Deputy PM Nguyen Van Thang meets UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

Nguyen expressed his pleasure at meeting Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua on the eve of the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). He highly appreciated Mr. Li's leadership in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including successfully presiding over the annual High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the UN for its support to Viet Nam in achieving its sustainable development targets and highlighted the practical, effective cooperation between both sides in recent times. He called for the early finalization of the Strategic Cooperation Framework for 2027–2031, closely aligned with Viet Nam's major development directions and strategies.

In light of the slowing global and Asia-Pacific progress toward the SDGs due to negative impacts from overlapping crises, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the urgent need to strengthen political commitments, uphold multilateralism and international cooperation, and promote systemic, comprehensive, and inclusive solutions to accelerate SDG implementation.

Concurrently, favorable conditions must be created for developing countries to gain fair access to science, technology, knowledge, and development resources—especially amid the strong global digital and green transitions, he added.

Sharing insights into Viet Nam's national development, Nguyen noted that Viet Nam has proactively and synchronously implemented key strategies, core policies, and the National Action Plan for the 2030 Agenda, achieving positive initial results: maintaining high economic growth momentum, making significant progress in poverty reduction, lowering unemployment, expanding health insurance coverage, and universalizing primary education.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Viet Nam remains steadfast on its path of sustainable development, placing people at the center as both the subject and driving force of development, and strictly ensuring that no one is left behind.

Nguyen requested that the UN continue to partner with Viet Nam by sharing climate change response expertise, providing financial and technological support to fulfill climate commitments, developing renewable energy, advancing energy transition, and promoting sustainable development in the Mekong Delta.

He also sought the UN's assistance in effectively mobilizing ODA resources, prioritizing science and technology development, digital transformation, climate change adaptation, and high-quality human resource training.

For his side, Li expressed deep impression at the decisive, breakthrough policies and long-term strategic vision implemented by the Vietnamese Government to promote rapid, sustainable socio-economic development.

Li particularly commended Viet Nam's commitment and efforts in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, green transition goals, and emissions reduction.

Highly appreciating Viet Nam's political resolve, sense of responsibility, and pioneering role across various multilateral forums, Li emphasized that Viet Nam has always been a model, trusted partner with an increasingly important voice within UN bodies.

Li affirmed that the UN values and prioritizes expanding comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam, and stands ready to step up policy advisory, technical assistance, capacity building, and global governance knowledge sharing, while actively connecting international financial institutions and development banks to help Viet Nam overcome development challenges, align energy transition targets with climate adaptation, and realize sustainable, inclusive growth.

The Under-Secretary-General affirmed his readiness to coordinate in 2027 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam's UN membership, emphasizing that relevant UN agencies will remain trusted partners of Viet Nam on its future development journey./.