Participants to the event include high-ranking leaders from 8 countries piloting the One UN Initiative, and representatives from 22 sponsor countries and the UN agencies.

For common interests

Opening the event, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng said that for 65 years of its operation, the UN has made tremendous contributions to the world’s peace, cooperation and development but it also needs to be reformed comprehensively to perform better in the new context.

Besides upgrading the roles of the UN General Assembly and renovating the UN Security Council, member countries wish to refresh working styles of the UN’s development bodies in order to better support members to realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Being inspired by that thought, Việt Nam and other seven countries volunteered to pilot the One UN Initiative.

The implementation of the initiative has gained positive achievements thanks to the great efforts made by the eight pilot countries, sponsors, and the international community. Now, more countries have shown their increasing interest in joining the initiative.

Việt Nam has closely coordinated with the UN bodies to develop specific projects for long-term and comprehensive cooperation on the basis of promoting the Government’s role in all processes.

Eight pilot countries, including Việt Nam, have made valuable contributions and experience for the consolidation of the UN.

DaO Initiative should be expanded

To better deploy the initiative, the Vietnamese Government chief voiced some following suggestions.

First, the pilot countries should continue to take the lead in deploying the initiative through enhancing the role and engagement of their Governments. Lessons attained over the past three years should be reviewed and summed up for other countries’ consultation.

Second, the UN should legalize some achievements obtained during the pilot time.

Third, sponsors should further support the implementation of the initiative and provide stable financial assistance to the UN’s development activities.

Reform is a long-term process that needs durable commitments and efforts of the UN and its member countries, said PM Dũng. He emphasized that the most importance is reform’s fruits which can better peoples’ living standard and quicken the realization of MDGs.

After the opening ceremony, the conference broke into discussions. The Hà Nội Statement will be adopted to reaffirm the pilot countries’ commitment to the initiative, and sponsors and the UN bodies’ joint approach for more effective performance of the UN.

By Hải Minh