Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy PrimeMinister Pham Binh Minh on April 27 delivered remarks to the 77th Session ofthe United Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific(UNESCAP).

The following is the full text of his remarks.

“Excellences,Ladies and Gentlemen,
DistinguishedDelegates,

Over the past three decades, ourregion has gone through multiple social and economic shocks. However, the oneresulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented. On the other hand,this pandemic has also brought in new and clearer perspectives on the pathtowards a stable, inclusive and sustainable recovery process.

In this context, Vietnam welcomesthe theme of the 77th Commission on “Building back better fromcrises through regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific. 
         
DistinguishedDelegates,

For the past year, thanks to ournational efforts and the valuable cooperation and support of the internationalcommunity, Vietnam has fundamentally put the pandemic under control, ensuringsocial protection and security and economic growth recovery, attaining our“dual goals” of pandemic prevention and social-economic growth and recovery.

Vietnam has also adjusted our short and long-term policies in transforming ourgrowth model into one that is based on technologies, innovations, increasingthe quality of economic growth to sustain production and rapid post-pandemicrecovery towards sustainable development.
         
Vietnam is also one of thecountries in the forefront of international and regional economic integration.In the region, as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam had closely coordinatedwith other ASEAN Member States and partners towards the signing of RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This Partnership, covering 30percent of GDP of the world, demonstrates the determination of countries tocontinue regional cooperation and integration, creating momentum for regionaleconomic recovery.


Vietnam has also pursued important initiativeswithin ASEAN to further efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic, towards therecovery of regional supply chains and ASEAN connectivity in coherence withsustainable development. Vietnam has also actively participated in thestrengthening of the Mekong cooperation frameworks and the adoption of APECVision to 2040.

Distinguished Delegates,
         
Theworld is facing a critical moment when countries on one hand need to tackle thepandemic while on the other need to enhance international and regionalcooperation in order to make full use of all opportunities to build back andrecover in a more stable, inclusive and sustainable manner.

In this context, Vietnam calls for:

First, the United Nationsneeds to continue to play its central role in policy cooperation and coordination to effectively implement acomprehensive strategy to tackle the pandemic, including having vaccines as thecommon good of the international community, ensuring fair, equitable and timelyaccess to vaccination, to diagnosis and treatment of the COVID-19.

Second, countries need toenhance international cooperation at all levels in practical experience andknowledge sharing in order to implement post-pandemic recovery strategies andpolicies, which are suitable for each country’s context, conditions andpriorities.

These strategies and policies mustaim towards a sustainable recovery and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda forSustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,ensuring that no one is left behind.

Countries must also maintain theircommitment and create favourable conditions for financial, technological andtrade support for developing countries.

Third, it is imperative toenhance regional cooperation on trade and investment, tourism and innovativeeconomy, energy, as well as on digital economy, including eradicating digitalgap, repairing supply chains disruption, ensuring the continuous flows of goodsand supply chains, enhancing regional economic integration and development ofhigh-quality human resources so that the Asia-Pacific region continues to bethe forefront of international economic recovery.

ESCAP should provide the highestpossible support to all of these aforementioned efforts.

Vietnam believes that, through theenhancement of international and regional cooperation, we will together tacklethe COVID-19 pandemic and build back better.

I thank you”./.