Vietnam wants additional support from the World Bank (WB) to finalise its market economy policies, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung told WB President Jim Yong-kim.
 |
| NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (right) meets with WB President Jim Yong-kim on Tuesday in the US. |
During their meeting in the United States on Tuesday (local time), the top legislator called on the bank to increase preferential loans to Vietnam, especially those for sustainable development, upgrade of infrastructure and poverty reduction.
As one of the countries most affected by climate change, Vietnam suggested the bank should assist the nation in coping with the phenomenon, he said.
Both sides hailed the fruitful developments in co-operation between Vietnam and the WB, saying that many WB-funded projects in the Southeast Asian country have proved to be effective and have contributed to the country's economic growth.
During the Doi Moi (reform) process, Vietnam received the bank's support in personnel training, sharing of experiences, preparation of financial policies and implementing of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on community-based poverty reduction in particular, they said.
WB President Jim Yong-kim highly appreciated Vietnam's socio- economic achievements in recent years, particularly those in realising sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The WB continued to back development in nations, including Vietnam, he stressed, adding the bank would consider assisting the country in combating climate change.
The same day, NA Chairman Hung attended a WB-organised seminar on the Vietnamese legislature's increasingly important role in national development.
In his remarks, the legislator said Viet Nam has made great strides in development, extending from urban to rural areas and in all socio- economic sectors.
The country has realised the MDGs, he said, stressing the substantial support and high sense of responsibility of the WB during the process.
With continuous overhauls, the Vietnamese legislature has affirmed its role as the highest state power body and the highest representative body of the people, striving to improve the quality of state management, accelerate sustainable development and improve local living standards, the NA Chairman noted.
He utilised the occasion to speak about Vietnam's Constitution that advocates a socialist-oriented market economy, social welfare, human rights and citizens' freedom and democracy.
Maintaining peace, ensuring national security, protecting the nation's sovereignty and coping with climate change remained Vietnam's greatest concerns, the top legislator said, adding that the last was critical to the country's effective implementation of the SDGs. Prior to attending other events at the WB headquarters, NA Chairman Hung and his entourage visited monuments dedicated to America's 16th
President Abraham Lincoln, and African-American civil rights activist Martin Luther King.
