Geneva (VNA) – Vietnam treasures and backs the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in supporting developing countries, including Vietnam, to boost trade and sustainable development, especially to reduce impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and improve capacity towards green and sustainable recovery.

The statement was made by Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva, while attending the 68th session of the UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board, held in both in-person and online formats from June 21 to July 2.

Ambassador Mai also emphasized that Vietnam supports and joins the efforts of the international community in ensuring equal access to COVID-19 vaccines and response tools, expanding production and ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines.

The country is also working with the international community in promoting financial and technical support and international cooperation for the transition to the digital economy and green growth, transferring technology and know-hows to developing and under-developed countries, supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises and narrowing inequality between countries to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, she added.

The 68th session of the UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board aimed to prepare for the 15th session of UNCTAD (UNCTAD-15) slated for October 3-7, 2021 in Barbados and the Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-5) in January 2022 in Qatar.

The session included two high-level debates on the impact of the pandemic on trade and development and the LDC’s priorities./.