As Chair of ASEAN in 2010, Vietnam strongly supports initiatives and efforts to elevate ASEAN-UN cooperative relations, enhance regional connectivity and build the ASEAN Community by 2015.

That is the commitment Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem made during his talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Hanoi on October 29.

Khiem informed Ban about the achievements Vietnam has reaped after more than 20 years of renewal, especially in socio-economic development, hunger eradication, poverty reduction and building a law-governed State of the people, by the people and for the people.

The deputy PM applauded the UN’s initiatives and contributions in maintaining international peace and security, ending conflicts, promoting development cooperation and ensuring human rights.

He also urged the UN to continue its reforms in the direction of enhancing its representation, openness and transparency to make UN operations more effective, meeting the interests and expectations of its member states, especially developing nations.

While expressing his delight at the big changes in Vietnam , which is playing an increasingly important role in the region and international arena, the UN chief warmly congratulated Vietnam on its successful tenure as ASEAN chair.

Ban highly valued Vietnam ’s efforts and responsible, effective contributions at the UN forum, including its successful undertaking of the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term, fulfillment of several UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule, and acceleration of the “One UN Initiative”.

Regarding the East Sea , the Secretary General said he hopes that concerned parties would hold dialogues, peacefully solve the disputes and avoid moves that further complicate the regional situation.

At the talks, the two leaders discussed and agreed on a number of directions and measures to step up bilateral cooperation in years to come, including a joint plan on Vietnam-UN cooperation for the 2012-2016 period and continued endeavours to promote the “One UN initiative”.

On ASEAN-UN relations, they expected that the third ASEAN-UN Summit would strengthen and expand bilateral multifaceted cooperation, especially in maintaining regional and international peace and security, narrowing the development gap amongst the ASEAN nations, coping with climate change, mitigating natural disasters and boosting development cooperation.

Speaking at a press conference later the same day, Ban said he and leaders of Vietnam discussed ways to deal with difficulties facing the country such as development challenges and the adverse impacts of climate change.

Vietnam is likely to achieve all the MDGs by 2015 if the government continues its performance, the UN chief said, adding that the nation should make greater efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS and in ensuring the sustainability of the environment.

Ban also emphasised the role and great contributions of ASEAN in addressing global challenges and expressed his wish to intensify cooperative relations between the UN and the group.

The UN Secretary General visited Hanoi ’s suburban district of Tu Liem to inspect HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities. He said the model of care and treatment for HIV patients at the district clinic should be expanded to other localities throughout the country to help curb the spread of the fatal virus.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong assured Ban Ki-moon that the fight against HIV/AIDS will continue to be a priority of the Vietnamese government./.