(Hanoi, 19th) Vietnamese President To Lam, accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation, will visit the United States from September 21 to 24 to attend the High-level General Debate of the 80th United Nations General Assembly and carry out a series of bilateral activities.
On this occasion, Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, gave an interview to Vietnam News Agency, highly praising Vietnam's role and contribution in regional and international affairs.
She stated that Vietnam has been able to move beyond the shadow of war and look toward peace and stability, not only for itself but also for the world. "The world needs more voices like Vietnam's. Vietnam's potential in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and supporting countries in difficulty is worth anticipating."
Wignaraja emphasized that since UNDP opened its office in Vietnam in 1978, it has accompanied Vietnam on its journey from institutional reform to enhanced public services, becoming an important partner.
She pointed out that Vietnam has proven that economic growth does not need to come at the expense of the environment, and that prosperity should belong to both humanity and the planet. Vietnam's development model will become an example for other countries to follow.
Speaking about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Wignaraja said Vietnam has integrated SDGs into its national planning, and emphasized that this is "a journey benefiting every Vietnamese person." She said UNDP will continue to collaborate with Vietnam and international partners to promote innovation, especially in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence to support development, but always with a core focus on "people-centeredness."