Deputy FM: Population work key to national development

Illustration photo (VNA)

Quy made the affirmation at a reception in Hanoi on December 1 for Natalia Kanem, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Director Bjorn Anderson, who have been in Vietnam to attend the 9th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR).

He lauded the UNFPA’s role, saying that the agency has helped Vietnam solve its social issues and poverty reduction, implement the UN Millennium Development Goals, train personnel, and work out policies on population, thus contributing to the country’s socio-economic achievements and improving people’s living conditions. 

The deputy minister  suggested the UN and the UNFPA in particular continue advising Vietnam on socio-economic development policies, including population issues, building the Population Law, dealing with population aging challenges and gender imbalance at birth,  and providing official development assistance (ODA) capital for Vietnam to implement their joint cooperation programmes from 2017-2021.

Vietnam is willing to work with the UNFPA to push the organisation’s priorities at the UN forum and implement population and sustainable development goals and other international commitments.

Kanem expressed her impression about significant socio-economic achievements Vietnam has made over the past 30 years of Doi Moi (Reform).

Vietnam is a typical example in completing most of the MDGs and implementing the One UN Initiative in Vietnam, she said.

The UN official spoke highly of the country’s commitment to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

The UNFPA will continue assisting Vietnam in carrying out population policies and promoting gender equality and women empowerment, thus contributing the nation’s development, she pledged.

Source: VNA