Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính with the newly-appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam Pauline Tamesis. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính hosted a reception in Hà Nội on Wednesday for newly-appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam Pauline Tamesis, who came to present her credentials at the start of her term of office in the country.

At the meeting, PM Chính affirmed Việt Nam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of relations, and strongly supporting multilateral cooperation and the UN’s central role in maintaining peace and promoting development cooperation around the world.

He stressed the need to respect the UN Charter and international law, especially rules on respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peacefully settling international disputes.

Given the great challenges facing the world, there should be global approaches to global issues, he said, adding that it is necessary to strengthen international solidarity and multilateralism, put people at the centre of solutions to common challenges and not trade social welfare, security or the environment for economic development.

The PM used this occasion to thank the UN for its support to Việt Nam in its long journey of national reconstruction, reform and international integration over the past 45 years, providing the country with financial and technical assistance and policy consultancy, which, he said, have brought practical outcomes.

During the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Việt Nam has received great, timely and effective support in terms of vaccines and medical equipment through UN mechanisms, he continued.

For its part, Việt Nam has made significant contributions to UN activities, including its successful assumption of non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, and dispatch of personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.

PM Chính called for more support from the UN in the time ahead, particularly in the achievement of sustainable development goals, post-pandemic recovery, social welfare and the fulfilment of Việt Nam’s climate change commitments.

The Vietnamese Government will work to promote cooperation with the UN and create the best possible conditions for UN organisations to effectively roll out cooperation programmes and projects in the country, he pledged.

In reply, Tamesis praised Việt Nam as a model for its dynamism and active contributions to the international community, as well as for cooperation between the UN and a developing nation.

She also congratulated Việt Nam on the achievements the country has recorded in the pandemic fight and economic recovery, with the spirit of leaving none left behind.

Việt Nam has paid attention to consolidating its medical and social welfare systems, which is significant to intensifying its self-resilience amid global challenges in the future, she noted.

This year marks the 45th year of cooperation between the UN and Việt Nam, and it is also the first year of implementing the Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation between the two sides for 2022-2026, Tamesis said.

She pledged to make efforts to coordinate UN organisations in order to help Việt Nam in sustainable socio-economic development, post-pandemic recovery and the implementation of focal cooperation contents between the UN and Việt Nam. — VNS