It has become one of the pillars for the socio-economic development plans of every sector and locality and has gradually gained the public support, as well as commitments from party committees and people’s committees at all levels across the country, the official said.

The work has helped to ease the population growth’s pressure on socio-economic development, which ensures political security, social welfare, and better access to effective healthcare and educational services, job placements and other social services.

However, big challenges and difficulties remain ahead for the country, the Health Minister stressed. Vietnam now has about a population of some 86.5 million, becoming the 13th most populous nation in the world, with a population density six times higher than the world’s average.

Minister Trieu expressed his concern that internal migration in the country is rising, and large numbers of people continue to be on the move, causing complex problems for local authorities.

Vietnam’s Human Development Index (HDI) has been gradually improving, but remains lower than other countries in the region, he noted. He also underlined the need to address the high infection rates of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.

To achieve the National Assembly’s target of reducing the birth rate by 0.2 per 1,000, the Ministry of Health has planned to focus on implementing a project to control population growth in 28 cities and provinces in coastal, island and sea areas along with awareness raising campaigns in these localities, Mr Trieu said.

The population sector has prepared a National Target Population-Family Planning Programme for 2011-2020, and has adopted some models and solutions to improve the quality of population and family planning services.