As published in Viet Nam Plus on October 2, 2024

New York (VNA) – Vietnam is a key partner of the UN in general and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in particular with great contributions to human development and sustainable growth in recent years, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner told the Vietnam News Agency after Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s recent US trip for the UN Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

Steiner said that the 45-year partnership between Vietnam and the UNDP has evolved through different phases in Vietnam, and this experience has helped shape UNDP's current Country Programme to meet Vietnam’s specific needs.

Over the years, bilateral cooperation has focused on major areas such as governance to increase transparency and digitalisation, the official noted.

He underlined that Vietnam’s active participation in multilateral forums is crucial to shaping inclusive global policies, and its partnership with the UNDP has also enhanced the country's leadership in addressing regional and international development priorities.

The administrator highlighted technology as another focal point in bilateral cooperation, noting that Vietnam and the UNDP are working together to ensure that technological developments drive economic growth while addressing social inequalities, with future technologies serving as a leverage for the realisation of sustainable and inclusive development goals.

Bilateral partnership also places an emphasis on green transformation initiatives, including promoting clean energy, protecting natural resources, strengthening resilience, and promoting nature-based tourism and a circular economy, he said, adding that an important aspect of this partnership is Vietnam’s support for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

The UNDP stands ready to support Vietnam when the country is in need as in recent Typhoon Yagi, affirmed Steiner. It is working to strengthen resilience and response mechanisms, focusing on rebuilding livelihoods and infrastructure and ensuring equitable and sustainable recovery for vulnerable communities. The long-standing Vietnam-UNDP partnership, based on mutual trust to continue joint efforts to address national, regional, and international development challenges, is a model for other countries to follow, he stressed.

Commenting on Vietnam’s efforts to fulfil Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UNDP official said that Vietnam has achieved remarkable results in realising long-standing commitments to poverty reduction and universal health care, education and essential infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas.

The country has recorded an average annual growth rate of over 6% in the 2020-2024 period. Since 1990, the poverty rate has dropped sharply and extreme poverty was almost eliminated in 2020, he noted.

Meanwhile, Vietnam's Human Development Index (HDI) rose nearly 50% from 1990 to 2022, bringing it into the group of countries with high human development. In addition, the proportion of the population living below the international poverty line decreased from 2.9% in 2010 to 0.7% in 2020, attesting to Vietnam's strongly-impacting policies in its efforts to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty, the UNDP official commented.

He asserted that despite gaps in access to essential services in remote areas, Vietnam has shown progress in its efforts to achieve the SDGs. The UNDP's Integrated SDG Insights report for Vietnam highlighted commendable progress in poverty reduction, clean water access improvement, and affordable clean energy and economic development in the country. However, it is still facing many challenges in climate action, tackling marine pollution and conserving mountain and coastal biodiversity, he pointed out.

Vietnam and its residents, the official said, have become more vulnerable to climate change, stating the organisation's pledges of support for the Vietnamese Government to develop a comprehensive social protection package to mitigate its impacts and enhance resilience for the impoverished.

According to him, creating a favourable condition for the digital transformation and green transition has an important role to play in achieving sustainable development, which requires a strong management ability. The UNDP has been proud to work with Vietnam in those significant areas, which are the focus of the organisation’s national programme to push ahead the concretisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Regarding the Vietnamese leader’s attendance at the UN General Assembly’s 79th session, the UNDP Administrator highlighted it reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for the world’s largest multilateral organisation and the nation’s positive contributions to the UN’s initiatives such as peacekeeping activities, climate actions, SDGs, and the freshly adopted Pact for the Future.

He held that Lam’s attendance was an opportunity for Vietnam to share its national development achievements and future vision, highlighting the country, transforming itself from once a war-torn nation to the one with dynamic economic growth, could inspire other nations with its lessons on poverty alleviation, climate change response and sustainable economic development.

The official said he had an effective and meaningful meeting with the Vietnamese top leader, during which they discussed the Vietnam – UNDP partnership as well as cooperation measures to help Vietnam recover from Typhoon Yagi, promote just and inclusive energy transition, bolster water security and facilitate digital transformation, among others.

He expressed his belief that the Vietnam – UNDP ties and the Vietnam – UN relationship as a whole will thrive in the coming time, given the country’s aspiration to become a high-income nation within a generation and achieve the net-zero target before 2050 which reflects Vietnam’s leadership role and commitment to the multilateral agenda in the international arena.

Both sides will focus on the mission to step up sustainable development, with the highlight placed on economic transformation, environmental protection, and social equity, he stressed, adding the UNDP will assist Vietnam to mobilise resources and investment, particularly through the domestic capital market, and to fund green and sustainable development projects, with just energy transition and climate change resilience as the centres.

The official went on to say that digital transformation will be a key cooperation area, taking UNDP’s endorsement for the remote healthcare initiative to increase the approach in this field in the country.

He underscored that the Vietnam – UNDP relations will be promoted by their shared commitments to sustainable development, justice, and benefits for all citizens. The UNDP is willing to support and help Vietnam respond to future challenges and build an equitable and resilient society.

The UNDP is looking forward to continuing its cooperation for the sustainable development in Vietnam and the region, he added./.