Vietnam hopes that the United Nations (UN) would continue its supports for the country to fulfill millennium development goals (MDGs), especially for poverty reduction, gender equality, and social welfare, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. The prime minister made the statement during his meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam John Hendra, in Hanoi on April 26, state media reported April 27. Vietnam is implementing solutions to rein in inflation and ensure social welfare, especially for most vulnerable groups like the poor and ethnic minority groups, the country’s first priorities. Dung hailed John Hendra’s valuable contributions to enhance the relations between Vietnam and the UN. John Hendra, in return, highlighted the country’s remarkable socio-economic achievements, such as poverty reduction, international integration, and fulfillment of almost all UN-backed MDGs, adding that the UN will continue assisting Vietnam to realize socio-economic targets and MDGs. Vietnam has fulfilled three eighths of MDGs ahead the schedule, namely halving the poverty rate, ensuring gender equality and completing primary school universalization. In 2000, 189 UN member countries agreed to obtain eight millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015. With two-thirds of that time frame past, Vietnam has made significant achievements. The eight MDGs are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, to achieve universal primary education, to promote gender equality and empower women, to reduce child mortality, to improve maternal health, to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, to ensure environmental sustainability, and to develop a Global Partnership for Development. (news.gov.vn April 27, Nhan Dan – The People April 27 p4, Sai Gon Giai Phong – Saigon Liberation April 27 p12)
