Minister Pham Hong Ha received and worked with Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif – Deputy Secretary – General of the United Nations, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on June 29th at MoC’s headquarter.
Minister Pham Hong Ha received Deputy Secretary – General of the United Nations – Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
Minister Pham Hong Ha warmly welcomed Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif and thanked UN-Habitat for its supports to Vietnam in general and the MoC in particular in the fields of improvement of institutional capacity, human resources training and sustainable development. These projects have achieved practical effects.
Minister Pham Hong Ha said: “Vietnam is experiencing fast urbanization rate (about 37,5 %), the country has about 819 cities which are distributed equally well. Vietnam’s urbanization process has also achieved progress in state management, with active participation of the community in the development of plannings, direction and mobilization of resources for urban development. However, the process is also facing obstacles and challenges: The legal system of urban development has not been fully synchronized; mobilization of investment capital for urban development from the private sector is limited; the lack of vision, the lack of scientific basis. The lack of investment capital causes to the lacking of technical infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and housing, which had implications for traffic jams and floods, urban services, climate change resilience, smart urban development challenges, urban ecology, housing safety for the people…”
Minister Pham Hong Ha expressed his hope that UN Habitat would continue to support and share experience with Vietnam in developing a methodology for urban development in line with market economy and international integration; perfecting the institution on urban management and development, smart urban development, urban adaptation to climate change, training and improving the quality of human resources, housing development models for low-income people, housing for people in disaster areas,… The forms of cooperation can be through sharing experience, research results, practical lessons; expert supports; supports the organization of scientific seminars; specific technical assistance projects; building pilot models.
The whole working session.
Minister Pham Hong Ha also susgested that two sides would promote to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in developing cooperation plans and programs.
Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif expressed her pleasure to visit and work with the MoC, and also thanked Minister Pham Hong Ha and his colleagues for warmly welcome and the close cooperation between the MoC and the Office of UN Habitat Vietnam in recent years.
On the proposal of Minister Pham Hong Ha, Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif said that: “These areas which are interested by UN Habitat and has been deploying a number of projects in Vietnam”.
Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif also expressed her support for the proposal to sign the MoU in order to develop plans and priorities for coordinated implementation.
Minister Pham Hong Ha gave direction to the functional units under the MoC to cooperate with UB Habitat Vietnam in studying and making the MoU between two sides in the shortest time. Minister Pham Hong Ha once again expressed his confidence on the cooperation relationship between the MoC and the UN Habitat would be consolidated and strengthened.
Written by: Minh Tuan
Translated by: Mai Anh