Three breakthroughs in Vietnam’s development goals

The Mid-Year Vietnam Consultative Group (CG) Meeting officially opened in Kien Giang province on June 9.

This is an important meeting which identifies prioritised fields receiving aid in the five-year socio-economic development plan from 2011-2015, develops strategic development vision in the next 10 years and points out orientations and measures to ensure the efficiency of aid in sustainable development, coping with climate change and developing human resources.

Participants at the meeting praised the Government’s economic management measures over the past two years, especially efforts to overcome the global economic downturn and achieve positive growth in 2009. They pointed out challenges for Vietnam, such as poverty reduction in remote and mountainous areas, ensuring hygiene and medical care in rural areas and correcting issues facing average income countries.

Representatives from Vietnam’s ministries and departments exchanged views with ambassadors and chief representatives from international organizations on issues related to information transparency, ensuring safety for the banking system, controlling prices according to the market economy, managing the real estate market, restructuring the economy, identifying co-operative mechanisms in implementing projects, especially developing infrastructure effectively, coping with climate change in the Mekong Delta region and fighting corruption in the educational sector.

World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Victoria Kwakwa affirmed that donors were committed to supporting the five-year socio-economic development plans and the strategic development vision for the next 10 years set by the Government.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked international donors for their effective support for Vietnam during the difficult time from 2008-2009 and on the first months of this year.

The PM forecast that Vietnam would be able to achieve a growth of 6.1 percent in the first half of this year and 6.5-6.8 percent for the whole year if there is not big fluctuation from contributing bodies outside.

He reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Government will continue to strengthen the macroeconomy, keep the inflation rate at around 8 percent, reduce the State Budget spending, increase foreign currency reserves, manage the market flexibly in line with international customs and domestic conditions to ensure the value of the Vietnamese dong, keep the import surplus below 20 percent of import value, and provide transparent information, especially on monetary policy, bank operation and financial institutions.

Mr Dung pointed out five opinions on socio-economic development strategy in the next five years and a target for becoming an industrialised country in 2020, as well as developing production and services centre in the region.  He also highlighted 12 major measures the Government is implementing. They are to complete the market economy institution with socialist orientation, develop industry and construction strongly, improve quality and competitiveness to create a firm foundation for an industrialised country, he listed. He also introduced plans to develop agriculture and services, especially those of high value, to build new urban and rural areas, to develop culture and society in line with economy, to raise the quality of medical care and human resources, to renovate the education and training sector, to develop science and technology, to protect the environment, and to cope with climate change. Vietnam will strive to maintain national independence, sovereignty, and unification, ensure political security and social order, expand external relations, actively integrate and raise Vietnam’s position on the international arena, he said.

He emphasised determination to resolve the relationship between the State and market, to make progress in administrative reform, and accelerate anti-corruption and wastefulness, as well as strengthen Party’s leadership and promote citizens’ mastership.

Vietnam praised and hoped to continue receive aid from the international community, Mr Dung said.

Mr Dung stressed that Vietnam is committed to using funds effectively.He applauded the ambassadors and chief representatives’ opinions on Vietnam’s 10-year strategy for socio-economic development strategy, five-year plan for socio-economic development and project to restructure its economy.