The Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc at the session. (Photo: VNA)

 The event was themed “Inequality in the era of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and chaired by the President of the Marshall Islands.

In a discussion relating to policies that address inequality in Asia-Pacific, Ngoc said that to deal with this issue, a peaceful and stable environment based on international law is needed.

He said Vietnam is making concerted efforts to reform its administrative procedures and fine-tune its legal institutions to create a favorable environment for all organisations and individuals.

Ngoc said Vietnam has made a national plan for implementing its Sustainable Development Goals and a national program on sustainable property reduction and new-style rural areas building until 2020 to narrow gaps between residents in urban and rural areas and to help disadvantaged people gain access to preferential credit and social welfares benefits.

While discussing Asia-Pacific multilateralism, Ngoc said no country can address global issues alone.

He said approval of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a significant effort to promote a free, open, equal, transparent, and comprehensive multilateral trade system in the region.

Vietnam is committed to coordinating closely with members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum to implement programs strengthening regional economic integration, promoting economic, financial and social development, and developing human resources in the digital era.