1. 13th National Party Congress “very successful”
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Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said, “The 13th National Party Congress was very successful”.
The Congress set out six major tasks and three strategic breakthroughs; orientations, targets, and tasks of the Vietnamese revolution in the next five years which aim to make Vietnam a developing country with its industry developing toward modernity and surpassing the low-middle income status by 2025, a developing country with modern industry and high-middle income status by 2030, when Vietnam celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and a developed country with high income by 2045, when Vietnam celebrates its 100th founding anniversary. The Congress affirms, that “Vietnam has made great, historic achievements and strong, comprehensive growth against the pre-renewal period. The country has never before had opportunity, potential, international prestige and status like today.”
2. Elections of deputies to the 15th NA Deputies and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure successful despite the pandemic
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On May 23, 2021 nearly 70 million or 99.6% of voters cast their ballots to elect deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure. The number of voters casting ballots and vote turnout were higher than in previous elections.
Held in line with law, democracy, equality, and safety, the election was a festival of the people. Many spotlights and “first time” impressions were recorded at the elections. The elections were successful and safe despite the pandemic. For the first time in 76 years of the National Assembly, the Lu and Brau ethnic minority people had representatives at the National Assembly.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic causes serious consequences. Vietnam carries out its largest ever vaccination program
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The 4th wave of COVID-19 with the emergence of the Delta variant caused serious consequences to the human lives and property of cities and provinces, particularly HCM City and southern localities. Nearly 30,000 people died of COVID-19 and economic losses were estimated at more than 15 billion USD (346 trillion VND).
In addition to setting up the Vaccine Fund, Vietnam promoted vaccine diplomacy and carried out its largest ever vaccination program. By the end of 2021, Vietnam basically completed two-dose vaccination for people over 18 and the first dose of vaccine for children from 12 to 18.
Vietnam shifted from a strategy of “zero COVID” to safely and flexibly adapting to and effectively containing COVID-19. Many social security policies were implemented to help workers and vulnerable people overcome difficulties during the pandemic.
Thanks to resolute, coordinated measures, Vietnam has contained the pandemic despite its complications.
4. Weathering the COVID-19 storm, Vietnam’s GDP records positive growth. Positive signs, momentum created for economic recovery next year
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Despite the heavy consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam recorded a positive GDP growth with export value reaching more than 600 billion USD in 2021 thanks to the government’s drastic, flexible management, and the consensus and determination of ministries, sectors, localities and the public. 2021 witnessed an impressive jump of e-commerce and digital economy.
These achievements were attributed to Vietnam’s coordinated fiscal and monetary policies and other macro policies. The National Assembly adopted multiple resolutions on budget finance, public investment, and economic restructuring. The government developed a master program on socio-economic recovery toward the strategy of safe and flexible adaptation, and mapped out an anti-COVID-19 strategy.
5. Diplomatic activities strengthened to raise Vietnam’s international status
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Despite the pandemic, Vietnam continued multilateral and bilateral diplomatic activities. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held phone talks with leaders of other countries and received many international delegations. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited Russia, Cuba, and Cambodia, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Japan, attended the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and related Meetings, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), had bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries, visited the UK, and paid an official visit to France. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had a tour of Europe and visited the Republic of Korea and India.
This year the first national external relations conference to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress was held to identify specific tasks of the Party and State external relations affairs and people-to-people diplomacy.
6. National Cultural Conference inspires national aspiration, promotes cultural values and strength of Vietnamese people
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After 75 years since the first National Cultural Conference was held in 1946, the 2021 Conference aims to invigorate the national aspiration. It highlighted culture as important as politics, economics, and society. The conference opened a new period of development of Vietnamese culture and worked out solutions to promote an advanced Vietnamese culture embodying national identities.
At the conference Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong urged for drastic changes, new progress, and more effective activities to enlighten and develop Vietnamese culture in the new period.
7. Party building, rectification strengthened comprehensively, new achievements recorded
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The 4th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee issued Conclusion No 21 which associates Party building and rectification to building the political system and supplements manifestations of degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle. The Party Politburo agreed to fine-tune the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption to become the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Anti-Negativity.
The Party Central Committee and the Party Politburo issued three important documents concerning Party building and rectification, with new contents to promote dynamism, creativity, and accountability of cadres. New regulations on Party members’ do’s and don’ts and dismissal and resignation of cadres were also included.
The Party has been resolute in the fight against corruption. The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission requested discipline and handling of violations of 12 Party organizations and 20 Party members under the management of the Party Politburo and Party Secretariat.
8. Prosecution, trial of major serious, complicated cases
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In 2021, economic and corruption-related cases were handled by courts at various levels. Strict punishments were imposed on those who abused their position of authority to appropriate State property. Cases under prosecution included some reported in the health care sector and some agencies of the Coastguard and Border Guard and those concerning violations of regulations on land management, state property management, and utilization in Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa province and HCM City. Investigation agencies prosecuted cases of serious violations of regulations in the production and bidding of COVID-19 test kits in pursuit of profit by Viet A company. These cases raised questions about responsibility for inspection and management of violations in the COVID-19 fight.
9. Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line comes into operation after multiple delays
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After 10 years with four delays, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line in Hanoi, the first urban line of Vietnam, came into operation on November 6, 2021.
With the initial investment of nearly 385 million USD, the project’s total investment finally cost 789 million USD. It came into operation in November, 2021, five and half years later than schedule.
Delays and exceeding capital in implementing infrastructure projects using ODA loans are the lessons learned from this project.
10. Vietnam’s football team enters 3rd qualifying round of World Cup 2022
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In 2021, Vietnamese football team, for the first time, entered the final round of the Asian qualifying round of World Cup 2022. This achievement reflects the development of Vietnamese football. Playing with top teams in Asia helped Vietnamese football players sharpen their skills, made them stronger, and created a prerequisite for them to enter bigger competitions.