its one-party system. During the congress, Cambodian Parliament President Samdech Techo Hun Sen paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and honored Vietnam's war heroes. This reflects the traditional friendly relations between Vietnam and Cambodia and the shared historical memories of both nations. Furthermore, within Vietnam, proposals are being made to lower the age for receiving pensions to 70, with discussions progressing towards expanding elderly welfare. The deadline for individual business owners to complete tax and revenue declarations by July 31 is also approaching, with efforts underway to enhance the transparency of economic activities and secure tax revenue. These developments indicate that while Vietnam continues its economic growth, it is also focusing on social inclusion and stabilizing the lives of its citizens. In particular, strengthening the role of the Red Cross is considered one of the key measures to ensure that the benefits of economic development reach all segments of society.