At the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on 11 April, Deputy Spokesman Doang Khac Viet expressed disappointment with the report of UN agencies in Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet. Photo courtesy of the ministry

"We are disappointed with this report," Viet said, stressing that despite their full presence in Vietnam and extensive long-term partnerships with Vietnamese ministries and agencies, the report of the UN agencies in Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) contains many false and unverified contents, makes many non-objective and unfair assessments, without accurately and fully reflecting Vietnam's situation, efforts and achievements in the protection and promotion of human rights.

 According to Doan Khac Viet, the process of drafting Vietnam's UPR cycle 4 national report was conducted seriously, comprehensively, and with the full participation of stakeholders and UN agencies in Vietnam. However, the UN agencies' report was not prepared in a transparent manner in accordance with Vietnam's willingness to cooperate and the country's national report preparation process. It completely failed to reflect the spirit and reality of cooperation between Vietnam and the UN, as well as the cooperation priorities agreed upon by Vietnam and UN agencies, Viet said.

Viet stated that in the future, cooperation activities between Vietnam and UN development agencies in the country should be carried out in accordance with the functions and tasks of the relevant agencies and the priority needs of Vietnam.