Vietnam wishes for continued support from the international community, including the World Bank (WB), to fulfill its development goals, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told WB Country Director Victoria Kwakwa during a reception in Hanoi on March 30.

He asked for the WB’s support in resources, policy consultation and technical assistance in infrastructure, sustainable poverty reduction, health care, education-training and human resources training, as well as in response to climate change and rising sea levels.

The host expressed hope that the WB, with its prestige, will continue raising its voice towards the effective and sustainable use of the Mekong River resources, especially waste.

The leader also spoke highly of the outcomes of the WB President Jim Yong-kim’s visit to Vietnam last February and the joint work done to build the report “Vietnam 2035: Toward Prosperity, Creativity, Equity and Democracy” covering specific recommendations for Vietnam’s development orientations.

Kwakwa, for her part, said the WB is working closely with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to effectively realise commitments reached during Jim’s visit and goals set in the Vietnam report.

The WB pledges to liaise with partners in seeking a suitable roadmap for Vietnam to achieve priority development goals and ensure the State budget’s sustainable solvency, she said.

Sharing sympathy with losses caused by ongoing severe drought and saline intrusion in the central, Central Highlands and Mekong Delta regions, she said the lender is actively working with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to mitigate the impacts of climate change and extreme weather phenomena over the short, mid and long terms.

Talk on Vietnam’s foreign policy in Mexico

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan chaired a talk on Vietnam’s foreign policy and its international integration process at the Economic Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) on March 30.

At the event, Ambassador Lan briefed participants on the geographical position, land, culture and people of Vietnam as well as milestones in the country’s regional and international integration, especially its role and involvement in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

She emphasised the results in external relations and socio-economic achievements, notably GDP growth in over past two decades.

The diplomat confirmed the soundness of the country’s foreign policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, cooperation, development, multilateralisation and diversification of relations.

Vietnam is always an active and responsible member of the international community, which is reflected through the country’s participation in the UN’s peacekeeping forces. It also takes initiative in joining regional and global forums and mechanisms, including ASEAN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, she added.

Many lecturers and students showed their hope to continue being updated on information about Vietnam during its nation-building cause.

The diplomat also answered various questions related to the Vietnam-Mexico relations, two-way trade, visa requirements to Vietnam, the country’s key exports and big trade partners, as well as its stance on relations with powers like the US and China.

President receives WB Country Director

President Truong Tan Sang said he hopes the World Bank (WB) will support Vietnam in coping with the prolonged salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta during a meeting with WB Country Director to Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa in Hanoi on March 30.

President Truong Tan Sang (R) receives WB Country Director to Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa

He briefed the WB official, who came to bid farewell at the end of her tenure, about the developments of drought, salt intrusion and climate change in the delta, which has caused huge damage on the local economy and lives.

The President also mentioned the national programme on planning canal and dyke systems to prevent salt intrusion in the delta’s cities and provinces, and proposed the WB give urgent support to the country in these projects.

He thanked the WB and Kawkwa in particular for supporting Vietnam, especially in its difficult period, saying that WB projects have helped Vietnam reduce poverty and fulfill the millennium development goals, and brought about a socio-economic facelift to many Vietnamese localities.

The State leader added that Vietnam needs more financial resources to implement its sustainable growth targets, of which the WB assistance is enormously useful.

He said he hopes, in addition to financial support, the WB will continue to help Vietnam with policy consultation and international experience in policy making.

Kwakwa confirmed the WB will continue to coordinate with the Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities to put forth effective measures to cope with climate change.

She called on Vietnam to cooperate with the bank in implementing its upcoming major programmes, and proposed that the President authorise agencies to negotiate on rural transport projects, dam safety, credit management, and budget cuts.

She took note of the President’s proposals and confirmed that she will continue to support Vietnam in the future.

VNA