Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang – a member of Central Communist Party, President of VASS and Mrs. Victoria Kwakwa – Country Director of the WB are co – leader of the discussion. Also, there was the participation of VASS researchers and WB experts.
In the beginning part of the discussion, Mr. Sandeep Mahajan – Chief Economist of the WB in Vietnam has presented the thematic report in which he suggested the aims and aspiration of Vietnam, provided the development guidelines, challenges and solutions for Vietnam to achieve the development goals by 2035 by the analysis on “three key pillars” as followed:
(1) Labor productivity growth, focusing on the growth of labor efficiency in Vietnam based on factors as TFP growth, capital growth, and human resources growth. He suggested the agenda for reforms in short - to - medium - term on improving market mechanism, strengthening participation in global value chain, modernizing agriculture. Also, there are some medium – to – long – term agen which are all based on 4 foundations of the National Innovation System (NIS) depending on the supply and demand: (i) The innovation demands of enterprises; (ii) The absorption ability of enterprises; (iii) The Research and Development system (R&D); (iv) The skilled labor.
(2) Challenges of ensuring the equality through policies on education, medical, mechanism and regulations on labor, retirement. All is to resolve the social inequality for ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, urban migrants, as well as to reduce the gender equality issue. He then proposed the next program which is to support the rising middle class in a modern, market economy with challenges of rapid changing demography, rising expectations of growing middle class and new risks of privacy, society and fiscal from now to 2035.
(3) The management and explanation responsibility showed the strong corelation between governance and economic prosperity through a Three Part Agenda for Governance and Accountability towards 2035: (i) Revitalize the State, (ii) Strengthen Market and State – Market Interactions and (iii) Strengthen Civil Society and State – Civil Relations
In the second part, the discussion continued with the opinions of VASS experts including Associate Prof. Dr. Dang Nguyen Anh (Director of Institute of Sociology), Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien (Director of Vietnam Institute of Economics), Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Nhu Phat (Former Director of Institute of State and Laws) towards the executive summary of Vietnam 2035 Report. Most of opinions focused on three above pillars and some new and important contents which are needed in the report, for example, limitations of urbanization process related to climate change, development of private sector, the inequality of medical services, education and social allowances, the improvement of accessing and solving information in a technology times; renew of growth model for the economic sustainability and socio – economic ensure, fully acknowledge of roles and rights of state with the rule of law towards the development of socialist – oriented market economy.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang thanked WB for having VASS provided opinions to build and complete the report. As a researcher, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang believed that opinions of VASS researchers and WB representatives will be the useful contribution for WB to build up the Vietnam 2035 Report. The Vietnam 2035 Report should be based on the development history and achievements of Vietnam as well as what Vietnam has not done yet. It should have a clear vision and mind set for the development of Vietnam’s future through basic values so it could provide guidelines for policy makers. Mr. President also pointed out the limitations and challenges which report should mention such as the growth must catch up with the world’s changes, overcome the backwards for growth, integration but no dependence, development as an independent and democratic country. Growth does not mean to focus on only achievement and number of output but also productivity, quality with modern technology and skill, qualified labor.
Mrs. Victoria Kwakwa wrapped up the discussion by delivering her thanks to President Nguyen Xuan Thang’s opinions as well as VASS experts. She highly evaluated these opinions as useful information which will be references for WB to build the growth models fitting with Vietnam’s aims and vision, and to complete the Vietnam 2035 Report.
Nguyen Thu Trang
