Photo: vn.undp.org

The ninth ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction opened in Vientiane, Laos on July 28, focusing on the theme of financial reform for poverty reduction.

The Vietnamese delegation to the three-day event, led by Office Chief of the Economic Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Nghiem, is due to share experiences in running the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies – a State-run model to provide financial assistance to the underprivileged, as well as in establishing development funds.

In his opening remarks, Minister to the Government Office of Laos and President of the National Leading Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Bounheuang Douangphachanh said the forum comes at a significant time when the world community is realising the final portions of the United Nations Millennial Development Goals and preparing a draft on post-2015 development goals.

He asked that participants will share their useful experience in order to help ASEAN member states quickly alleviate poverty.

Discussions during the event are expected to concentrate on how to create financial resources for poverty reduction efforts, mainly State finances and micro-finances sourced from philanthropists and the public, and well-proven poverty eradication models as well.

Alicia Dela Rosa Bala, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, praised the ASEAN for its poverty reduction achievements, saying that it is evidenced by the fact that one in eight persons is currently living on 1 USD per day, a decrease from one in three ratio recorded in the past.

When the UN General Assembly adopts the Sustainable Development Goals in September, the ASEAN will continue committing health care and social welfare services to the needy, including access to universal health care programme, she said.

Source: VNA