HA NOI — A UN independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty spoke highly of the impressive progress Viet Nam has made in poverty reduction during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Ha Noi yesterday.
Magdalena Sepulveda told Khiem, who is also Foreign Minister, of the challenges Viet Nam has ahead in terms of poverty reduction and other issues of concern that fall within her field of expertise.
Challenges remained but it was important that Viet Nam was aware of them and had shown determination to solve them, said the UN rights expert.
During the meeting, Khiem reiterated Viet Nam's unwavering policy to ensure human rights. "Vietnamese citizens have the right to live in independence and freedom, and the right to self-determination," said Khiem.
He added that the struggle for national independence and freedom was for this purpose.
"The Vietnamese Government is resolved to constantly improve the exercising of human rights through upgrading the legal system as well as working out and implementing concrete policies and measures to increase people's participation," Khiem said.
He also highlighted Viet Nam's success in poverty reduction, which has been recognised by the international community, including the UN.
The country has managed to meet the Millennium Development Goals by cutting the poverty rate in half 10 years ahead of schedule. Viet Nam reduced the poverty rate from 60 per cent in 1993 to less than 30 per cent in 2002 and just 10 per cent currently.
Khiem said many of Viet Nam's successful experiences had shown the Government's determination and firm guidelines, the sense of responsibility among local authorities and participation by the people.
The success had been partially prompted by the international community's strong assistance, he said.
Sepulveda is scheduled to conclude her nine-day Viet Nam visit on August 31.—VNS
No comments:
Post a Comment