Vietnam in collaboration with Sao Tome and Principe and Palau held a ceremony to celebrate the International Day of Happiness at the Headquarters of the United Nations (UN) on March 20.

This year, the ceremony has a theme of “Happiness and Well-being in the UN 2030 Agenda: Achieving a New Vision of Sustainable Development for the People and the Planet”.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN Nguyen Phuong Nga affirmed that the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development provides orientations for the creation of a better and happier world.

The ambassador called on the international community to jointly build a basis of happiness for all people through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda programmes and other sustainable development goals which aim to reduce poverty, and promote peace and justice.

Ambassador Nga also said that the Vietnamese State has viewed happiness of people as the backbone of the country’s policies and strategy.

In 2012, based on the initiative of Bhutan, the UN General Assembly approved Resolution No. A/RES/66/281 to select March 20 as the International Day of Happiness to stress the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples.

VNA