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I join Ramla Khalidi, my colleague at UNDP, in saying how sincerely delighted I am to join today’s co-hosts in welcoming you to this very important national scientific conference.
I am delighted, and I am excited – because as you have already heard this morning, we are in a moment of real opportunity.
We have seen exceptionally strong commitment from Viet Nam’s leaders, at the highest levels, to tackle air pollution.
I believe that it is our job, collectively, to help bring the science, the evidence, and the tools – to support the Government to turn that commitment into action with real impact. That is, into policies, regulations and enforcement strategies which will deliver cleaner air.
We all know that this will not be easy. But, I believe deeply in the idea that in every great challenge, lies possibility. And in this case, the possibility is immense. Clean air will improve health, save lives, and strengthen the economy.
We are extremely fortunate to be joined by many experts at this conference, including experts from China – who have shown how it is possible to dramatically improve air quality in a relatively short space of time.
I lived in Beijing more than a decade ago, during some of the worst air quality that the city had ever experienced. So I saw with my own eyes, and felt with my own lungs, the benefits of quick and bold action.
So again, I am truly thrilled to be able to welcome you all here today – and looking forward to our work together to support the Government’s efforts to deliver bluer skies, cleaner air, and a healthier Viet Nam!
Xin cảm ơn!