National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (R) receives Kamal Malhotra, new UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam yesterday. – VNS/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân yesterday praised the UN and UNDP for promoting sustainable development in Việt Nam.

Receiving Kamal Malhotra, new UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Việt Nam, she said the international agencies helped the country through assistance in poverty alleviation, HIV/AIDS control, child protection, disease prevention and climate change response.

The UN also helped Việt Nam with administrative reform and supported the National Assembly (NA) in enhancing legislators’ capacity in policy-making and supervision, Ngân said.

She stressed that the NA was making efforts to ensure that the country fulfills the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set under the UN’s 2030 Agenda, and assigned the Government to prepare a national action plan for achieving the targets.

She proposed that the UNDP continues providing further technical support for Viet Nam as its strives to realise the SDGs, adapt to climate change challenges and tackle socio-economic problems.

Ngân also called for the UN to assist in implementing tripartite or tripartite plus co-operation between Việt Nam, the UN and a third party.

Việt Nam looks forward to receiving more macro-policy advice from the UN on socio-economic development, the NA chairwoman said.

She expressed her belief that Kamal Malhotra, with his rich experience, would help elevate Việt Nam-UN ties to new heights.

Close collaboration

Kamal Malhotra said that he would press ahead with close collaboration with the NA and other bodies in Việt Nam in his new post.   

He took note of a strategic co-operation plan for 2017-2021 agreed between the UNDP and the Vietnamese Government, saying he expected that the pact would be signed by the two sides soon.

He lauded Việt Nam fore being an active participant of the One UN initiative. He said the UN would be willing to co-perate with the NA in promoting implementation of SDGs, as also help Việt Nam enhance governance efficiency and quality of law-making.

Malhotra also said he would help with inviting international speakers to the annual economic forums held by the NA in spring and autumn. —VNS