Vietnam has supported all efforts aiming to raise the operational efficiency of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang made the affirmation at the 58^th ESCAP meeting that took place in Bangkok from May 16-22.

Mr Bang took this occasion to express the thanks of the Vietnamese government and people to ESCAP and the international community, particularly foreign donors, who have lent valuable assistance to Vietnam's national construction and development.

The 58^th ESCAP meeting focused on socio-economic development in the region in the past year and the reform of ESCAP.

Participants admitted that most of the regional countries, particularly developing countries, registered a sharp drop in their economic growth in the past year.

They asked ESCAP to take further moves to co-ordinate its members' activities to miminise and surmount the adverse impacts of globalisation and ensure a stable financial source for equal development in international trade.

They agreed that investing in human resource development is essential not only to social development but also to healthy and sustainable economic growth.