Vietnam has exerted efforts and obtained achievements in improving people’s living conditions, especially in socio-economic development, said Cephas Lumina, UN Independent Expert on foreign debts and human rights.

The UN expert made the remark during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Hanoi on March 28.

Cephas Lumina thanked the Vietnamese Government for creating favourable conditions for his current visit to Vietnam from March 21-29.

He also welcomed Vietnam ’s policy of increased international dialogue and cooperation, including cooperation with the United Nations and developments partners, and affirmed the inseparable link between human rights and development.

He valued the usefulness of his current visit to Vietnam , saying that valuable experiences of the Southeast Asian nation will be a lesson for UN members whose circumstances were similar to Vietnam ’s.

Deputy Prime Minister Khiem affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always pays attention to the goal of promoting and protecting human rights.

Vietnam took efforts and measures to ensure the people to better enjoy human rights and improve their living conditions, he said.

He stressed that Vietnam attaches importance to international dialogues and cooperation on human rights, especially with the UN.

He welcomed the working visit to Vietnam by the UN expert.

During his visit to Vietnam , Cephas Lumina had working sessions with the National Assembly’s committees, ministries and agencies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City .

He also met and discussed with research agencies, financial institutions, donors and foreign non-governmental organisations operating in Vietnam. /.