New York (VNA) – Ambassador Pham ThiKim Anh, deputy permanent representative of theVietnam mission to the United Nations (UN), highlighted the role played by educationin reducing social inequality while speaking at the 72nd session ofthe UN Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee in New York onOctober 3.

Education helps disadvantaged groups like women,girls and the disabled access opportunities to have a better life as education equipsthem with knowledge, skills and confidence, she said.

Vietnam has prioritised education, Kim Anh said, adding that the country hasinjected 20 percent of its State budget into education, along with devising manyincentives for poor and ethnic minority students.

At the same time, Vietnam has strengthened international cooperation ineducation, she noted.

Kim Anh said social inequality is developing between countries and within eachcountry, in terms of income, gender, employment and access to education, healthcare and fresh water.

Therefore, tackling social inequality has become an urgent task for allregions, countries and the entire international community, she said.

In his opening remarks, on October 2, Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General forEconomic and Social Affairs of the UN, highlighted challenges to thematerialisation of Sustainable Development Goals, including economic crises,sluggish growth, natural disasters, climate change, inequality, unemploymentand population aging.

Given this, he suggested prioritising disadvantaged groups, increasing socialsponsorship and heeding statistics to tackle inequality.

Liu described maintaining peace and preventing conflicts as a prerequisite forsustainable development.

Following the opening ceremony, the delegates discussed social development,stressing the need to build an inclusive society with the participation of allgroups and people of all social strata.

They also shared experience in reducing poverty and easing difficulties fordisadvantaged groups.-VNA