Prime Minister receives WB country director

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and country director of the World Bank in Vietnam Carolyn Turk. Photo: VNA

Hanoi – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 21 for country director of the World Bank in Vietnam Carolyn Turk.

The PM expressed his belief that Turk will 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 advices from the WB, especially in stabilising macro-economy.

Vietnam has set the twin 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 is 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 $12 billion support package for countries worldwide, including Vietnam, to buy COVID-19 vaccine, and expressed his hope that Turk will partner with the government to fulfill the twin goal.

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

As Vietnam is 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, for her part, 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 will do its best to support them.

The official also congratulated the Vietnamese government on successfully curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and making Vietnam 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 still shut down to cope with the pandemic.

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

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

The WB is ready to provide support in capital, experts and policy consultation to Vietnam, she said, adding that it has support resources for Vietnam, even capital and procedures, to buy COVID-19 vaccine 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 Vietnam should further simplify disbursement procedures for projects.

She also hoped that the WB’s four programmes and projects will be soon submitted to the government for approval.