An overview of the working session
|
Vietnam has been working to integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) into its socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020, Dong noted. The country has adopted a number of policies to enhance the effectiveness of public and private enterprises, especially in terms of institutions, business climate, corporate responsibility, transparency and equality in access to resources and business opportunities, he added.
Speaking on the behalf of the ASEAN member states, Dong highlighted the importance of policy planning at regional levels to implement the 2030 Agenda. Vietnam is willing to actively engage in and practically contribute to the United Nations (UN)’s activities around the globe.
Over the past seven decades, the UN has continually taken the lead in preventing and resolving conflicts, reducing war risks, maintaining peace and building a world that has attained numerous important achievements in the pillars of peace-security, development and human rights.
He appreciated the UN’s valuable assistance to and effective cooperation with Vietnam in the national development and protection, noting that the Vietnamese people sincerely thank the UN for its help in settling war consequences and impacts of economic embargos.
The UN has greatly assisted the country to improve its institutional capacity, administrative reform, poverty elimination, climate change response and sustainable development in the ongoing Doi moi (renewal), industrialisation and modernisation endeavours, he added.
Vietnam always regards its collaboration with the UN as a priority in its foreign policy, the Cabinet chief stressed, adding that bilateral relations will be enhanced in not only development cooperation but also in peacekeeping, conflict settlement, security maintenance, poverty elimination, environmental protection and climate change response.
ECOSOC is one of the six main organs of the UN, responsible for issues related to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and humanitarian affairs, as well as making recommendations to promote respect for and exercise of human rights.
According to the Deputy PM, the ECOSOC membership shows Vietnam has gained international credibility and acknowledgments for her national construction and development achievements as well as her contributions to peace and development in the region and the world. It also marks an important step forward in the implementation of the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and proactive and active international integration.
Following the successful assumption of positions as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2008-2009, a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2014-2016, as well as the participation in UN peace-keeping missions, the ECOSOC membership will help Vietnam get involved deeply in the largest global organisation’s activities, thus directly taking part in forming international principles and standards. He continued to say that this is the second time Vietnam has assumed the ECOSOC membership, and this tenure’s tasks are different and tougher as the council’s main mission is to carry out the recently-approved 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
