1. Successfully organising Congresses of centrally-run Party organisations; completing documents and personnel plans for the upcoming 13th National Party Congress

The 14th plenum of the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee wraps up in Hanoi on December 18 after nearly five days of work, with all agenda items completed. — VNA/VNS Photo

In implementing Directive No 35-CT/TW of the Politburo, all 67 centrally-run Party organisations conducted their congresses for the 2020-2025 tenure at an earlier time than in the last three tenures in line with regulations and with high quality amid difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, such as storms and flooding. In three sessions held throughout the year, the Party Central Committee received and studied opinions contributed by Party members and the people to complete all documents and reach a high level of consensus on personnel plans being submitted to the upcoming 13th National Party Congress (slated for late January 2021).

Party organisations have promoted democracy and brainpower to identify opportunities and challenges, thus establishing orientations, tasks, and strategic breakthroughs as well as suitable solutions with a high level of feasibility for the next five years. The number of members in Party committees has been reduced but they still maintained good structure and quality.

2. Vietnam, a bright spot in the world in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic

A Hanoi health worker collects a nose-throat swab specimen from a returning citizen from Da Nang to test for COVID-19 in the second wave outbreak occurring in July-August. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyet

With unity and determination in the entire political system and the people, Vietnam has brought the COVID-19 pandemic largely under control. As of December 30, the country had logged a total of 1,454 infections (the majority of which are imported) with 1,281 recoveries, while the world has seen more than 82 million cases and nearly 1.8 million deaths. Right from the beginning of the outbreak, leaders of the Party and State have been resolved to “fight the pandemic like fighting the enemy”, and remained faithful to the principle of “preventing; detecting; quarantining; stamping out; effectively treating”, to “protect the health and lives of the people”. As a result, Vietnam’s COVID-19 response has been recognised by the world as a role model to follow.

Besides its success in treatment, Vietnam also successfully isolated the SARS-CoV-2 virus in February, started the production of test kits, and began human trials of a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine in late December.

3. Multilateral diplomacy makes important strides

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh join other countries in the signing ceremony for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. — VNA/VNS Photo

In 2020, Vietnam successfully performed the roles of ASEAN Chair 2020, President of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41), and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure, actively making contributions to the building and shaping of multilateral institutions.

In a “cohesive and responsive” spirit, Vietnam organised the 36th and 37th ASEAN Summits and related meetings in a hybrid format, mixing virtual and in-person meetings, presenting 13 initiatives to control COVID-19 and implementing the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. The 37th ASEAN Summit adopted more than 80 documents, the highest number passed at an ASEAN summit, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Vietnam proposed initiatives to organise the first open discussion on UN-ASEAN cooperation, with the theme “Upholding the UN Charter to Maintain International Peace and Security”, and set the date of December 27 as International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.

4. GDP growth expands in the context of severe global economic downturn

A production line at the Japanese-invested JFE Shoji Steel Hai Phong in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the northern port city of Hai Phong. — VNA/VNS Photo

As the global economy is plunged into an unprecedented crisis due to the impact of COVID-19, Vietnam remains one of only a few countries to maintain positive economic growth, with GDP growth in 2020 registered at 2.91 per cent, among the highest in the region and the world, thanks to effective handling of the pandemic and reasonable measures to stimulate the socio-economy and reduce the impacts of the pandemic. Vietnam's economy has witnessed multiple positive signs, such as a record trade surplus of more than US$20 billion and 2,500 foreign-invested projects worth nearly $15 billion. About 180,000 new companies were set up or existing companies resumed operations, up 0.9 per cent year-on-year. The disbursement of public investment posted the highest increase in the 2011-20 period, of more than 90 per cent. These outcomes result from the efforts of the entire political system and all economic sectors in implementing the twin targets of preventing the pandemic and boosting economic development, as well as from Vietnam joining new generation free trade agreements, including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect on August 1.

5. Severe storms, flooding, and landslides hit the central region, with 249 dead or missing

Many regions of Quang Binh Province became inundated with water following successive storms and floodings in October. — VNA/VNS Photo

Seven consecutive storms hit Vietnam’s central region in October and November, bringing unprecedented torrential rain, leading to widespread flooding that left 249 people dead or missing. Some 50,000ha of rice and crops were destroyed, while more than 4.5 million heads of livestock drowned. There were also 149,000ha of forest affected, while a range of infrastructure and civil works were damaged. Devastating flooding and landslides at the Rao Trang 3 hydropower project in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Nam Tra My and Phuoc Son districts in Quang Nam Province and Huong Hoa District in Quang Tri killed many and left others missing, causing devastating losses to the localities.

6. Strict disciplining of senior officials committing law violations continues

The Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Inspection Commission handed down strict disciplinary measures to many senior officials under the Party Central Committee’s management in 2020, including two members and one former member of the Politburo and five members and former members of the Party Central Committee, for their wrongdoings relating to corruption cases and other violations.

Investigations into a number of very serious and complex cases were sped up, including those relating to the Hai Thanh Company, the Vietnam People’s Navy, Mobifone, Vietnam Social Security, BIDV, Sacombank, and the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Corporation, as well as violations in land management and the management and use of State property in HCM City and Da Nang City. The rate of corrupt asset recovery has increased.

7. Breakthroughs in national digital transformation programme

The National Digital Transformation Programme to 2025 with a vision toward 2030 was approved by the Prime Minister with the aim of making Vietnam a digital country with stability and prosperity and pioneering new technologies and models by 2030. The programme targets the twin goals of developing e-government, e-economy, and e-society, and forming digital technology businesses with global competitiveness. The Government has defined “Make in Vietnam” technologies as the foundation for digital transformation, which are expected to help the country take advantage of technology to post breakthrough growth and become a strong technology country over the next five years.

In realising the goal of developing e-government, the National Public Service Portal provided more than 2,650 online public services during the year, along with 6,700 administrative procedures at four levels.

8. For the first time, Vietnam launches a framework programme of general education with several sets of textbooks

Vietnam introduced a new general education programme for first graders in the 2020-21 school year, with a number of different textbooks that follow the same general education framework, thus realising the policy of mobilising social efforts in compiling textbooks and eliminating monopolies in textbook publishing and distribution.

Unreasonable prices of some textbooks along with problems with the use of language in others caused public concern, however. The Ministry of Education and Training has accepted public opinion and adjusted the content of some textbooks.

9. Vietnam conducts world’s first limb transplant from a live donor

On February 24, the Central Military Hospital 108 announced that it had successfully performed the world’s first limb transplant, a hand, from a live donor. It was also the first such limb transplant in Southeast Asia.

The HCM City Children’s Hospital 1 also successfully separated conjoined twins Truc Nhi and Dieu Nhi, with the sisters now able to walk on their own.

10. Dak Nong Geopark joins the network of UNESCO Global Geoparks

Ta Dung Lake in Dak Nong Geopark is dubbed “Ha Long Bay in the Central Highlands”. — VNA/VNS Photo

On July 7, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognised the Dak Nong Geopark as a global geopark. In the Central Highlands, the park has some 65 heritage sites, including craters, a network of 50 volcanic caves stretching a total length of 10km, and waterfalls. It also boasts interesting culture, natural geology, and traces of early human life.

The Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark in Ha Giang Province and the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in Cao Bang Province, both in the northern mountainous region of the country, were previously recognised as global geoparks.  VNS

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