Full remarks by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at session on poverty reduction at G20 Leaders' Summit 2024

Your Excellency, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil,

Distinguished leaders and delegates,

1. Let me first thank and congratulate President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the successful organization of the G20 Summit. I applaud the establishment of the Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty, initiated by Brazil. I applaud the theme of "building a fair world and sustainable planet", which is of particular significance and urgent importance to the security of all humanity.

Distinguished delegates,

2. Humanity's goal of eliminating poverty is under serious threat due to war, a stagnating economy and climate change. The progress of poverty-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are even reversed. More than 750 million are threatened by famine, an increase of 150 million versus 2019. This is a paradox, as global food output is sufficient for all of us.

More than ever before, we need stronger political will, greater resources, more robust actions, and more concrete and practical projects. Eliminating poverty, after all, is not just a noble humanitarian purpose, but also the most important cornerstone that directly has to do with ensuring peace, security and stability all over the globe.

3. From a poverty-stricken country devastated by nearly 40 years of war and 30 years of isolation, thanks to Doi Moi policy, we aim to reduce multidimensional and inclusive poverty, coupled with addressing deficiencies in healthcare, education, housing, clean water, and living environments.

Viet Nam successfully completed the Millennium Development Goals ten years ahead of schedule. It is a success story in the fight against hunger and poverty: poverty household rate fell from over 58 percent in the 1990s to 1.93 percent in 2024.

Viet Nam has become one of the top agricultural exporters in the world, especially rice. We are committed to completely address slums and rundown housing nationwide in 2025, five years ahead of target.

From Viet Nam's story, we wish to share three lessons of value: (1) We must not sacrifice social progress, justice or the environment to pursue pure economic growth, (2) We must harness the instrumental role of agriculture as the pillar of the economy, and (3) We need to prioritize investment into human beings and human resource development, hand-in-hand with science, technology and innovation.

4. Accordingly, I wish to propose three strategic guarantees for the global cause of poverty reduction:

- First, ensuring peace, stability, cooperation and development is the prerequisite for poverty reduction and inclusive growth. G20 must take up its role as the pioneer in these areas, without politicizing science and technology and developmental issues, especially agricultural trade and food security.

- Second, guaranteeing an effective, stable, climate-resilient global agricultural and food system is a long-term foundation. The G20 needs to provide more technology transfer, technical support, preferential financing and smart management know-how concerning green and sustainable agriculture, and help secure food supply chains for low-income countries.

- Third, securing investment into human beings and underscoring education and social welfare should be an instrumental task in building an inclusive and sustainable society. We must place human beings at the center, as the actor, target, driver and resource for building practical, feasible, and effective policies for hunger eradication and poverty reduction, ensuring that "no one is left behind."

Distinguished delegates!

5. Viet Nam welcomes and supports Brazil's initiative for a Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. We stand ready to share our national experience, and work together with the G20 and international organizations to implement South-South and tripartite cooperation programs for global food security and poverty reduction.

Our President Ho Chi Minh once said: "Solidarity is an invincible force". Bearing this in mind, Viet Nam pledges to promote multilateralism, foster strong international solidarity, and make positive and effective contributions to the common effort for a world without hunger and poverty.

Thank you very much./.