(VOVworld)- Vietnam experienced a year full of challenges and difficulties amidst increasing fluctuation in the region and the world in 2014. According to President Truong Tan Sang, Vietnam will mark a number of major events in 2015, which boasts many opportunities for development. In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, President Sang stressed the need to create a new driving force for national development. We now bring you excerpts from the interview.
President Truong Tan Sang pointed out Vietnam’s challenges and shortcomings in 2014. They include ineffective public investment and poor infrastructure compared to other countries in the region as well as difficulties in the financial, banking, educational, scientific and technological sectors. President Sang stressed the vital importance of addressing these problems to pave the way for national development.
Promoting potentials and advantages to accelerate growth
President Sang highlighted Vietnam’s advantages of political stability and being located in the Asia Pacific region, which plays a key role in the global economy. Sang described international support for Vietnam’s stance in addressing regional and global issues as evidence of Vietnam’s effective external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, multi-lateralization and diversification of relations, and being proactive in international integration and a reliable partner and responsible member of the international community.
President Sang highlighted the importance of international integration in Vietnam’s development. He said boosting growth is important but it’s essential to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability. By late 2015, full trade liberalization will be realized in ASEAN as well as between ASEAN and China, meaning that a wide range of tariffs will be removed to facilitate the free circulation of goods. By 2018, Vietnam will have to cut its own tariffs under its commitments with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the free trade agreements (FTAs) it has joined, Sang said, adding that Vietnam has concluded negotiations on FTAs with the EU, the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Korea, and is currently negotiating the Tran-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. According to the President, these will represent both opportunities and challenges for Vietnam in the years to come.
Creating a drive force for national development and international integration
President Sang said that to bring into play its potential and advantages, Vietnam must accelerate reforms, renovate its growth models and strengthen economic restructuring to increase the competitiveness of its economy, boost rapid and sustainable growth and successfully implement industrialization, modernization and international integration. The President stressed the need to fine-tune the socialist-oriented market economy mechanism, and focus on human resources training in order to improve Vietnam’s position in the world. Sang said the State plays a strategic role in guiding national development but determination on the part of the public and private enterprises is essential.
Vietnam will hold several important events in 2015 including Party Congresses at various levels to prepare for the 12th National Party Congress.
Sang said people, as the subject and the purpose of renovation, have the right to expect and require the Party and State to continue the renewal in a comprehensive fashion. He called on the public, the Party, the State and the government to join efforts to create a fresh driving force to boost economic growth, improve people’s living conditions and successfully implement industrialization and modernization. On the occasion of the new Lunar Year, the President conveyed his best New Year wishes to all Vietnamese, inside and outside the country.