Bangkok (VNA) – Deputy Foreign MinisterHa Kim Ngoc has led a Vietnamese delegation to the 74th session of the Economicand Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which is taking placein Bangkok, Thailand, on May 11-16.

The event, themed “Inequality in the era of the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment,” attracted more than 500 delegates from member countries, UnitedNations (UN) agencies, non-governmental and international organisations andembassies.

Speaking at a discussion relating to policies toaddress inequality in Asia-Pacific, Ngoc said to deal with this issue, it isnecessary to maintain a peaceful and stable environment based on internationallaw.

High political determination is essential toimprove institutions and policies and turn the viewpoint of sustainabledevelopment into a long-term and regular orientation as well as integratingSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into all national people-centeredstrategies and programmes, he stressed.

He called on nations to increase investment inhuman resources and underdeveloped sectors while improving the managementquality of public investment to bring benefits for people, especially thoseliving under the poverty line.

He also emphasised the importance of theenhancement of global partnership for sustainable development, in which the UNand international organisations play the promoting and coordinating role whiledeveloped countries will support developing nations in improving capacity, transferringtechnology, facilitating trade, and accessing capital sources to realise the UNSDGs.

Ngoc highlighted Vietnam’s concerted efforts toreform administrative procedures and fine-tune legal institutions, creatingfavourable environment for all organisations and individuals.

The Southeast Asian country has also built anational plan to implement the SDGs and a national programme on sustainableproperty reduction and new-style rural areas building for the 2016-2020 periodin order to narrow gaps between residents in urban and rural areas and helpdisadvantaged people gain access to preferential credit packages and enjoysocial welfares policies, he said.

While discussing the multilateralism inAsia-Pacific, Ngoc said no single country could address global issues withoutmultilateral approach.

Multilateralism and cooperation are key factorsto build an Asia-Pacific region of peace, stability, and prosperity, he said,adding that the region should promote rules-based multilateralism and supportequal development of global economic administration and open multilateral tradesystem.

He affirmed the approval of the Comprehensiveand Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is considered a remarkableeffort of the 11 countries, including Vietnam, in promoting a free, open,equal, transparent, and comprehensive multilateral trade system in the region.

Vietnam is committed to coordinating closelywith members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum to implementprogrammes strengthening regional economic integration, promoting economic,financial and social development, and developing human resources in the digitalera.

On the sidelines of the 74th session of theESCAP, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc had separate meetings with heads ofdelegations from Afghanistan, Armenia, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea andVanuatu to discuss stronger cooperation in the fields of politics, diplomacy,economy and trade as well as seek their support for Vietnam to become anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021tenure.-VNA