Prime Minister welcomes new ADB Country Director

The meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and ADB Country Director Andrew Jeffries on September 17 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception for Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Vietnam Andrew Jeffries in Hanoi on September 17, during which he expressed his hope that Jeffries will further enhance the Vietnam-ADB partnership.

The host leader affirmed the Vietnamese Government always considers the bank a closet and important development partner, noting that many ADB-funded projects have greatly contributed to local socio-economic development.

Since 1993, the ADB has assisted the country with 17 billion USD, 14 billion USD of which has been disbursed, he added.

Highlighting the close ties between Vietnam and the ADB, Jeffries said as the country is building development strategies for 2021-2025 and the next 10 years while the ADB is also working out its country partnership strategies for the next five and 10 years, the more their strategies match, the more optimal conditions for coordination activities will be generated.

He congratulated the Vietnamese Government on its concurrent successful control of COVID-19 and ensuring of socio-economic development.

The ADB has taken swift actions to assist regional countries, and it has also helped Vietnam in the pandemic combat, the director said, stressing the bank’s readiness to discuss with Vietnamese partners to seek the best measures for supporting the nation.

At the reception, PM Phuc appreciated the ADB’s tripling of the COVID-19 response package for its members, including Vietnam.

He asked the ADB to help Vietnam design the socio-economic development strategy and plan for 2021-2025 and work closely with the country during the building and implementation of the country partnership strategy for the new period.

The two sides should also accelerate the disbursement of funding for projects on the 2020-2021 list so as to promote growth, he added.