Addressing the meeting, Mr Bruyn said that his organization has cooperated with the VGCL on a project to develop trade unions since 1996. He highly appreciated the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Trade Union for participating actively and effectively in the project, which has helped enhance the professional awareness, knowledge and working style of Vietnamese trade unionists.

The union president said Vietnam is experiencing vigorous economic development with many state companies being converted into joint stock companies and the appearance of many joint ventures and foreign invested firms, creating a considerable change in the structure and quality of workforce.

UNI-Apro puts human beings at the centre of national and regional economic development and gives prominence to the close relationship between trade unions from multinational companies, said Mr Bruyn.

The conference heard a speech of the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications trade union, member of UNI-Apro.

Participants at the meeting discuss many issues, including the preparations for the third congress of UNI Global Union to be held in Japan in 2010.

UNI-Apro has 2.7 million trade unionists from 190 member trade unions in 23 countries.