On October 17, 2023, in Hanoi, H.E. Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Home Affairs, received a courtesy call from the EROPA Secretary-General and heads of state-level member delegations attending the 2023 EROPA Conference in Hanoi, Viet Nam.
An overview of the reception
During the meeting, the international guests in attendance included Hon. Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Minister of the Interior and Local Government of the Philippines; Ybhg. Datuk Dr. Anesee Ibrahim, Deputy Director General, Public Service Department, Malaysia; Dr. Alex Brilliantes Jr., Secretary-General of EROPA; H.E. Denny Abdi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Viet Nam; H.E. Meynardo LB. Montealegre, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines in Viet Nam; Heads of EROPA State members, including Korea, Indonesia, Nepal, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and China; Prof.Dr. Masao Kikuchi, Meiji University, Japan, Chair of Future Plans and Programs Committee of EROPA; Mr. Kenneth Sim, Dean, Chandler Academy of Governance; representative of the EROPA Secretariat; EROPA Executive Council.
On behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) of Viet Nam, there were H.E.Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trieu Van Cuong, Vice Minister of Home Affairs; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, President of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), Chair of the EROPA Executive Council for the 2024 – 2025 term; leaders of the Office of MoHA, Department of International Cooperation; Board of Directors of NAPA.
H.E. Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Home Affairs of Viet Nam and Hon. Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Minister of the Interior and Local Government of the Philippines.
In her welcoming speech during the reception, H.E. Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Home Affairs, expressed her gratitude to the delegates for coming to Viet Nam to attend and contribute to the 2023 EROPA Conference.
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra provided an overview of Viet Nam’s development over the nearly 40 years since the renovation process and particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite facing challenges, Viet Nam has made significant socio-economic achievements; national security and social order and safety have been well-maintained. The Minister highly appreciated EROPA’s role in the reform of public service in each member country, as well as in promoting and innovating public governance in the Asia-Pacific region. This is especially significant given the global trends of globalization, multi-polarization, and peaceful development, which are notably prominent in the Asia-Pacific region, making it one of the most dynamic and potential areas in the world. The Minister also highly appreciated the practical and timely nature of the Conference’s theme. The 2023 EROPA Conference program is meticulously developed with rich scientific and practical aspects. The participation of 12 international speakers in plenary sessions and 170 authors registering for presenting in parallel sessions has demonstrated the practicality of the Conference and the interest of scholars, scientists, and practitioners in the region in EROPA.
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra hopes that the Conference will also serve as a forum for public service agencies and training institutions in the region to enhance cooperation, increase specialized knowledge exchange, share best practices, and contribute to the promotion of administrative reform and public service innovation in each member country.
She wished the Conference a great success and hoped that the delegates would have memorable days during their stay in Viet Nam with good impressions of the country.
Speaking in response during the meeting, Dr. Alex Brillantes, Secretary-General of EROPA, expressed his honor at being welcomed by MoHA of Viet Nam. He also thanked NAPA for hosting the Conference. Dr. Alex Brillantes emphasized the significant role played by the MoHA of Viet Nam in the country’s social development and governance. He particularly acknowledged the efforts made by MoHA of Viet Nam in improving the welfare of the people and public servants through its focus on public sector reform, innovation, and the promotion of flexibility and creativity in the public sector, all contributing to sustainable development.
Dr. Alex Brillantes expressed his hope that the 2023 EROPA Conference would mark a new phase in the cooperation between EROPA and NAPA. He also anticipated that the Conference would generate new initiatives and ideas to address the challenges faced in the field of public governance.
The EROPA Secretary-General expressed his desire for further opportunities to collaborate with MoHA of Viet Nam and NAPA to contribute to sustainable development and the creation of a prosperous and equitable society for all nations.
Expressing his honor at being welcomed in Viet Nam by Minister of the Home Affairs H.E. Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Hon. Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Minister of the Interior and Local Government of the Philippines, affirmed that this is a meaningful forum for exchanging and sharing experiences in public governance. As someone who has had the opportunity to attend EROPA Conferences, listen to delegates from various countries and regions around the world, and witness the impressive economic development progress of many countries, Hon. Benjamin Abalos, Jr. states that the development of countries within EROPA has become a benchmark for comparing and evaluating development. He also emphasized that this is an excellent forum for sharing the developmental experiences of public servants from different countries.
A group photo of the delegates.
