Vietnam has launched a series of action plans to realise the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), according to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong.

Forest coverage reached 41.5 percent in 2017.

Phuong said that Vietnam’s sustainable development viewpoint has been integrated in socio-economic development strategies and plans, and concretised in the National Action Plan promulgated by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in 2017, specifying 17 sustainable development goals with 115 targets relevant to Vietnam until 2030.

The country’s notable achievement must be in GDP growth, which was 6.7 percent, 6.2 percent, and 6.8 percent in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. Meanwhile, multi-dimensional poverty rate fell from 9.9 percent in 2015 to under 7 percent in 2017, and the health insurance coverage reached 86.4 percent last year.

Regarding education sector, 99 percent of children attended primary school in accordance with their age during the 2016-2017 academic year.

Two years ago, 93.4 percent of households gained access to hygienic water, and 99 percent of families got connection to the national grid. 

The rate of internet users in the country was recorded at 54.2 percent of the total population in 2017. 

In addition, improvement was seen in the management of natural resources and environment when forest coverage reached 41.5 percent in 2017.

Vietnam has made giant strides in promoting gender equality in various sectors of politics, economy, culture, and society, and improving information and law access for local people. Due attention has been given to disadvantageous groups in society such as the poor, people with disabilities, and ethnic groups through many policies, ensuring that no one is left behind.

However, Phuong said that Vietnam still faces a line-up of formidable challenges in social affairs, the environment, climate change response, financial resources, connectivity among sectors, and statistics capacity for the supervision of the implementation of sustainable development goals.

The deputy minister said in the coming time, Vietnam will make concerted efforts to carry out the action plan to promote sustainable economic development in companion with social progress and fairness, environmental protection, effective use of natural resources, and climate change response.

The country will work to build a nation of peace, prosperity, fairness, and sustainability.

“Vietnam commits to continue to be a proactive and responsible member of the international community in efforts to ensure that no one is left behind”, Phuong stressed.-VNA