Vietnam’s efforts and achievements last year are remarkable and proud. They are an important premise for Vietnam to carry on with the last year of the 5-year Socio-economic Development Plan from 2016 to 2021 and the 10-year Socio-economic Development Strategy from 2011 to 2021.

2020 will see many momentous national events: the 90^th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 90^th anniversary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the organization of Party congresses at all levels towards the 13th National Party Congress, the 75^th Vietnam National Day, the 130^th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, the 45^th anniversary of the Liberation of the South for national reunification, and Vietnam becoming ASEAN Chair, Chair of the 41^st ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly, and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. 

In order to fulfill and surpass the set targets for 2020, Vietnam has continued to strengthen the macro-economy, control inflation, and improve internal strength and economic self-reliance. Efforts will be focused on improving trade and investment environment, boosting rapid, sustainable growth, achieving strategic breakthroughs, restructuring the economy, reforming the growth model, and boosting productivity, quality, and competitiveness of the national economy. Management of natural resources should promote environmental protection and climate change mitigation.   

Vietnam has adopted policies and specific measures to develop culture, society, and human resource, and improve people’s lives. Activities have been carried out to care for revolutionary contributors, build new rural areas, generate jobs, reduce poverty, and allocate resources for projects benefiting ethic minority people.

It’s necessary to actively implement the Party Central Committee’s resolutions on reforming salary, social insurance, education-training, science-technology, healthcare, and population policies. Cultural institutions should be strengthened, particularly at industrial zones and new residential areas while heritages be preserved. Campaigns on building new rural areas and civilized urban areas and policies on ethnicity and religion should be well implemented.

Other key tasks in 2020 include reinforcing national defense and security, ensuring political stability, order, and safety, strengthening external affairs and international integration, and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development.

It’s important to closely follow, promptly assess, and forecast the situation, particularly the East Sea and border issues, in order to actively deal with complicated developments and firmly protect national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Vietnam will continue to strictly implement the Resolution on Party Building and Rectification to prevent and push back political, moral, and lifestyle degradation and signs on self-evolution and self-transformation, while upholding the campaign to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and lifestyle.

Vietnam is determined to combat corruption and bribes for positions and power. Mechanisms are in place to encourage and protect people who dare to think, do, and take responsibility. Administrative principles and discipline will be tightened through regular monitoring and oversight to change the work ethnic, morality, culture, and professionalism of public servants.

The spring of 2020 is knocking at the door. It will begin with the 90^th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. On its development path, Vietnam will promote the achievements of the past, particularly more than 30 years of national renewal and international integration. We can trust in and be hopeful of future national development. Vietnam will overcome difficulties and challenges, grasp opportunities, and mobilize all resources toward a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization.