Vietnam highlights UN’s central role: PM

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and UN Resident Coordinator Kamal Malhotra - Photo: VGP

He made the statement during his meeting in Hanoi with the heads of the UN organisations in Vietnam to mark the United Nations Day (October 24) and Vietnam’s 40-year journey as an UN member.

Vietnam makes relations with the UN the top priority in its foreign policy and always regards the country as a key partner, PM Phuc affirmed. Vietnam will continue to play an active role in the UN’s efforts in promoting peace, development and human rights.

Vietnam is proud to be among those taking their first step towards “One UN Initiative” and to be home to the UN’s first eco-friendly Green One UN House, he said, citing the fact that most of the UN agencies had moved into and worked together in the building, which helps facilitate the functional teamwork and enhance the efficiency of the UN in Vietnam.

UN Resident Coordinator Kamal Malhotra congratulated Vietnam on its four decades of UN membership and thanked the government of Vietnam for its strong support to the UN reform initiatives, especially the “One UN Initiative”.

Malhotra affirmed that the UN is committed to endorsing Vietnam in implementing the 2030 Agenda and backing the country in participating in the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development next year. The UN will continue to support Vietnam’s integrated approaches to Sustainable Development Goals through national review and the development of the private economic sector, he added.

He expects that the PM will direct the relevant state agencies to further simplify their administrative procedures, facilitating the UN agencies to implement their cooperation projects in Vietnam in the time ahead.

PM Phuc highlighted the significance of 2017 which marks the launch of the Vietnam-UN Joint One Strategic Plan until 2021, with the aim of supporting Vietnam in its Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2016-2020 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. These are Vietnam’s top priorities, he said.

In the face of many challenges in resources and climate change, Vietnam wants the UN to help in mobilising sufficient and sustainable resources in terms of finance, expertise and skilled personnel, in order to achieve these priorities.