Vietnam is willing to coordinate with other countries in Southeast Asia to build a “green economic centre” in the country and to cover 50 percent of its operational expenses, he said.
Regarding the current sustainable development issues, Deputy PM Nhan said this year’s conference is a significant event that offers the chances for nations around the globe to reaffirm their commitments and make political decisions.
It requires global efforts to work towards sustainable development, he said.
Mr Nhan also proposed measures to consolidate UN operations to ensure the effective implementation of sustainable development targets.
He called on the UN to set up a system to cope with the rising sea levels by combining technological knowhow and resources of both developed and developing nations.
On Vietnam’s stance towards sustainable development, the Deputy PM said the country considers it a common goal running through its national development process at present and in the future. It is bent on carrying out UN Agenda 21 on sustainable development and national development strategies in this direction.
He noted that Vietnam has achieved a year-on-year GDP growth rate of 7.41 percent to become a middle-income country with per capita income increasing from US$150 in 1992 to US$1,300 in 2011 and poverty rate falling from 58.1 percent in 1993 to 11.76 percent in 2011.
After completing universalisation of primary education in 2000 and secondary education in 2010, Vietnam is striving to fulfill the preschool education universalization target for 5-year-old children in 2015.
By 2011, 92 percent of households had access to clean drinking water while 95 percent of rural households were hooked up to electricity grid and 63 percent of the population took part in health insurance programs. The average life expectancy rose to 74 years.
Vietnam has been rated the second happiest nation in the world by New Economics Foundation (NEF).
Judging from the current situation in Vietnam, it is possible to successfully implement sustainable development policies even though labour productivity is not high, Deputy PM Nhan stressed.
(V.O.V)