Vietnam is willing to actively engage in and practically contribute to the United Nations (UN)’s activities around the globe, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at a celebration of the UN’s 70th founding anniversary in Hanoi on October 27. Addressing the event, the PM described the establishment of the UN on October 24, 1945 as a turning point in the world’s history that has brought about massive changes to the humankind’s peace and progress. 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. The leader called on the organisation to speed up reforms in a comprehensive, balanced, transparent and equal fashion that meet its member nations’ interests. The organisation should strengthen policies and resources supporting efforts to eradicate social unfairness and inequality, reduce poverty, narrow development gap, and boost green economic growth, ultimately creating a sustainable foundation for peace, security and development. He urged the UN Security Council to shortly increase the member number and renovate its working method in order to effectively cope with global peace and security challenges. Meanwhile, UN agencies in Vietnam also need to update their operations to become the country’s development partners, instead of sponsors, to promote equal and effective cooperation. 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. On behalf of UN organisations, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta welcomed the Southeast Asian nation’s role and actively participation in the UN for almost 40 years, especially as the UN Security Council President in 2008 and a member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2013. She congratulated Vietnam on its election as a member of the Economic and Social Council in the 2016-2018 tenure as well as socio-economic accomplishments and strong commitments to realising the Millennium Development Goals. “Vietnam’s leadership on UN reforms and Delivering as One approach to ensure greater UN coherence, harmonisation and effectiveness as well as its commitment to inter – government agreement such as MDGs is globally well known,” she said. “The United Nations is proud to be a trusted partner of Vietnam for 40 years, even before it officially became a member of the United Nations.” She noted that Vietnam and other 192 UN member countries signed up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, voicing her hope for Vietnam’s high level participation in UN Climate Change Conference COP 21 to ensure an ambitious and universal climate change agreement, which is the first real test for world’s community to deliver on necessary policy tools for sustainable development. Pratibha Mehta affirmed that the UN System in Vietnam stands fully committed to supporting the country in its post-2015 journey to ensure inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. At the ceremony, a photo exhibition on the 40-year relationship between Vietnam and the UN was opened, highlighting humanitarian supports, rebuilding efforts, all-round reforms and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The celebration was jointly held by the Foreign Ministry and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.-VNA