UN conference spotlights Vietnam’s MDGs realisation effort

Vietnam’s remarkable successes in realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were highlighted at a press conference in Hanoi on September 24.

The conference was hosted by the United Nations Office to inform about strategic goals for sustainable development that will be adopted in the United Nations (UN) Summit for the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in New York from September 24-28.

In her speech at the event, Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said the Summit is part of series of global events, during which leaders from countries worldwide will adopt a new global development agenda, which is expected to lay a foundation and strategic orientations for sustainable development through 2030.

She emphasised efforts made by Vietnam in realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), saying the country should share experience with other countries.

Richard Marshall, Policy Advisor of the UN Development Programme in Vietnam said Vietnam reaped positive achievements in implementing MDGs, especially in poverty reduction, primary education universalisation, gender equality, and healthcare.
He, however, noted that Vietnam needs to hasten the fulfillment of unfinished goals of HIV/AIDS control and environmental protection.

Vietnam should concentrate on maintaining and promoting its achievements, advancing towards a sustainable growth model, focusing on economic growth and poverty reduction, and comprehensive, equal development, Richard Marshall stressed.

He praised the Vietnamese Government for issuing Decision 1557/QD-TTg dated September 10, 2015 on promoting the implementation of MDGs for ethnic minority people in connection with post-2015 sustainable development targets, saying that this practical move looks to realise the country’s unfinished MDGs.

Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals that will be approved at the Summit, which built on the basis of successes in the process of implementing MDGs, include “no poverty” , “zero hunger”, “good health and well-being”, “quality education”, “gender equality”, “clean water and sanitation”, “affordable and clean energy”, “decent work and economic growth”, “industry, innovation and infrastructure”, “responsible consumption and production”, “climate action”, “life bellow water”, “life on land”, “peace, justice and strong institutions”, “reduced inequalities”, “sustainable cities and communities”, and partnership for the goals”.

They are calls for a global action towards ending poverty & hunger; protecting from degradation; promoting sustainable consumption and production; managing natural resources; ensuring that all humans can enjoy prosperous & fulfilling lives; and building peaceful, just and inclusive societies, Richard Marshall said in his presentation./.