The Lao Government in collaboration with the UN Country Team has prepared its 3rd Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) progress report, expected to be complete by August this year before the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The report is due every 2-3 years to measure the progress on MDG implementation in each period to make sure the government is on track toward the 2015 target, according to the Lao News Agency (KPL). At a one-day meeting in Vientiane capital on May 9, representatives of the Government and its international development partners discussed and exchanged views on the content of the national MDG report, particularly the progress evaluation of MDG implementation according to current situation of socio-economic development in Laos .

Co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alounkeo Kittikhoun and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Minh Pham, the meeting also aimed to encourage relevant sectors to exert more efforts in achieving the MDGs implementation as planned by 2015.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alounkeo Kittikhoun said the report emphasises Lao’s commitment to the Millennium Declaration, by examining in depth the disparities at sub-national level, looking at the most vulnerable groups, such as trafficking victims, and women and children in rural areas, and including governance issues such as anti-corruption measures and institutional capacities.

He said that Laos is fully committed to implementing the actions needed to maintain its steady progress.

"The report highlights challenges in the institutional and governance context, such as the need for us to support the government in efforts to fight corruption and the need for capacity strengthening in most of the MDG areas," the KPL quoted UN Resident Coordinator Minh Pham as saying.-VNA