UN Secretary-General António Guterres will convene a summit on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on September 18 and 19 at the 2023 UN General Assembly, along with other high-level events to galvanise renewed global commitment to SDG targets.

In preparation for the summit, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in collaboration with the UN and German Development Agency (GIZ) is organising a Voluntary National Review (VNR) and policy dialogue on August 25.

The event aims to not only create a platform for building momentum and engagement with stakeholders, but also provide substantive ideas and identify priorities and investment areas to support Vietnam’s commitments to the SDG objectives.

This will be the second VNR to take stock of the SDG situation and is seen as essential for informing the dialogue on the priorities to expedite progress in this area.

Le Viet Anh, director-general of the MPI's Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources, and Environment spoke about Vietnam’s successful presentation of the VNR 2023 and emphasised the positive contribution, extensive involvement, and active participation of various stakeholders in the VNR development process, especially the technical assistance from the GIZ and the UN in Vietnam.

He asserted that Vietnam is strongly committed to continuing to promote the comprehensive implementation of the SDGs through strategies, master plans, and policies at national, sectoral, and local levels.

"Vietnam will identify the key priorities for SDG implementation to guide the concentration of resources and mobilise the participation of stakeholders. The policy dialogue is an important starting point for all parties to join hands to accelerate progress and achieve the SDGs in 2030," he emphasised.

Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam highlighted, “The UN is supporting the MPI and GIZ in organising this dialogue to facilitate the sharing of innovative ideas and recommendations in the formulation of Vietnam’s National Commitments to SDG Transformation. These commitments will help provide concrete pathways for the government of Vietnam and various stakeholders to achieve the SDGs.”

Simon Kreye, Chargés d'affaires ad interim at the German Embassy in Vietnam, remarked that the German government is delighted to support the event today, which presents an opportunity to embrace the synergy among international organisations towards the same goal of strengthening technical assistance to the government of Vietnam on its journey to the 2030 target.

"The macroeconomic reforms and green growth programme implemented by the GIZ on behalf of the German government will continue to support the MPI in improving the management of public and private resources for green and inclusive growth, making an important contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Vietnam," he said.

The event brought together more than 100 participants including leaders and officials from ministries, agencies, and sectors at both central and local levels, the national assembly, socio-political and non-governmental organisations, UN agencies in Vietnam, diplomatic missions, development partners, international financial institutions, businesses, academia, and the media.