UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for UNDP in Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI _ Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kanni Wignaraja, has expressed her hope that Việt Nam will play an even greater role on the global stage.

She made the remark while talking to the Vietnam News Agency ahead President Lương Cường’s trip to the United States from September 21 to 24, during which he will attend the high-level general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and engage in bilateral activities.

Reflecting on Việt Nam’s remarkable journey, Wignaraja noted that Việt Nam has shown the world how a nation could move beyond conflict, draw lessons from the past, and focus on peace and stability.

Việt Nam has united as a strong nation where everyone has an equal place, she said, adding that these values resonate deeply with the UN and UNDP.

She emphasised that the world needs more voices like Vietnam’s, demonstrating that development and reconciliation can go hand in hand.

The official underlined that as a person highly admiring and respecting Việt Nam, she hopes the country will hold a greater global role, contributing to peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and support for less fortunate countries because when Việt Nam faced hardship, others extended help, and today, Việt Nam is in a position to give back.

Looking back on the long-standing partnership, Wignaraja recalled that UNDP has been present in Vietnam since 1978, setting up one of the first UN offices here. It has accompanied the country through reforms since the early Đổi Mới (Renewal) period, from supporting institutional changes to improving public service capacity, all of which have contributed to Việt Nam's development.

She said the next stage of cooperation should focus on governance reform, strengthening the judicial sector, boosting the domestic capital market, and developing human resources.

Yesterday’s skills may not be enough for tomorrow. Education must innovate to prepare young Vietnamese for global competition, she noted.

On sustainable development, the UN official emphasised that Việt Nam could show the world that economic growth not necessarily come at the expense of the environment. Prosperity must be for both people and the planet, she said, noting that Việt Nam has the potential to become a model for others in this aspect.

Regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Wignaraja described them as a continuous journey rather than a final destination. She welcomed Việt Nam’s integration of the SDGs into national plans but highlighted the importance of local-level implementation, saying the merger of administrative units doesn't mean the sustainable development journey is disrupted.

She also addressed concerns about the so-called “middle-income trap”, noting UNDP prefers not to use the term. In her view, it creates a sense of helplessness that does not reflect the reality in Việt Nam or many other countries in the region. Instead, she described it as a “mental trap” that could be overcome with determination and right policies.

The bigger question is not just whether Việt Nam becomes a high-income country, but whether its people are happy, she continued.

For her, true progress must be measured by equitable development opportunities, strong social cohesion, and a shared aspiration to advance together, not only in major cities but across all regions.

Concluding, Wignaraja stressed that Việt Nam’s greatest assets lay in its people. If Việt Nam continues to invest in human capacity, aspirations, identity, and equality, the country will achieve breakthrough success in future, she said. _ VNS