The Communist Party of Vietnam will hold its 13th National Congress from January 25 to February 2. (Photo: VNA) The article lauded Vietnam among few countries in the world that have beensuccessful in preventing the outbreak, saying soon after the onset of thehealth emergency, authorities put in place strict measures to control thespread of the virus, which helped keep infection number under controlthroughout the year.
According to the US-based Johns Hopkins University, the country has so far recorded1,544 COVID-19 infections and 35 deaths.
The Vietnamese Government’s successful handling of the health crisis has had apositive effect on the economy. Vietnam is one of the few countries thatmanaged to post growth in 2020, expanding by 2.9 percent in a year while manyeconomies worldwide recorded massive contractions.
Additionally, consumer confidence and optimism also remain high, according tothe London-based market research firm Nielsen.
The export-oriented nation is becoming increasingly important to the globalisedeconomy and international supply chains, the article highlighted, sayingVietnam has emerged as a major trade partner for Germany and the European Union (EU)as a whole since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into force inAugust 2020.
Vietnam also organised the virtual signing ceremony for the mammoth Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP) agrement, creating the world’s largest free trade area.
According to DW, the SoutheastAsian country will hold the 13th National Party Congress from January 25 to February 2 toselect new leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam and outline policies forthe next five years, of which COVID-19, trade and climate change will be in toppriorities.
Regarding the country’s challenges, Carl Thayer, a political scientist emeritusat the Australian University of New South Wales, said Vietnam’s energy securityis the most pressing problem for the next five years. Besides, the countryneeds to resolve numerous longstanding tariff and trade issues with the US -the largest export market of Vietnam.
He also expressed his optimism that Vietnam will reach agreement with the US onmany issues, and the country is likely to resume double-digit economic growthwithin the next five years, particularly if it makes clever use of the signednew-generation free trade pacts.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Phuong Linh, deputy director of the consulting firm ControlRisks, said reforms top the list of the measures needed to ensurerobust economic growth and political stability.
Journalist Mike Tatarski who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, for his part, mentionedthe urgent need to modernise infrastructure in the context that Vietnam hasbeen a favoured destination in the global production chain.
Vietnam should pay due heed to climate change, he said, adding it is necessary forthe country to develop agriculture in a more stable fashion./.
Regarding the country’s challenges, Carl Thayer, a political scientist emeritusat the Australian University of New South Wales, said Vietnam’s energy securityis the most pressing problem for the next five years. Besides, the countryneeds to resolve numerous longstanding tariff and trade issues with the US -the largest export market of Vietnam.
He also expressed his optimism that Vietnam will reach agreement with the US onmany issues, and the country is likely to resume double-digit economic growthwithin the next five years, particularly if it makes clever use of the signednew-generation free trade pacts.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Phuong Linh, deputy director of the consulting firm ControlRisks, said reforms top the list of the measures needed to ensurerobust economic growth and political stability.
Journalist Mike Tatarski who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, for his part, mentionedthe urgent need to modernise infrastructure in the context that Vietnam hasbeen a favoured destination in the global production chain.
Vietnam should pay due heed to climate change, he said, adding it is necessary forthe country to develop agriculture in a more stable fashion./.
VNA
