UN must play central role in COVID-19 response, says Deputy PM
VOV.VN - Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has stressed the leading role the United Nations plays in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, in a message delivered to the 77th Commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Committee of Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
The UN needs to continue to play its central role in policy cooperation and coordination to effectively implement a comprehensive strategy to tackle the pandemic, including ensuring a fair, equitable and timely access to vaccination, as well as COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, Minh said in a video clip to the UNESCAP meeting which opened on April 27.
According to the Deputy PM , countries need to increase international cooperation at all levels in practical experience and knowledge sharing in order to implement post-pandemic recovery strategies and policies, which are suitable for each country’s context, conditions and priorities.
In addition, he said it is imperative for the countries to enhance regional cooperation on trade and investment, tourism and innovative economy, energy, and a digital economy, in order to eradicate the digital gap, repair supply chains disruption, ensure the continuous flows of goods and supply chains, while promoting regional economic integration and development of high-quality human resources.
The Deputy PM briefed the meeting on Vietnam’s recent development achievements, saying the country has basically brought the COVID-19 pandemic under control, realizing the dual goal of epidemic prevention and economic recovery.
Vietnam has also adjusted its short and long-term policies in transforming its growth model into the one based on technologies, innovations, increasing the quality of economic growth to sustain production and rapid post-pandemic recovery towards sustainable development.
Minh also noted that Vietnam is also one of the countries in the forefront of international and regional economic integration. Acting as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, it has closely coordinated with other ASEAN member states and partners towards the signing of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). It has also actively participated in strengthening the Mekong cooperation frameworks and adopting APEC Vision to 2040.
In addition, it has also pursued important initiatives within ASEAN to further efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, towards the recovery of regional supply chains and ASEAN connectivity in coherence with sustainable development.
Such successes cannot be achieved without valuable support from the international community, Minh emphasized.