(MPI) - Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on July 3 gave a reception for visiting Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

At the meeting. Photo: MPI

Highlighting the sound cooperation between Vietnam and the UN, and the ESCAP in particular, Minister Dung said Vietnam always wishes for stronger ties, and is fully responsible for its commitments, including the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Alisjahbana, for her part, spoke highly of Vietnam’s significant commitments in implementing the SDGs, coping with climate change, and materialising the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and digital transformation. She also commended the country’s efforts for placing people as the centre, target, driving force and resources of development, and does not trade progress, social justice and the environment for mere economic growth.

The ESCAP and other UN organisations stand ready to support Vietnam in accelerating the fulfilment of the SDGs, preparing to join the 2023 SDG Summit to be organised in New York in September, just energy transition, response to climate change, and digital transformation, she noted.

ESCAP has selected some countries to evaluate progress and build long-term roadmap related to the SDGs, including Vietnam. The ESCAP Secretariat said, these results will be considered in the future path and climate change actions, the implementation of policies, as well as financial resources for investment in the SDGs.

In reply, Minister Dung said Vietnam considers the SDGs priority to develop sustainably, harmoniously and more balanced, which is the inevitable choice. The country is focusing on three strategic breakthroughs of institutional building, human resource and infrastructure development, and adding two new factors of culture and human values, and science and technology, and innovation.

To prepare for the 2023 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Developmentand the SDGs Summit, Vietnam is speeding up actions to materialise its commitments. The MPI minister suggested international organisations, especially the UN, continue to provide assistance to Vietnam in improving capacity, accessing to preferential financial resources, training human resource, and sharing experience to further promote the implementation of the SDGs./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment