Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Addressing meetings with Vietnamese leaders during her visit, she said ESCAP values its partnership with Vietnam and will help Vietnam achieve its Sustainable Development Goals.

In an interview with VOV about cooperation between Vietnam and ESCAP, Ms. Alisjahbana, said, "I would like to express my appreciation to Vietnam, who plays a very important role, for its contributions to ESCAP. Vietnam is one of the most dynamic emerging countries in the region, with a young population and good social welfare. We hope that Vietnam will play a leading role as an emerging economy in providing solutions for sustainable development.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son meets with Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (Photo: VNA)

Like many other developing countries, Vietnam is facing challenges brought by climate change, conflicts, epidemics, and natural disasters, so it needs to develop inclusively in areas of concern like education, health, water, and environmental protection. At the same time, Vietnam can take advantage of science, innovation, and digital technology to achieve qualitative transformations in society.

“ESCAP is involved in many cooperation projects in the region, including supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and empowering women, for example, conducting training programs for female entrepreneurs in Vietnam and other places. We are helping governments develop regulations and policies to facilitate the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. We are supporting Vietnam in transforming digital commerce and achieving its Millennium Development Goals," she said.