Vietnam seeks UN assistance in green growth

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Ngoc Mai 20:43, 2021/08/13

Both sides share the same view on the importance of improving the healthcare system, social welfare, addressing climate change, and promoting digital transformation.

Vietnam is seeking assistance from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) to deal with socio-economic consequences left by the Covid-19 pandemic for green and sustainable recovery.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: baoquocte.vn

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son made the proposal in an online meeting with the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana today [August 13].

Son stressed the importance of Vietnam-ESCAP relations, as well as ESCAP's role in promoting sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in the Asia-Pacific.

Son welcomed ESCAP’s recent 77th session in April that adopted a resolution on “build back better “, focusing on strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation to aid recovery in the post-pandemic period.

“Vietnam is willing to cooperate with ESCAP in realizing this resolution,” stated Son, noting both sides share the same view on the importance of improving the healthcare system, social welfare, addressing climate change, and promoting digital transformation.

On this occasion, Son proposed ESCAP to support the Mekong region to realize sustainable development goals, strengthen linkage and improve capabilities in managing water resources.

As the year 2022 would mark the 75th anniversary of the ESCAP foundation and the 45th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to the UN, Son said this would be an opportunity for both to deepen relations.

For her part, Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development and global integration over the years, including its successful role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

According to Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Vietnam has made a significant contribution to ESCAP in promoting regional development.

In the coming time, ESCAP is expected to support Vietnam in social welfare, e-commerce, and drafting the Voluntary National Review in reassessing the progress towards sustainable development goals.

The UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is one of the five regional commissions of the UN, and its regional development arm for the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1947 with its headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, ESCAP is made up of 53 Member States and 9 Associate Members.

In the area of trade facilitation, UNESCAP assists countries to:

- Promote the simplification, harmonization, and standardization of trade procedures to reduce costs as well as transaction times;
- Facilitate trade and investment flows, in particular, paperless trade and e-commerce;
- Promote the application of the ESCAP trade facilitation framework in the region;
- Develop tools and guides for the implementation of trade facilitation measures;
- Conduct research trade facilitation, including reducing trade cost, streamlining trade facilitation procedures, and trade facilitation and paperless trade implementation.

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