Minister-Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (Photo: VNA)

Minister-Counsellor Nguyen made the statement at the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD) taking place at the UN headquarters in New York. The meeting, with the theme “Promoting Social Development and Social Justice through Coordinated, Fair, and Inclusive Policies”, ran from February 2-10.

According to the diplomat, in the past 5 years, Vietnam's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) has dropped from 5.2% to 1.3%. Its GDP per capita increased 1.4-fold, making Vietnam an upper middle-income country, he said.

Policies continue to be refined. Vietnam's Employment Law, effective from January 2026, has extended protection to informal workers and enhanced labor market services.

Women now account for more than 30% of National Assembly deputies and nearly half of Vietnam's workforce. Health insurance coverage reached 96% of the population. Vietnam is aiming for universal health coverage by 2030, the diplomat said.

Vietnam now offers tuition-free public education nationwide, contributing to realizing quality-education under the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Minister-Counselor Nguyen proposed stronger policy coordination through "Whole-of-Government" and "Whole-of-Society" approaches, integrating gender equality into labor and social policies, and promoting women’s economic empowerment. He stressed the need for digital inclusion through investment in infrastructure and digital skills in rural, remote, and disadvantaged areas, and called for more international cooperation and support for developing countries.