Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (R) shakes hands with UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always takes the United Nations (UN) as a top priority in the country’s foreign policy, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said on October 23.
Hosting a reception for UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra and representatives of the UN in the country on the occasion of the UN Day (October 24), Deputy PM Binh stressed that the UN has been a dear friend of Vietnam since the times of hardships after the war, and the country attaches much importance to the cooperative ties with the UN.
Binh stressed Vietnam’s stance of supporting UN’s efforts to reform its development network to boost the efficiency of the development cooperation among countries across the world, assist member states’ development priorities, as well as successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
He held that the Resident Coordinator should focus resources for the goal of supporting socio-economic development, thus realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly poverty elimination.
The Deputy PM held high expectation that the coordinator will work to connect all UN organisations in implementing entrusted missions while ensuring autonomy and comparative advantages of each agency.
He took the occasion to ask the UN organisations to forecast and update new trends and possible crises in the region and the world and their impact on Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Government will continue its cooperation activities with the UN, and create favourable conditions for the UN organisations so that they can carry out projects and programmes in the country in the most effective fashion, he said.
He asked the Government Office, the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, and Foreign Affairs to coordinate with competent ministries and sectors to review and outline measures to simplify ODA management and reception procedures, as well as approve non-refundable aid projects to take advantage of the international support.
On behalf of the UN organisations in Vietnam, Kamal Malhotra congratulated Vietnam on its achievements and prestige in the international arena. He thanked the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry for its coordination to organise the Meeting on the UN Development System Reform, and hoped that Vietnam will be a leading contributor to the system.
The UN will accompany Vietnam on the way to achieve all the SDGs and ensure that no one is left behind, he said, stressing it will support the Southeast Asian country in policies to improve labour capacity and competitiveness to avoid the mid-income trap./.
VNA
