VN advocates UN’s development system reform

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and UN Resident Coordinator Kamal Malhotra, Ha Noi, October 24, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

On behalf of the Government, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Mr. Kamal Malhotra on the United Nations Day. 

Viet Nam, said the host leader, attaches importance to the relations with the UN.  He recalled his presence at the High-Level General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, adding that he was impressed by a speech by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres which highlighted preventive diplomacy, conflict control, climate change response and gender equality. 

In reply, UN Resident Coordinator Kamal Malhotra described Viet Nam as one of the leading countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. 

The guest leader expressed his pleasure that 2018 is the first year Viet Nam and the UN jointly implement the Joint One Strategic Plan. To successfully realize the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, he emphasized the need for the UN and Viet Nam to hold a high-level forum to reach a consensus on financial sources.

At the meeting, representatives of UN agencies in Viet Nam congratulated the country on its socio-economic development achievements, and showed their support for the country’s efforts to respond to climate change, intensify economic reform, and boost the development of the private economy.

They vowed to cooperate with Viet Nam in socio-culture and child care, while appreciating and backing Viet Nam’s commitments to environmental protection.

PM Phuc stressed that Viet Nam attaches importance to the UN’s central role and considers the organization one of the priorities in its foreign policy, and a leading partner.

Viet Nam will maintain its active and responsible contributions to the UN’s works in all the three pillars of peace, development, and human rights promotion, the Government leader affirmed.

He spoke highly of support by the UN agencies, which, he said, has brought practical benefits to Viet Nam. 

He proposed both sides maintain coordination to successfully carry out SDGs, global commitments and agreements to address challenges such as climate change adaptation and protection and sustainable use of water resources in the Mekong River basin.

He proposed UNICEF help Vietnam in making laws and policies more friendly to children, WHO in building a modern health system, and ILO in ensuring social equality.

For its part, Viet Nam will step up collaboration with the UN and create all favorable for its agencies in the nation, he said, adding that it supports the organization’s development system reform efforts./. ​

By Khanh Phuong