At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam congratulated Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano on being appointed as the new Secretary General of ISSA. At the same time, he expressed his belief that with the experience in social security and the important positions that he used to hold, Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano will contribute to promoting the relationship and cooperation between Vietnam Social Security and ISSA to develop well.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam emphasized: “Despite being a new member of the association, Vietnam Social Security has actively participated in joint activities; At the same time, they are highly appreciated by ISSA. In the coming time, I hope that ISSA will continue to help Vietnam Social Security in the work of sustainable development and social security.”

According to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Vietnam is still in the development stage and faces many difficulties. Especially, when the aging population or gap widening between the rich and the poor are happening today, Vietnam has always determined and paid attention to all strata of society, stepping towards establishing the best and the most complete social security network.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam also stated that Vietnam currently has over 50 ethnic groups, including ethnic minority groups with very few people who have quite outdated lifestyle, so in addition to applying the general rules of social insurance in the world, it is necessary for Vietnam to have separate policies suit these groups. Moreover, the top priority in Vietnam is that we need to change people's perceptions about social insurance policies, so that people can perceive that this is a major social security policy of the Party and the State with the aim of caring for people.

Sharing the results of social security work in Vietnam recently, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam affirmed that in the past 10 years, social insurance and health insurance policies have made great changes and contributions in ensuring social security for people. Particularly for the health insurance policy, there has been a historic step. Accordingly, within 5 years, Vietnam has brought the percentage of health insurance coverage from 60% to 90% of the population.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam assumed that in order for the social security system to develop in a sustainable way, it is necessary to develop both pillars of social insurance and health insurance. Therefore, it is essential to continue to make drastic changes in the field of social insurance. "Now, only 30% of people paying for social insurance in their working age group, therefore, a drastic change is soon needed, just like health insurance - This is one of the great tasks of Vietnam Social Security in the near future." - Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said.

As the ASEAN President  2020, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam will continue to integrate social security and insurance cooperation into ASEAN's agendas. The activities of members of the International Social Security Association in Vietnam will contribute to promoting and enhancing the role, position and image of Vietnam in the region and the world, in accordance with the goal of "building a cohesive and proactive community” of Vietnam during the ASEAN Presidency 2020.

The Deputy Prime Minister desired that, in the coming time, ISSA, Vietnam Social Security and the relevant agencies of Vietnam will promote cooperation in areas such as technical assistance, staff training, technology transfer; cooperation, experience sharing between countries; simultaneously, promote international cooperation in the ASEAN community. Thereby, the social security system in Vietnam develops towards sustainability, professionalism and efficiency; developing multi-tier social insurance, expanding coverage, improving system administration capacity and promoting e-government implementation.

Thanking Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam for the solemn welcome, Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano - ISSA Secretary General expressed his pleasure that ISSA's priorities are quite similar to those of Vietnam Social Security. “So we have had the foundations for further cooperation. I look forward to further strengthening cooperation between ISSA and regional organizations as well as exchanging and cooperating more with leaders of countries like Vietnam in the direction of mutual benefits.” - Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano said.

Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano also shared that, expanding the coverage and promoting the application of information technology are two of the most important goals set by ISSA in the period of 2020-2022. Mr. Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano hopes that, in the coming time, ISSA and Vietnam will strengthen effective cooperation, fulfill the goal of ensuring social security in Vietnam, contributing to empowering the position and image of Vietnam in the process of international integration in social security./.