Vietnam Supports UN's Measures To Meet MDG

NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Bernama)

Vietnam supports general solutions and specific measures for each millennium development goal (MDG) as proposed in the UN Summit's action plan, affirmed State President Nguyen Minh Triet, Vietnam news agency said.

In his speech delivered at the plenary session of the UN Summit on MDGs in New York on Monday, President Triet spoke highly of positive outcomes in implementing MDGs, which, he said, have contributed to improving the life of hundreds of millions of people, including those in the poorest nations.

The President stressed the most valuable lesson drawn over the past decade, saying the implementation of MDGs must be the focus of international cooperation and development strategies in developing countries.

"Only in doing so can the international community raise the necessary resources for realising the goals," he said.

He said that Vietnam has fulfilled some MDGs ahead of deadline and is likely to meet the remaining goals by 2015, adding the UN, international organisations and countries acknowledged Vietnam's achievements in poverty reduction, primary education universalisation, gender equal promotion, reduction of child fatality, improvement of mother health and prevention of malaria and other diseases.

"Vietnam has implemented the MDGs through the institutionalisation of MDGs and integration of MDGs into development strategies, plans and programmes at all levels and encouragement of the people's involvement," the President said.

He expressed his concern over poverty in the world as well as the uneven outcomes in implementing MDGs among countries.

"Without new and stronger measures, it is likely that many regions will fail to realise the goals," he said.

The President described peace and stability as the prerequisite condition for development, calling on UN members to raise strong voice for peaceful solutions to international conflicts and protest war policies and the use of violence.

Vietnam also strongly calls for an end of the economic embargo against Cuba, he said.

The country has enhanced cooperation within the South-South framework as well as with Southeast Asian nations and other regions, he added.

While calling for the facilitation of developing countries' efforts in making policies and raising management capacity, Triet urged developed nations to carry out their commitments, contributing to concluding Doha negotiations and removing unfair measures in trade.

UN member countries need to devise international and national plans to maintain achievements and meet all MDGs, striving for higher goals, he concluded.

-- BERNAMA