Vietnam moves forward with firm foundations

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong

The achievements Vietnam recorded in 2018 have given the country valuable lessons, creating a firm foundation for the country to develop, reform, and integrate further into the world, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival, the leader said despite a range of difficulties and challenges, the country has maintained rapid and comprehensive development in most spheres last year.

Vietnam has completed all 12 set targets, with its gross domestic product (GDP) growing more than 7 percent to exceed 245 billion USD and about 2,580 USD per capita, he noted.

The stable macro economy, controlled inflation, and consumer price index (CPI) at below 4 percent were also marked achievements in the year, he said, adding that the country’s exports continued to rise and trade surplus hit a record of over 7 billion USD.

Last year, the tourism sector earned 620 trillion VND (26.66 billion USD) from serving nearly 15.6 million international tourists and 80 million domestic arrivals, gradually becoming the country’s economic spearhead.

The important socio-economic achievements have also contributed significantly to raising people’s material and spiritual life, ensuring political stability alongside social order and safety, the leader said.

External affairs and international integration have been stepped up, contributing to protecting national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and strategic interests; consolidating a peaceful and stable environment for development and elevating Vietnam’s prestige and position on the world arena, Trong said. 

He affirmed that joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a step forward to materialise policies of the Party and the State in international integration, and assert Vietnam’s important role and geo-political position in Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, and the world at large.

The CPTPP membership is also significant for Vietnam in taking advantage of external resources and mobilising internal strength, thus effectively serving national construction, defence, and development.

Regarding the fight against corruption and other negative phenomena, he said that competent agencies have taken an active part in the combat and sped up the verification, investigation, and settlement of serious and complex corruption and economic cases, especially those in the fields of oil and gas, banking, and public asset and land management.

According to the leader, the strict punishment of many officials, Party members, leaders, and managers at all levels who committed violations have demonstrated that there are no restricted zones and exceptions in the fight.

This is a long-term struggle that requires resolve, patience, and scientific methods for the purity and prestige of the Party, sustainable development of the country, and the wish and happiness of the people, Trong underlined.

According to the leader, anti-corruption must go in tandem with streamlining apparatus; improving the operational efficiency of public agencies; reforming wage and social insurance policies; building a contingent of key officials at all levels, especially at the strategic one; and perfecting institutions, policies and laws.

Mentioning major tasks for 2019 and the years to come, the Party and State leader called for more efforts to consolidate the macro economy, maintain the growth pace, improve growth quality, accelerate the implementation of three strategic breakthroughs, reform the growth model, and restructure the economy.

“There are many more jobs to do and do better, but the first hurdle lies with how to create more remarkable changes in administrative reform and pragmatically remove bottlenecks and barriers to the investment, production, and business activities, thus facilitating the mobilisation of all resources for development,” he said.

More attention should be paid to building and developing culture and society, building human resources, and promoting social equality and progress in each development step and policy.

Priority must also be given to addressing issues of public concern, such as the wealth gap, or the morality decline and increase of social evils, he said, stressing the need to further consolidate and increase national defence and security potential; firmly maintain national independence, sovereignty, alongside territorial unity and integrity; and effectively perform external affairs and international integration.

“A constant key task is to build a pure, strong, and effective Party and political system,” he told the VNA.

On the occasion of the Tet holidays, the Party and State leader called on soldiers and people nationwide to join hands in order to successfully complete the set targets and tasks, taking the country to the period of rapid and sustainable development, with higher position and greater strength.