Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN (Photo: VNA) New York (VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) completely supports the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and commits to uniting with African countries to realise the UN Agenda 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063 for growth, prosperity and development of regional countries.
The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, on behalf of ASEAN countries at the 23rd meeting of the UN General Assembly on October 19.
The ASEAN appreciates the outcomes and progresses that African countries have made in the implementation of the NEPAD, especially in important areas such as economic development, infrastructure, agriculture, education and national governance, he stated.
However, the ASEAN also sees long-term challenges facing Africa, including agricultural productivity, food security, economic diversification and market access, along with the shortage of financial resources and the limited governance capacity during NEPAD implementation, he said.
According to the Ambassador, the ASEAN and Africa can exchange experience in a number of areas, especially in the implementation of the African Agenda 2063 and the ASEAN Joint Vision 2025, as well as the UN Agenda 2030, given many similarities in their development agendas.
The two sides boast great potential for cooperation and connection, as well as sharing know-how in agriculture, education, information technology, trade, investment and infrastructure system, including through Triangle and South-South cooperation mechanisms, stated the diplomat.
He affirmed ASEAN’s commitments to continuing to work with friendly countries, partners, including those from Africa, to protect values of multilateralism, considering it as a joint mission of the entire mankind.
ASEAN calls on development partners, international financial institutions, regional and sub-regional organisations, as well as the international community to continue supporting African countries to pursue the goal of peace and sustainable development, as well as the continent’s efforts in implementing the NEPAD, he said.
NEPAD is a socio-economic development flagship programme of the African Union (AU), adopted by African leaders at the 37th Summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) held in Lusaka, Zambia, in July 2001.
Its four major objectives are to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, foster integration of Africa in the world economy, and
accelerate the empowerment of women.-VNA
VNA
