UN representative assesses Vietnam as 'champion' in solving the problem of stateless people

Mr. James Lynch (left) - Chief Representative and Coordinator of UNHCR in Southeast Asia talks with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung.

On April 25, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung received Mr. James Lynch, Chief Representative and Coordinator of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Southeast Asia.

The two sides highly appreciated the cooperation in recent times related to issues such as: reducing the statelessness of people; the adoption and implementation of the Global Package of Refugee Solutions (GCRs); and Vietnam's hosting of the 14th Senior Officials Meeting of the Bali Process Working Group on preventing and combating illegal migration, human trafficking and related transnational crimes in July.

Mr. James Lynch commented that Vietnam is a “champion” and the most active member in the 10-year global campaign IBELONG initiated by UNHCR in 2014 to end statelessness; highly appreciated Vietnam’s role in the Bali Process and committed to continue cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Deputy Minister To Anh Dung highly appreciated the cooperation of UNHCR in recent times; welcomed and thanked UNHCR for its positive assessments of the efforts and achievements of the Vietnamese Government in resolving the issue of stateless people.

The Deputy Minister requested UNHCR to continue providing necessary administrative and technical support for the successful organization of the Adhoc SOM 14 meeting and the implementation of the GCRs Agreement in accordance with Vietnam's conditions and circumstances.