Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese State Vice President Truong My Hoa stressed that disabled Vietnamese people are citizens born equal and capable of carrying out every cultural, social and economic activity.

She said the Vietnamese State has paid special attention to the disabled by issuing many legal documents for them, including the 1998 ordinance on the disabled, which makes clear the responsibilities of ministries, agencies and organisations in supporting people with physical disabilities. In 2006, the Vietnamese Government approved the project “Supporting people with disabilities” in the 2006-2010 period.

Participants will focus their discussions on vocational training, job creation and tourism activities for the disabled. They will make fact-finding tours of several tourist sites and vocational training establishments for young disabled people in Vietnam.