Question: Could you assess about the significance of Viet Nam's commitment to the MDGs?

Answer: The Vietnamese Party and State have been pursuing a policy on hunger eradication and poverty reduction since the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, which is also a permanent goal in the country's socio-economic development. It is interesting that the international MDGs have a lot in common with Viet Nam's own development targets, thus the country's commitment to the MDGs has a great significance.

Firstly, it proves that Viet Nam's socio-economic development policy, especially in hunger elimination and poverty alleviation, is in line with the time's trend as well as humankind's wish for a better society.

The country's commitment to, and good implementation of, the MDGs also proves that Viet Nam has been actively promoting integration. Viet Nam's reports on its MDG achievements have helped created a good image of the country and enhance its prestige in the world, especially among low-income countries, as well as its role in international cooperation in the implementation of the MDGs and in socio-economic-environmental development.

Q: What are the most outstanding achievements Viet Nam has made in five years of implementing the MDGs?

A: The United Nations is to hold a summit in the US from September 13-16 to review the implementation of the MDGs on a global level, and Viet Nam has been rated highly in this area.

One of the biggest successes of Viet Nam since the early 1990s is in poverty reduction. It can be said that over the past 10 years, the country has reduced by half the rate of poor households (according to international standards), which is equivalent to nearly 20 million people escaping poverty. This is 10 years ahead of the time target set by the UN.

Viet Nam has also basically fulfilled the MDG on universalising primary education for children in the age bracket and eliminating inequality in education, especially at the primary education level.

The country has achieved remarkable results in promoting gender equality and enhancing women's position in society. The gender gap in education, labour and employment has been narrowed, with more and more women taking up leading and management positions.

Encouraging results have also been made in reducing the mortality and malnutrition rate of children under five years old, as well as the mortality rate of children under one.

Q: Would you please speak about the efficiency of the integrated implementation of Viet Nam's MDGs and socio-economic development targets?

A: Since the President made a commitment to the international community on implementing the MDGs in 2000, the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) to integrate the realisation of those goals with the country's socio-economic targets. The MPI-designed comprehensive poverty reduction and hunger elimination strategy (CPRGS) was approved by the Prime Minister as early as in 2001. Under the CPRGS, Viet Nam nationalised the MDGs to make them adaptable to the country's actual situation. These goals were integrated into the country's socio-economic development programme. For that reason, Viet Nam was able to mobilise more resources for the realisation of the MDGs.

Q: What are the focus issues to be addressed by Viet Nam in the next 10 years in order to accomplish the MDGs in 2015 as the country has committed to the international community?

A: After five years of carrying out the MDGs, Viet Nam has recorded a number of achievements. The country even fulfilled several targets such as those on poverty reduction, education universalisation, and gender equality, before the deadlines. However, the country's outcomes are not sustainable. The rate of people living under the poverty line according to international standards still accounts for one quarter of the total population. In addition, Viet Nam is facing difficulties in implementing goals on HIV/AIDS prevention and control and environmental sustainability.

In order to achieve all the goals, the country, on the outset, must fully integrate MDGs into its socio-economic development and environmental protection programmes in the 2006-2010 period with concrete roadmaps for each year.

Secondly, Viet Nam is also required to effectively tap development sources, especially the State budget channel, to increase investment for the implementation of MDGs. The Government should secure other sources for translating those goals into reality.

Thirdly, the Government should work out more effective measures to stabilise and improve the living conditions of ethnic minority groups.

Fourthly, the country should focus investment in developing a social safety net (SSN) for the poor and most vulnerable group. The expansion of the SSN requires active participation of mass and non-governmental organisations.

Q: Would you please give your assessment on the role played by international organisations in carrying out Viet Nam's MDGs?

A: On the international scale, the United Nations has called on developed nations to increase financial contributions to help underdeveloped ones implement MDGs. Developed nations, who currently contribute only 0.25 percent of their Gross National Income (GNI), should raise their contribution to 0.7 percent in 2015.

International donors have exerted great efforts in assisting Viet Nam boost its socio-economic development and combat hunger and poverty. Commitments that international donors have made to Viet Nam over the past 12 consultative group (CG) meetings since 1993 totalled 28.8 billion USD with a highest committed sum of 3.4 billion USD in 2004.

Most of the committed sum has been earmarked for developing communication networks, electricity generators and grids, rural areas and agricultural production in combination with hunger and poverty fighting, health care services, population and family planning activities, and education and vocational training. Bilateral and multi-lateral assistance have been important to Viet Nam.