Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet addresses the session. Photo: NDO

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet attended the 79th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) that is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 15 and 16, with the participation of nearly 650 delegates from 49 countries and territories as well as regional and international organisations, VNA reported Tuesday.

Addressing a discussion on May 15, Viet highlighted opportunities and challenges during the process of socio-economic development and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the region in general and Vietnam in particular, underlining challenges from climate change in the Asia-Pacific region and Vietnam.

He expressed concern about severe and profound impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and current global challenges such as conflicts, food and water insecurity, natural disasters, biodiversity degradation, and environmental pollution, on the current process of socio-economic development and recovery, especially the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this context, the Vietnamese representative suggested strengthening regional cooperation in environmentally-friendly trade and investment, tourism, connectivity, digital transformation and sustainable urban development.

Viet called for closer international collaboration at all levels in financial support, technology transfer, sharing of knowledge and experience.

The international community, especially developed countries, should make strong commitments at the 2023 SDG Summit slated for September in New York, and the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in November and December in Dubai, he said.

At the opening ceremony of ESCAP’s 79th Commission Session (CS79) at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC), Bangkok.

The diplomat also proposed the ESCAP promote its role in hastening the commitments, coordinate regional cooperation, support regional countries in evaluating the progress of SDGs and enhance statistical capacity.

On this occasion, Viet thanked and proposed the international community continue cooperating with and supporting Vietnam in realising the SDGs as well as the commitments it gave at COP26, and implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to work closely with the ESCAP and international partners to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world with the motto of “not leaving anyone behind”.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Viet met with President of Palau Surangel S. Whipps Jr., and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Akimoto Masatoshi.

Meeting with Palauan Presiden Whipps Jr., Viet said that Vietnam highly valued and hoped to bolster relations with South Pacific island nations, including Palau.

Expressing his delight at the progress of the bilateral relationship since the two countries set up diplomatic relations in 2008, with close cooperation and mutual support within multilateral mechanisms, Viet said that the two sides should increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and strengthen collaboration in trade, investment, tourism and labor.

President Whipps Jr. said he was impressed by Vietnam's socio-economic achievements, holding that there is plenty of room for the two sides to promote their relations.

He asked Vietnam to soon open a direct air route linking the two countries to foster people-to-people exchanges, tourism and trade cooperation while considering the supply of laborers to infrastructure construction projects in Palau in the time to come.

At the meeting with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Akimoto Masatoshi, the two officials held that Vietnam and Japan have shared high mutual political trust and growing ties in all fields.

Viet thanked Japan for supporting Vietnam's socio-economic development over the past years, proposing the two sides continue to work closely together to organize activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023.

He thanked Japan for inviting senior Vietnamese leaders to attend the expanded G7 Summit and the International Conference on the Future of Asia to be held in Japan.

For his part, Akimoto Masatoshi underlined that Vietnam is an important partner of Japan in the region. He suggested the two countries foster coordination in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks while supporting each other at multilateral forums.

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