HÀ NỘI — The nation’s achievements in 2017 are important prerequisites for Việt Nam to continue implementing successfully the tasks set by the 12th Party Congress, says President Trần Đại Quang.

Speaking to the media on the threshold of the New Year 2018, he said 2017 was the first time in many years that Việt Nam had met and surpassed all 13 socio-economic development goals set by the National Assembly.

The macro-economy was stable, inflation was controlled, budget collection and other major economic sectors met their respective targets, he said.

The country’s GDP saw a record growth of 6.81 per cent, export-import reached the highest ever turnover of US$425 billion and a record of $33 billion inflow in foreign direct investment was recorded.

The President also highlighted encouraging social progress, particularly in poverty reduction and healthcare access, enhanced defence and security, political stability and social order and safety.

Significant results have been obtained in building the Party and the political apparatus, he said.

“The relatively comprehensive achievements in different fields have helped reinforce trust, create a dynamic atmosphere in society as a whole, and provided favourable momentum for the country to continue developing sustainably,” Quang said.

He also described 2017 as a special year in Việt Nam’s diplomatic history, underlining the huge success of APEC Year 2017, with its peak being the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

As the event’s host, the country set a historic milestone in the advancing economic and political connections in the Asia-Pacific region, showcasing its stature, firmness and wisdom, he said.

Việt Nam was the focus of the world’s attention during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week held in the central city of Đà Nẵng (November 6-11), he said.

All leaders of the APEC economies were present, as also leaders of the guest nations of Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, not to mention more than 11,000 delegates. Over 21,000 people attended activities of the APEC Year 2017.

The event spotlighted Việt Nam’s strategic position and role in the region, the member economies’ commitment to APEC co-operation, and the international community’s interest in APEC and Việt Nam, the President said.

He said what Việt Nam achieved in APEC Year 2017 also laid a foundation for the country to elevate its bilateral relations with partners. Historic visits and dozens of talks and bilateral meetings took place during the week.

In particular, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China, Xi Jinping, paid a State visit shortly after the Chinese Party’s 19th national congress. Meanwhile, Donald Trump became the first US President to make a State visit to Việt Nam in the first year of his tenure.

In 2017, Việt Nam bolstered co-operation with neighbouring, regional and major countries as well as nations it has traditional ties with, the President noted, adding that leaders of Việt Nam and other countries made a number of mutual visits.

There were many high-level visits between Việt Nam and leading regional and global nations. It was the first time in history Việt Nam had welcomed the leaders of China and the US on their State visits in one day.

Amid the global economy’s unstable recovery and growing trade protectionism, Việt Nam strongly promoted economic, trade and investment ties with other countries both bilaterally and multilaterally, and greatly helped with the shaping of trade connections in the region.

During the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, the country played an active role in maintaining and promoting negotiations for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Meanwhile, in ASEAN, Việt Nam made a critical contribution to the enhancement of solidarity, consensus and development of a common voice on the region’s strategic issues.

Security-defence dialogues and the establishment of co-operation mechanisms with neighbouring, regional and major countries, active engagement in multilateral forums on security-defence, and its participation in UN peacekeeping operations increased the political trust between Việt Nam and other countries, helping raise the nation’s international standing and prestige, the President said.

Persistent shortcomings

He also pointed out shortcomings that need to be addressed in the coming time, including low growth quality, cumbersome administrative procedures, corruption, wastefulness and negative phenomena, inefficient investment projects, and slow restructuring of the agriculture, industry and service sectors.

Quang also highlighted the problems of wasteful use of natural resources, environmental pollution, natural disasters, child abuse and domestic violence. The lives of ethnic minority people in remote and natural disaster prone areas continue to be difficult, he said.

He noted that the National Assembly has approved main socio-economic development targets for 2018, including a GDP growth of 6.5-6.7 per cent, ensuring macro-economic stability, curbing inflation, reforming growth model in line with economic restructuring, and improving growth quality, labour productivity and economic competitiveness.

Việt Nam holds great potential for further development thanks to its social and political stability, increasing prestige on the global arena, and significant accomplishments after over 30 years of Đổi mới (Renewal), he said.

He called for stronger solidarity and self-reliance to tap opportunities and overcome challenges to develop the country while protecting its independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Mentioning the fight against corruption and wastefulness, President Quang said many serious cases were brought into light and strictly handled in 2017, thanks to firm directions from the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Steering Committee on Corruption Prevention, the efforts of competent agencies and support of the people.

Preventing corruption and wastefulness will continue to be a key task of the country in 2018 and the following years, he stressed.

He said it was necessary to implement more effectively resolutions on Party building adopted at the fourth meeting of the CPV Central Committee in the 11th and 12th tenures.

Each official and Party member must take the lead in fighting corruption and preventing wastefulness, contributing to building a strong and transparent Party, State and political system, he added.

On the threshold of the New Year, President Quang wished all people at home and abroad good health, happiness and success.

He called on people to promote patriotism and national unity to boost sustainable development and national defence. — VNS