Vietnam pledges responsible contributions to SDG implementation

Ambassador Giang, who is the country’s permanent representative to the UN, assessed that the international community has not yet made progress as planned in terms of the implementation of the 17 SDGs at the mid-point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Therefore, it can be viewed as essential to take stronger and more urgent measures with the participation of multi-stakeholders in a bid to speed up implementation to be able to complete the SDGs by 2030, he said.

Over the past seven years, the nation has implemented the National Action Plan to implement the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs across the country, featuring the participation of all sectors and the principle of “no one is left behind”.

The country has therefore made remarkable progress, especially in terms of reducing poverty, ensuring clean water and sanitation, accessing quality education, ensuring universal health coverage, creating jobs, enhancing coverage of the social welfare system, building peace and justice, and fine-tuning its institutions.

However, it continues to faces major challenges with regards to implementing the SDGs such as responding to global issues, and climate and environmental risks; pressure to fulfill international commitments and ensuring balance with development and financial resources.

From its experience, the nation proposes several measures aimed at accelerating the implementation of the SDGs in the second half of the decade. Firstly, countries need to maintain a people-centred approach, with stakeholders’ participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Secondly, it is imperative to maintain macroeconomic stability and sustainable post-pandemic recovery, and effectively mobilise and use financial resources for sustainable development. Thirdly, countries should prioritise investment in human resources, science, technology, innovation, and infrastructure as tools for SDG implementation. Finally, attention should be paid to narrowing the gap of available data with 232 global SDG indicators in order to monitor and evaluate the progress, Ambassador Giang added.

The Vietnamese diplomat affirmed that the country will continue its role as a responsible member of the international community, co-ordinating with other countries as a means of contributing to joint efforts in realising the SDGs by 2030.