The dialogue focused on the theme "Implementing Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality in the Workplace". Attending the dialogue was high-level EU and ASEAN Member States responsible for promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls.

On Vietnam side, at the opening speech, Deputy Minister of MOLISA Nguyen Thi Ha said: Gender equality in the workplace is one of the important solutions to promote economic power, the premise of empowering women in all aspects of political, economic and social life. Therefore, Viet Nam has developed legal frameworks to promote the empowerment of women in the economy through models, career education, job creation, and support women in business and gender equality in the workplace.

It is estimated that about 50% of female workers are trainees from vocational training scheme for rural workers. The employment rate of women in the total number of employed workers is maintained at over 48%. Many localities have built the "Women Startup" Fund and the percentage of women who own the business is over 30%. Many agencies, industrial parks and export processing zones have kindergartens. As a result, gender equality in employment and employment has improved significantly, enhancing substantive gender equality in rights and opportunities between men and women.

“The launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 with Goal 5 on gender equality has given impetus to countries around the world and regional mechanisms to implement the commitments. Goal 5 is to promote the active and effective participation of women in economic activities, which is the driving force behind sustainable development. In this regard, the Government of Vietnam has issued a National Action Plan to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the implementation of Goal 5 for achieving gender equality, empowerment and creating opportunities for women and girls, " Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized.

Mr. Kung Phoak, Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community stated that ASEAN is committed to achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls as reflected in ASEAN Vision 2025 and the key documents of ASEAN. 2017 was a successful year for ASEAN to honor women and girls.

Mr. Geiger Henriette, Director of People and Peace, Director General of the Department for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission, discussed: Equality between men and women is one of the fundamental values of the Commission. European Commission is specified in the EU Agreements. The European Union promotes gender equality within its borders as well as in relations with partner countries, especially in development cooperation.

ASEAN and the European Union are committed to protect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its international instruments in which the ASEAN countries participate. EU-ASEAN human rights policy dialogue was held in Brussels (Belgium) in 2015 and followed by a second human rights policy dialogue in 2017 in Bohol, Philippines.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha added that this dialogue was organized in the series of events leading to the 3rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on October 25, 2018 in Hanoi. She hoped this event would be a start for discussion forums on good practices and challenges as well as evidence-based solutions for achieving Sustainable Development No. 5 and other gender-related sustainability goals in both regions.

In addition to actively participating in regional activities, Vietnam is also the coordinator of the project "Integrating gender into labor and employment policies to promote decent work for all" in period 2018 – 2020. This is the activity proposed by Vietnam under the ASEAN Labor Channel and has been coordinated by the ASEAN Women's Network (ACW). The project has been approved by the ASEAN Labor Ministers in the ASEAN Workers' Work Plan for 2016-2020. The output of the project is to develop a Gender Mainstreaming Guideline into the law and Labor policies, which refer to the issue of women labor in the law, labor policy in comparison with international standards. Through this guideline, countries in the region can shape the state of gender equality in their respective countries, while enhancing gender mainstreaming in the field of labor and employment to promote equality gender orientation towards decent work for all.

Gender equality is not only a basic human right but also a necessary foundation for building a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Despite the progress made so far, women and girls still suffer discrimination and violence throughout the world. The goal of sustainable development No.5 is to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls, as a prerequisite for achieving all sustainable development goals and indicators.