She has worked with United Nations Resident Coordinator Mr John Hendra in Hanoi to step up the implementation of the "Strategic Partnership for Poverty Reduction" project signed recently by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Ms Pajin, who also heads AECI, spoke of Spanish efforts to cooperate with the UN in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including its continued support for poverty reduction in Vietnam. Spain will share its expertise in social security systems and economic transition through research and policy dialogues with Vietnamese counterparts.

"Vietnam is a priority in Spanish development cooperation in Asia; total aid from Spain increased substantially to over €14 million in 2006 and is expected to continue increasing through the UN in the next few years," said Ms Pajin, who described Vietnam as a model country for aid effectiveness.

Spain’s support comes at an opportune time as Vietnam works to balance its very impressive growth with greater equity, UN Coordinator Hendra remarked in his meeting with Ms Pajin.

The Spanish Government and UNDP launched the MDG Achievement Fund last December to address global development issues through UN Country Teams. As a pilot country, Vietnam will be one of the first countries to benefit from the initiatives for UN Development System reform.