(VOVworld)- Vietnam will hold several major events in 2015 and continue integrating further into the region and the world. In such a context, Vietnam will have both opportunities and challenges which require the whole nation to unite to develop the country and safeguard national territorial sovereignty, said President Truong Tan Sang in an interview with VOV on the occasion of the traditional lunar New Year.

President Sang said that Vietnam managed to maintain macro-economic stability in 2014 despite numerous difficulties and challenges. This achievement was greatly attributed by great efforts of all sectors, agencies and the public. Sang said in 2015 and the years to come, Vietnam will continue integrating deeply and widely into the world economy, further penetrating into wider markets and participating in more international trade institutions including the TPP negotiation, and trade liberalization with 10 ASEAN countries in the ASEAN Economic Community. President Sang said these pose both opportunities and challenges for Vietnam: “The fierce competition requires us to make greater efforts to increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods and the Vietnamese economy. In addition to accelerating the pace of international integration, we need to focus on improving the quality and effectiveness of our economy”.

In regard to the Party resolution on urgent issues in Party building, President Sang said despite some positive outcomes, corruption and wastefulness remain. He called on the Party and public to join efforts to combat corruption and waste.

In response to VOV’s question about China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone in 2014, President Sang said: “90 million Vietnamese people agree that national sovereignty is sacred and inviolable. We all want to live in peace and solidarity with neighboring countries and other countries. This is the guidelines that the Vietnamese Party and State pursue. But once our sovereignty is violated, all people are determined to defend their sacred sovereignty”.

The President said that in the struggle against foreign invaders, Vietnam always upheld national independence and socialism and has won all struggles. In the current national construction and defense, this lesson remains its value. Vietnam wants to befriend and live in peace and friendship with other countries.