43 million Vietnamese escape poverty

The report, released at a September 21 meeting reviewing the implementation of the UN millennium development goals (MDGs) in Vietnam showed that the nation obtained rather high economic growth rates, particularly 7% from 2000 to 2008.

Vietnam has fulfilled its MDGs in eliminating extreme poverty, universalizing primary education, enhancing gender equality, and achieving positive results in healthcare such as lower maternal and child mortality rates, and malaria and TB under control.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said, "In the post-2015 period when the MDGs program concludes, Vietnam will head towards sustainable development goals and improve the quality of its activities. The country needs to mobilize resources to obtain higher results in economic growth, poverty reduction, improving productivity, and renovating policies, to ensure inclusive and equal development."

Pratibha Mehta, UN coordinator in Vietnam, said Vietnam should continue to pursue its targets. The UN will maintain its support for the Vietnamese government, social organizations, and the private sector to obtain sustainable development goals (SDGs) and realize new achievements.

(Source: VOV News)