Vietnam and many other countries around the world have achieved two-thirds of their millennium goals and are striving to fulfill their remaining goals by 2015.

Carrying out the MDGs has brought about good results in improving people’s living standards and creating an equal and just world. With two-thirds of the time gone, only two out of eight goals have been fulfilled, according to a UN report. They are cutting by half of the people who do not have access to clean water and those who have annual income of below US$1. Other goals, such as giving women more rights, ensuring environmental sustainability, universalising primary education, reducing pregnant women and infant mortality rates and combating HIV/AIDS still have far to go.

Furthermore, poverty reduction which is said to be achievable is uneven across the globe, because of the unstable political and security situation in some regions and consequences of the global financial crisis.

Another factor affecting the implementation of the UN’s MDGs is the wrong concept of poverty reduction in many strategies that separate poverty from the process of economic development. This could make 1 billion people continue to suffer from poverty in 2015. The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) in its report argues on anti-poverty and inequality.

The report says that the poorest countries have the highest inequalities. In these circumstances, Vietnam is emerging as a shining example in implementing its MDGs. According to a report released on September 17, 2010, Vietnam has fulfilled some of its MDGs ahead schedule.

Vietnam eliminated extreme poverty in 2002 and has cut the number of poor households by three-quarters compared to 1990. It achieved universal access to primary education in 2000 and has set goals for junior-high school education in 2010. It has also worked on gender equality to improve women’s roles in society, successfully combated malaria and other epidemics, and initially prevented the spread of HIV/AIDS. The country is now able to reduce child mortality rates.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, John Hendra, that says Vietnam has made impressive progress in implementing its MDGS and achieved many goals ahead of schedule. These achievements are attributed to the Government’s commitments and actions.

The UN summit, which is taking place in New York to review the implementation of the MDGs provides an excellent opportunity for the 192 leaders to show their determination and commitment to increasing ODA for developing countries, especially the poorest and vulnerable communities, to help them achieve their MDGs.