Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc held a reception for Country Director of World Bank in Việt Nam Ousmane Dione on Monday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc thanked the World Bank (WB) for its important contributions to Việt Nam’s development, including poverty reduction efforts and technical assistance in the banking and financial sectors.

The Vietnamese Government leader made the statement on Monday as he received outgoing Country Director of World Bank in Việt Nam Ousmane Dione, who will soon end his term in the country and came to say farewell.

PM Phúc expressed appreciation for the WB official, calling him “a very dear friend of Việt Nam” who fostered the relationship between the country and bank.

PM Phúc asked that when Ousmane Dione serves as the regional representative for the WB in four African countries, he would serve as “a bridge” to help Vietnamese export goods reach the African markets.

He also thanked the World Bank for having always supported Việt Nam during its fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Dione said his four-year term in Việt Nam had been a “memorable” experience, having made 140 trips to 34 provinces and cities in Việt Nam.

He thanked the Vietnamese Government and the Prime Minister for having supported him in his missions.

He congratulated Việt Nam for its exemplary response to the coronavirus virus, which owed no small part to the robust leadership of the Government.

The WB official said he was glad that policy recommendations from the organisation have been well-received by the  Government.

He reiterated his stance that Việt Nam needs to strongly pursue digitalisation as part of its modernisation efforts, provide better services for the public and the business sector, and improve the effectiveness of the State apparatus.

Dione said the World Bank, and his successor, will accompany Việt Nam in its development path in the future, expressing confidence that Việt Nam is a model of development for emerging economies.

Regarding WB financing for the country, PM Phúc thanked the WB for having helped Việt Nam “graduate” from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's fund for the poorest countries.

The WB has helped the country take full advantage of the loans to develop its socio-economic infrastructure, PM Phúc said, adding that Việt Nam still needs more capital support from the WB to address its challenges.

PM Phúc said he had assigned the Ministry of Finance to study and work with WB on the COVID-19 response loans the organisation has suggested. — VNS