A conference on Vietnam’s national consultations for the post-2015
development agenda was jointly held by the United Nations (UN) in
Vietnam and the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi on the
morning of March 20.
Within the framework of the
Post-2015 Development Roadmap of Vietnam, the UN Task Team for National
Consultations, specialists and consultants focused on three main areas,
namely the challenges and risks of climate change that an agricultural
economy like Vietnam has to face up to, global economic integration, and
the changes caused by the country’s population shift.
Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that 2015 is
the last year for the implementation and accomplishment of Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). After more than 10 years and considerable
achievements, Vietnam is considered a leading country in implementing
the goals thanks to its Government’s commitment and efforts.
Vietnam is one of the countries selected to take part in the UN’s
national consultancy. Based on the consultancy results, the UN will
develop a post-2015 development agenda for all countries, Mehta added.
Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Hieu
presented Vietnam’s recent achievements such as the reduction of the
number of rural and urban poor people, universalisatiion of primary
education in 2002, improving gender equality, and successfully
implementing HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. Other indicators such as
reducing the child mortality rate and improving maternal health will be
completed by 2015.
During the conference, consulting
groups expressed their desire for social fairness, better jobs, access
to affordable healthcare services and an improved approach to education.
Since the eight MDGs were adopted by world leaders
in 2000, they have helped set global and national development
priorities. However, the expiry of the current MDGs in 2015 creates a
task for the UN to develop the post-2015 development agenda. The UN
implemented national consultations from the end of 2012 to early 2013
across more than 50 countries.-VNA