2007 marks many significant achievements in Vietnam’s economic - social development and global integration. Prime Minister Dung said Vietnam’s goal 2009 goals are centered around accomplishing and exceeding the country’s five-year plan (2006-2010) which aims for Vietnam to no longer be a poor country by 2010.

The World Bank’s Vietnam Country Director Ajay Chhibber said that lively relations between Vietnam and its partners is a source of strength and very important to future success. The relations are not only based on economics but knowledge and idea sharing as well.

“Vietnam’s development story has experienced so many surprises but many people are unaware. The lessons Vietnam has learned and the obstacles they have overcome is extremely valuable to other developing nations in their fight against hunger and poverty,” said Chhibber.

At the opening ceremony of CG 2007, a meeting held between the Vietnamese Government and international donors, Prime Minister Dung emphasized that this is the time to think of the future, when Vietnam attains average per capita income. Vietnam now needs development aid more than ever and the Vietnamese Government considers ODA an important source.

Prime Minister Dung expects that along with increasing current ODA sources, international donors will open new, larger-scale ODA channels to Vietnam.

“Vietnam always respects every ODA penny and guarantees to perform its commitments with high responsibility to donors. The Vietnamese Government will exert every effort to raise the effectiveness of ODA sources,” he promised.

Before the community of donors, the Vietnamese Prime Minister addressed existing problems. At present, Vietnam is still a developing country with low per capita income and is faced with many great challenges.

Specifically, economic effectiveness, quality and competitiveness are sub-par. Though under control, the consumer price index in 2007 has significantly increased. The macro-economy is not yet stabilised. Infrastructure is developing slowly; traffic accidents are serious problems; human resources don’t meet development needs; administrative reforms and anti-corruption are progressive but still complicated. The life of people in remote and isolated areas is still hard.

Along the road to becoming an industrialized country with average per capita income, Vietnam must learn from the experiences of others, said Country Director of World Bank in Vietnam.

He said that in looking at other nations in the region, many are at a standstill after becoming nations with average per capita income. Many countries have exceeded Vietnam’s current development level and are unable to go further. The main reason is weak institutions and infrastructure, even though their economies are developed.

The Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam said that the coming period will be difficult and critical for Vietnam. There are many more, and more difficult, challenges to a country with an average, rather than a low, per capita income. Vietnam needs to do its best to confront and solve unexpected phenomenon. He said that in the next phase of development, ensuring future capability is extremely important, particularly training high-quality professionals and managers.

The World Bank Vietnam Country Director said that Vietnam must keep WTO commitments, including trade and institutional reforms to ensure sustainable and dynamic development.

International donors also advised that Vietnam should invest in both soft and hard infrastructure, develop firm institutions and infrastructure with a clear and transparent responsibility mechanism, create a capable administration and anti-corruption policy, improve rural area production capabilities and provide higher-education and post-graduate education services.

Vietnam and donors must act to mitigate natural calamities and weather risks because they are not only humanitarian issues, but also developmental threats.

Donors hope Vietnam is ready to face the coming challenges to ensure future successes. “Donors will be side by side with Vietnam”.

Representatives of the UK, the European Union, ADB and the World Bank confirmed that they would continue providing and will increase ODA availability for Vietnam in the next 3-5 years. 

Source: VietnamNet.