VSS' Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh

Reporter: For more than 2 years, the COVID-19 epidemic has developed complicatedly, threatening the socio-economic achievements of many countries around the world, including Vietnam. Meanwhile, social security policies have strongly promoted their roles to help ensure the lives of people and workers. Sir, could you please share about the achievements that the VSS has achieved during the recent implementation of strengthening international cooperation?

Anh: In 2022, implementing the Government's policy of fighting the epidemic while stabilizing and developing the economy, implementing the "new normal", the VSS has focused all its efforts to perform professional tasks, has participated in anti-epidemic work and implemented the Government's resolutions and policies on measures to support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the VSS also actively integrates into the world and mobilizes support from international partners, expands cooperation relationships, and takes advantage of international resources and experiences to improve the quality and effectiveness of implementing policies on social, health and unemployment insurance.

Specifically, the VSS has strengthened external relations, and bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the region and the world in the field of social security; attracting various technical and financial funding sources from international partners to support the industry in successfully implementing key tasks and programs, developing the industry in a modern and professional direction; promoting external information, and improving the position and reputation of the VSS in the international arena.

VSS General Director - Nguyen The Manh - joined the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the working visit to the United States

to attend the US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington DC

VSS General Director - Nguyen The Manh - at the Signing Ceremony of the Action Plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of implementing health insurance with the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC)

In addition, the VSS has participated in many external activities at the State level, demonstrating the role and appreciation of the Government for social security work and international cooperation of the Vietnamese social insurance industry. On March 8, 2022, the VSS attended the Prime Minister's meeting with the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) at the Government Office.

Reporter: Sir, what do you think are the prospects for international cooperation activities of the VSS in the coming time?

Anh: Up to now, besides maintaining close cooperation with traditional partners (World Bank, International Labor Organization, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund, etc.), the VSS has also established bilateral and multilateral cooperation in many aspects with potential international partners such as Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), etc. and agencies in the field of social security of many countries around the world with more diversified and practical cooperation activities.

In the sector's program on key tasks in 2023, international cooperation activities will continue to actively deploy regional multilateral external relations activities to the world multilateral diplomacy, enhancing the position of the VSS at regional and international multilateral forums such as the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the ASEAN Regional Social Security Association (ASSA) and other forums in the field of social security.

Reporter: Digital transformation is the strategic direction of Vietnam's social insurance industry towards modern welfare. The application of technology to eliminate geographical distance is an advantage for global cooperation activities. Has the VSS caught up with this trend in international cooperation activities, Sir?

Anh: In carrying out the task of developing a digital platform in the external affairs of the VSS industry, recently the International Cooperation Department of the VSS has reviewed the main contents and documents on foreign affairs and international relations, digitization of existing documents, promoting the use of e-office and cloud computing technology to store common data.

Up to now, the data has been fully updated, ensuring the sharing according to the management decentralization and will be a premise for the development of the external work of the VSS industry. Building a database will help improve working efficiency and data communication between public employees in the unit, research and information processing will be easier and more convenient, and especially international experiences can serve as a valuable reference source for industry officials in formulating, proposing amendments and implementing social security policies in Vietnam.

The VSS has actively coordinated with relevant ministries and branches to implement tasks in order to build a national database on insurance, serve state management, and handle online administrative procedures and public services with ministries and sectors, considering this the foundation for digital transformation. The VSS has connected and shared data with many ministries, branches and agencies.

Following the direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of the National Committee on Digital Transformation at the Conference to review the 6-month implementation of Scheme 06, the VSS has been coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security and relevant ministries and branches to deploy biometric authentication technologies based on biometric information integrated on the chip-mounted ID cards and on the data of the National Population Database to replace paper health insurance cards in medical care; limit and prevent profiteering when paying and enjoying social, health and unemployment insurance benefits.

Reporter: Sir, in the coming time, what activities will the VSS take to improve the quality and efficiency of the sector's external information work?

Anh: The social insurance industry is continuing to deploy flexibly and creatively and inherit previous successes, such as: Attracting and mobilizing international funding for the sector's development; stepping up foreign propaganda information; strengthening international training in foreign languages, working skills, the culture of conduct and public service ethics according to international standards for staff in the social insurance sector; organizing professional training courses, seminars to help share international knowledge and experiences in many professional areas of the industry.

In order to continue to improve the quality and efficiency of the sector's external information work, the VSS has developed and actively implemented the external information plan of the VSS for the period 2021-2025. The VSS has been actively promoting bilateral cooperation, enhancing cooperation in exchanging information and experiences in implementing social and health insurance with partners such as Japan, Korea, Denmark, etc. Besides, VSS will continue to participate in the effective implementation of projects and technical assistance programs within the framework of cooperation with international organizations in order to improve the operational efficiency and quality of human resources in the social insurance sector.

Thank you for your time, Sir!