The Government of Vietnam decided to continue with strong socio-economic measures, with social integration representing an important proportion, said Ambassador Bui The Giang, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam at the United Nations.

Addressing the 48 th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development on Feb. 3 in New York , Ambassador Giang said the policies and measures, undertaken by the government of Vietnam last year to address adverse economic and social impacts of the world crisis, had proven to be effective.

The inflation rate was maintained below two digits and the consumer price index (CPI) stayed at 6.88 percent. The poverty rate was reduced to 12.3 percent from 13.4 percent in 2008 and 1.6 million new jobs were created.

Ambassador Giang said this year, agriculture, rural areas and farmers in Vietnam will enjoy greater assistance from the government in technology transfer, technical training and infrastructural support.

He said anti-poverty programmes will be sped up in a sustainable way and thoroughly assessed to prepare for a new phase of development. Social protection systems will be expanded and their quality improved, particularly in public health and education. Women’s participation will be further promoted in all aspects of life, most immediately in the labor market.

More drastic measures will be undertaken to minimise impacts of natural disasters and ensure a greener economy, Giang added.

He called on support and cooperation from the US bodies and agencies and all international partners for the effective implementation of these measures. He also confirmed Vietnam ’s willingness to join hands with the international community in fulfilling the commitment which all governments made at the world summit in Copenhagen in 1995.

During the session, he informed the UN delegates of the initiative that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had announced at the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland last week on the establishment of an East Asia Fund on Climate Change and called on positive responses from regional countries./.