9th Congress of Vietnam Red Cross Society

On the morning of July 5, at the Hanoi Friendship Cultural Palace, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society held the 9th National Congress for the 2012-2017 term with the theme: "Innovating thinking, building position, protecting life", with the participation of nearly 500 outstanding delegates. Attending the Congress were comrades: former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu; former Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An.

Comrade Le Hong Anh, Politburo member, Standing member of the Secretariat attended and gave directions to the Congress.

Delegates attending the Congress

Former Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Pham The Duyet; Comrade Vu Trong Kim, Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and representatives of leaders of a number of ministries, departments, branches, organizations in the Central and Hanoi and international organizations in Vietnam attended the Congress.

During the past term, the work of the Association and the Red Cross movement were comprehensively implemented, the four-level organization system of the Association was consolidated and improved, the number and quality of cadres were enhanced, and the capacity of consulting and humanitarian mobilization of the Association's cadres was improved. The Association's activities have become increasingly professional and effective, especially in social work, participating in disaster prevention and response, taking care of people's health, mobilizing humanitarian blood donation, carrying out foreign affairs, propagating humanitarian values, and mobilizing resource building. During the past five-year term, the Association has mobilized a budget of more than 7,300 billion VND, an average of more than 1,472 billion VND per year, each year higher than the previous year and 2.5 times higher than the previous term. The campaign "Each organization, each individual is associated with a humanitarian address", after four years of implementation, has had nearly two million people with profiles in need of assistance, of which 1,243,125 people in difficult circumstances have been assisted...

Speaking at the Congress, Comrade Le Hong Anh highly appreciated the achievements of the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society in the past term. He stated: As a humanitarian organization founded by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, over the years, the Red Cross Society has continuously grown, matured and made many great contributions to the humanitarian cause of the Party and State. The Society has proactively participated in helping people in areas affected by natural disasters and catastrophes, and overcoming the consequences. At the same time, the Society is also one of the forces participating in reconstruction, helping people in disaster-stricken areas develop the economy, stabilize their lives, and at the same time mobilize people and organizations to help and support people in other countries affected by natural disasters and catastrophes, deeply demonstrating the tradition of humanity of our nation, contributing to the implementation of the people's diplomacy of the Party and State.

Comrade Le Hong Anh suggested that in the next term, the Association should continue to promote the good tradition, actively carry out the seven Red Cross activities stipulated in the Law on Red Cross Activities. He hoped that the Association would pay special attention to effectively participating in disaster prevention, response, emergency relief, recovery and reconstruction; taking care of people's health based on the community; donating blood; and organizing social and humanitarian work well. Strongly innovate grassroots activities, stay close to the people, grasp the difficult subjects to mobilize cadres and members to directly help and advise the Party Committee and the government to mobilize organizations and individuals in the community to provide direct, long-term, and practical assistance in the spirit of the Campaign "Each organization, each individual is associated with a humanitarian address". Proactively advise the Party Committee and the Government on policies and measures on humanitarian work, continue to coordinate more closely with sectors and organizations, especially the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations in humanitarian activities, ensuring that humanitarian activities are carried out synchronously and have high educational significance. Expand international cooperation with organizations inside and outside the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in humanitarian work.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, comrade Le Hong Anh presented the Association with a banner bearing the inscription "Vietnam Red Cross Society promotes its core role in humanitarian causes, actively implementing the social security policies of the Party and State".

The Congress elected the Executive Committee for the 2012-2017 term, consisting of 134 members. Comrade Nguyen Hai Duong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Agencies Bloc, was elected to hold the position of President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society for the new term. Delegates approved the Congress Resolution and a letter to Red Cross cadres, members, volunteers, youth, and teenagers nationwide.

According to (Nhandan.com.vn)-LT