UNICEF regarded as Vietnam's key development partner
VOV.VN - Vietnam has always regarded UNICEF as a crucial development partner, with significant contributions to the care, education, and protection of children in Vietnam over the past decades.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan made this statement during a meeting on January 7 in Hanoi with Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, who came to pay a courtesy visit.
The host leader thanked UNICEF for its efforts in supporting Vietnam’s implementation of child-related policies and initiatives, especially in helping the country overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, rolling out expanded immunization programs for children, and recently providing emergency support to areas affected by Typhoon Yagi.
2025 marks 50 years of Vietnam-UNICEF cooperation, as well as 35 years since Vietnam joined the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Vice President hailed UNICEF’s cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in organizing meaningful activities to celebrate this occasion.
She highlighted that child care, protection, and education are top priorities in Vietnam’s development policies. Xuan expressed hopes that in the near future, UNICEF would step up efforts to mobilize resources to support the protection and care of children in Vietnam, with a particular focus on achieving sustainable development goals related to children, especially in education, child healthcare, nutrition, vaccine support for the Expanded Program on Immunization, and ensuring gender equality.
Xuan also requested for more support for disadvantaged areas, remote regions, and those heavily impacted by natural disasters and climate change.
As one of the countries most affected by climate change and disasters, Vietnam seeks UNICEF’s cooperation and experience in supporting and caring for children and raising their awareness on disaster response and prevention.
The Vice President called for enhanced cooperation in policy consulting and hoped UNICEF will share international experiences in building laws and policies in this area, as well as providing technical support, policy development, and strengthening the capacity of child-related staff.
For her part, Silvia Danailov expressed her elation at celebrating 50 years of Vietnam-UNICEF cooperation and 35 years since Vietnam joined the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She emphasized that this marks a new phase in the cooperation between Vietnam and UNICEF.
The UN official praised Vietnam as one of the first countries to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, reflecting the government’s commitment to promoting children’s rights.
Danailov also applauded the results Vietnam has achieved in child care and protection and expressed her desire to continue working together with Vietnam to improve the support for children. She pointed out that the development of science, technology, and digital transformation poses challenges to child protection, especially for girls in the digital environment.
Showing her appreciation for the Vice President's commitment to enhancing the role of women and girls, Silvia Danailov affirmed her intention to closely coordinate with Vietnam’s ministries and sectors to implement the programs and projects being pursued by both sides.
