VIENTIANE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Continuing economic growth and notable progress in poverty reduction are milestones in Laos' efforts to realize the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), local daily Vientiane Times reported Saturday.

The National Steering Committee for SDG Implementation highlighted the progress at its second meeting to discuss Laos' Voluntary Review on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The economy has been growing at about 7 percent in recent years.

Laos has also made tremendous progress in reducing poverty over the past 27 years. According to a draft of the review, by 2012-2013, Laos had halved the poverty rate from 1992-1993 levels, achieving the Millennium Development Goal target 1.A ahead of time.

The committee referred to the first assessment made by the UN Committee for Development Policy in March, which noted that Laos had met two of the three criteria for graduating from Least Developed Country status.

The review also pointed out the challenges to the country's efforts to achieve the goals in the UN agenda, noting that economic growth has mainly relied on natural resources, while a significant proportion of the population is at risk of falling into poverty.

Lao Foreign Minister and the steering committee's Vice Chairman Saleumxay Kommasith called on all sectors of society to play their role and fulfill their obligation in the implementation of the international development agenda.