Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed the new United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Vietnam John Hendra, in Hanoi on July 11, and hoped the UN would continue developing its role in supporting development programmes in the country.

Mr Dung said the Vietnamese Government appreciated UN organisations’ assistance to Vietnam over the past years, particularly in economic development and the fight against poverty, HIV/AIDS, SARS and bird flu.

For his part, Mr Hendra said he will try his best to help Vietnam fulfill the UN Millennium Development Goals, reduce poverty and fight against HIV/AIDS and bird flu. He said he was greatly impressed by Vietnam’s commitment to the UN community.