This was stated by Bruce Campbell, the UNFPA Representative in Vietnam during a seminar held by the National Assembly’s (NA) Social Affairs Committee on November 9.      

He added that the seminar was a good opportunity to share the latest information about population issues and discuss solutions.

Dr. Nguyen Van Phai, a UNFPA expert, said that the annual rate of population growth in Vietnam has fallen sharply from 1.7% during 1989-1999 to 1.2% during 1999-2009. However, with a population of over 85.8 million, Vietnam now ranks 3^rd in the Southeast Asian region and 13^th in the world.

The participants also debated the duties and responsibilities of state agencies, the cost of family planning and measures to deal with an ageing population.