The international community highly valued Viet Nam’s efforts in finalizing some United Nations-initiated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule.
It was heard at the 2013 Annual Ministerial Review of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 1-4 to talk about international socio-economic issues.
The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong who delivered a speech on “Science, technology, innovation, and the potential of culture for promoting sustainable development and achieving the MDGs”.
Viet Nam is one of the three countries which have volunteered to share their experience and outcomes attained in the cause of national development.
So far, Viet Nam has fulfilled the goal to halve poverty rate (MDG 1) in 2002 and continued to acquire more achievements in poverty reduction. The rate was significantly slashed to only 10.7% in 2010.
The country also completed the goal of universal access to elementary education (MDG 2) in 2000. Currently, the enrolment rate of children is 97.7%.
Rapid advancement in promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment (MDG 3) was recorded.
The goals to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health (MDG 4 and 5) gained remarkable achievements.
In addition, Viet Nam took big leap forward developing a global partnership for development (MDG 8) by mobilizing external investment and taking advantage of free trade in favor of economic growth and poverty reduction.
Nevertheless, as one of the countries which are badly affected by climate change, a large proportion of Vietnamese are at risk of falling into poverty again. This is the biggest challenge Viet Nam will have to face in the coming years to realize the MDG 7 on ensuring environment sustainability./.