Vietnam Becomes Great Development Success Story in the World

At the reception, PM Dung appreciated the WB’s cooperation and support for Vietnam’s socioeconomic development, especially in poverty reduction and sustainable development. He expressed his hope for the WB’s cooperation, particularly through supporting resources, in seeking preferential sponsorship sources, policy consultancy and technical assistance, to fulfil the country’s development goals.

 

He hailed the close coordination between Vietnamese agencies and the WB in preparing the report “Vietnam 2035: Toward Prosperity, Creativity, Equity and Democracy”, which includes specific targets and recommendations which match Vietnam’s wide-ranging development orientations. The cabinet chief also spoke highly of Jim Yong Kim’s presence in his country to announce the report.

 

WB President Jim Yong Kim said Vietnam has attained a lot of development achievements, particularly in socioeconomic development, poverty elimination, development gap reduction and improvement of people’s living standards. He believed that, with its achievements, long-term vision, intensive international integration, and efforts made by every citizen, Vietnam will make even greater strides in the future. “We always follow and admire Vietnam. You have become one of the world’s great development success stories. We are always ready to stand side by side with you and believe that Vietnam will reach a developed and high-income status,” said Jim Yong Kim. He noted that his delegation’s presence in Hanoi to release the Vietnam 2035 Report demonstrated the WB’s strong commitment to Vietnam’s development.

 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said, after 30 years of doi moi (reform), Vietnam has gained substantial and historic achievements. However, the country has also faced with major difficulties and challenges, especially the low development level. Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts and rising sea level. It also has to focus on addressing lingering war consequences. Besides, as socioeconomic infrastructure and manpower training quality fail to meet development demands, challenges posed by international economic integration are big.

 

President Jim Yong Kim affirmed that the WB will help Vietnam get access to preferential loans with low interest rates to develop renewable energy, education and health. Focus will be placed on lowering child malnutrition rate and stunting children (which is still as high as 30 per cent). “For these goals, I am certain that we will seek out preferential sources for Vietnam,” he pledged.

 

At the end of the meeting, President Kim presented PM Dung the Vietnam 2035 Report, which was compiled over more than a year by Vietnamese and WB specialists. The report suggests directions and measures in fields that Vietnam should focus on to become an industrialised and upper-middle income country by 2035, ensure social progress and equality, and strengthen the State’s capacity and accountability.