Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc meets Country Director of the World Bank in Việt Nam Carolyn Turk on Wednesday. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted a reception in Hà Nội on Wednesday for Country Director of the World Bank in Việt Nam Carolyn Turk.

The PM expressed his belief that Turk would continue the success of her predecessors to increasingly foster ties between the lender and the country.

He stressed that the Vietnamese Government, ministries and agencies wish to receive policy advice from the WB, especially in stabilising macro-economy.

Việt Nam has set the dual goal of fighting the pandemic and ensuring economic development. Thanks to public support, the Vietnamese economy still posted the highest positive growth in ASEAN amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

The leader thanked the WB for supporting the central region in overcoming disaster consequences, and affirmed that the Government was actively directing ministries, agencies and localities to uphold their sense of responsibility and step up the disbursement of official development assistance.

He hailed the lender for approving a US$12 billion support package for countries worldwide, including Việt Nam, to buy COVID-19 vaccines, and expressed his hope that Turk would partner with the Government to fulfil the dual goal.

The host also hoped that the WB would work closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to improve ODA disbursement and efficiency of projects funded by the lender.

As Việt Nam was building 2021-2026 socio-economic development and public investment plans, the PM suggested that the WB continue partnering with the Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to prepare effective projects to meet the development demand.

Turk expressed her appreciation for close coordination between the Vietnamese Government and WB over the past 25 years. She hoped to step up bilateral ties more effectively in the near future. 

Sympathising with those in the central region for losses caused by flooding, she said the WB would do its best to support them.

The official also congratulated the Vietnamese Government on successfully curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and making Việt Nam one of a few economies with positive growth this year which brings about a great competitive edge to the country in the global supply chain, especially at a time when many countries worldwide are still shut down to cope with the pandemic.

According to her, a number of big corporations worldwide plan to move their manufacturing facilities to Việt Nam. Therefore, the country needs to grasp this opportunity before countries reopen their economies.

In her opinion, it was a good time for Việt Nam to reshape itself in the global economy, adding the country would have chances to step up reform in digital Government, transformation and remote health check-up and treatment.

The WB would be ready to provide support in capital, experts and policy consultation to Việt Nam, she said, adding that it had support resources for Việt Nam, even capital and procedures, to buy COVID-19 vaccines on a large scale.

The official also vowed to work with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to hasten disbursement of public investment capital, and proposed that Việt Nam should further simplify disbursement procedures for projects.

She also hoped that the WB’s four programmes and projects would be soon submitted to the Government for approval. —VNS