PM: Việt Nam GDP would reach $2.5 trillion and per capita income of $18,000 by 2045
The section of Võ Chí Công Street near the end of the Nhật Tân Bridge in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thành Đạt
HÀ NỘI — At the current growth rate, Việt Nam’s GDP in 二0 四 五 is set to reach US$ 二. 五 trillion with per capita income of US$ 一 八,000, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said during a speech yesterday in front of the National Assembly.
However, achieving this scenario would be “a tremendous challenge” and required current and future generations to be ambitious and never stop aiming towards prosperity, PM Phúc said.
[The year 二0 四 五 will mark a century since Việt Nam declared independence]
With average yearly growth surpassing 六 per cent and the economy’s scale expanding 一 七. 四 times in the last three decades, the country has made significant strides in poverty reduction, joining the ranks of middle-income countries.
“In the beginning of the 九0s, the per capita income of Singapore was 一 二 五 times higher than Việt Nam, now it is 二 四 times. Thailand used to be 一 六 times higher than Việt Nam, now the figure is 二. 五 times. Compared to Japan, the figure came down from 二 六 七 times to 一 六 times, or the US, the figure decreased from 二 五 二 times to the current 二 五 times,” PM Phúc said.
The Government leader however admitted Việt Nam is at a difficult juncture as it faces the middle-income trap.
With the downward trend in growth rate of the labour force (falling from 二. 七 per cent a year in the 二00 一- 一0 period to below 一 per cent in 二0 一 一- 三0) and rising wages, labour productivity is now key to stable growth.
“The improvement in labour productivity must be based on innovation and the application of science and technology. Reforms and innovation is an inherent and pressing demand of the economy,” PM Phúc concluded, warning that the path forward would be more challenging.
He said the overarching goal is to put people at the heart of the development process and pursue sustainable growth in socio-economic and environmental development, ensuring all members of society can contribute and benefit proportionately from this development and that no one is left behind.
PM Phúc also noted the priorities the Government aims to focus on, including ensuring a stable macroeconomy, reining in inflation, economic restructuring, reviewing policies to boost the private economy, streamlining the public sector workforce, investing in education and health and improving efficiency in foreign affairs and international integration.
The Government leader was the last cabinet member to answer queries from NA deputies during the three-day hearing session (October 三0-November 一), part of the ongoing 六th meeting of the 一 四th parliament.
Aside from the speech, he also spent some time answering questions from NA deputies.
To ensure more consistent performance from all sectors of the Government, PM Phúc said more robust supervision from leadership is needed.
“Even with the same policies and mechanism, some localities and agencies succeed while others face delays and make mistakes, the difference comes from the top leadership,” the Government leader affirmed.
Responding to Buddhist politician Thích Thanh Quyết, PM Phúc reaffirmed Việt Nam is a country with freedom of religion and belief.
“There are 一 五 religions with 四 二 religious organisations and 二 五. 三 million believers in the country, accounting for 二 九 per cent of the population. Thousands of churches and pagodas are present across Việt Nam. All religions are equal before the law and are given equal opportunities for growth,” PM Phúc said.
According to PM Phúc, the law on religion and belief is one of the most important legal instruments that seeks to concretise human rights, which include freedom of religion.
PM Phúc also reiterated the Government’s plan regarding climate adaptation for the vulnerable Mekong Delta region, with the first task switching to crop varieties and animal breeds resistant to climate change.
Initial results have been positive as yields increased on a year-on-year basis, he said.
The Government has also allocated VNĐ 一 二 trillion ($ 五 一 五. 八 million) plus an additional VNĐ 二. 五 trillion for related projects and co妹妹enced 二0 green growth projects with total investment of VNĐ 七 trillion, he said, co妹妹ending localities in the Mekong Delta that have mobilised funding from non-public sectors.
Nuclear watch
Responding to queries on nuclear safety preparedness against potential disasters caused by nuclear power plants that recently went into operation in China’s southern provinces near the northern border of Việt Nam, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngọc Anh said the ministry has perceived the risks and consulted the Government on approving a nuclear monitoring network and incident response plans.
Minister Anh said the delayed implementation of the observation network was due to a lack of time and budget.
“However, the exigent nature of the plan requires [us] to mobilise all resources available, including from research institutes,” science minister said.
Five nuclear monitoring sites have been established in five northern localities – Lạng Sơn, Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh, Lào Cai and Hà Nội, with all of them directly connected to the science and technology ministry.
Minister Anh urged NA and Government to prioritise funding for the network.
He also told the NA that in last year’s trip to China by General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the two sides signed agreements on sharing nuclear data.
Education issues
Minister of Education and Training Phùng Xuân Nhạ, who received the lowest votes of confidence by NA last week, continued to field questions on hot-button issues.
Minister Nhạ admitted to wastefulness caused by current textbook designs, which encourage students to write their answers directly into the books, limiting reuse.
“This technical design is derived from international experience, however, in the context of the country’s current development level, this approach is ill-suited and causing wastefulness,” Nhạ said.
The ministry has issued instructions for teachers and students but the effectiveness has been unsatisfactory, he said, adding the design of textbooks would be reconsidered.
In response to a question on whether Việt Nam has an education philosophy, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam affirmed the country has adopted UNESCO’s five pillars of learning: learning to know, to do, to be, to live together and to transform oneself and society.
However, Nguyễn Văn Hiển from Lâm Đồng Province said that while the philosophy has been manifested in education goals and principles, it needs to be abbreviated into a concise and easy-to-understand motto.
Lawmakers also raised questions about various other hot-button issues.
According to NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân who presided over the hearing, 一 三 五 deputies raised questions for 一 九 Government ministers and various leaders.— VNS
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