Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always takes the United Nations (UN) as a toppriority in the country’s foreign policy, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binhsaid on October 23.

Hosting a reception for UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra andrepresentatives of the UN in the country on the occasion of the UN Day (October24), Deputy PM Binh stressed that the UN has been a dear friend of Vietnamsince the times of hardships after the war, and the country attaches muchimportance to the cooperative ties with the UN.

Binh stressed Vietnam’s stance of supporting UN’s efforts to reform itsdevelopment network to boost the efficiency of the development cooperationamong countries across the world, assist member states’ development priorities,as well as successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He held that the Resident Coordinator should focus resources for the goal of supportingsocio-economic development, thus realising the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), particularly poverty elimination.

The Deputy PM held high expectation that the coordinator will work to connectall UN organisations in implementing entrusted missions while ensuring autonomyand comparative advantages of each agency.

He took the occasion to ask the UN organisations to forecast and update newtrends and possible crises in the region and the world and their impact onVietnam.

The Vietnamese Government will continue its cooperation activities with the UN,and create favourable conditions for the UN organisations so that they cancarry out projects and programmes in the country in the most effective fashion,he said.

He asked the Government Office, the Ministries of Planning and Investment,Finance, and Foreign Affairs to coordinate with competent ministries andsectors to review and outline measures to simplify ODA management and receptionprocedures, as well as approve non-refundable aid projects to take advantage ofthe international support.

On behalf of the UN organisations in Vietnam, Kamal Malhotra congratulatedVietnam on its achievements and prestige in the international arena. He thankedthe Vietnamese Foreign Ministry for its coordination to organise the Meeting onthe UN Development System Reform, and hoped that Vietnam will be a leadingcontributor to the system.

The UN will accompany Vietnam on the way to achieve all the SDGs and ensurethat no one is left behind, he said, stressing it will support the SoutheastAsian country in policies to improve labour capacity and competitiveness toavoid the mid-income trap./.