vn strategie objectifs

Vietnam stratégie objectifs

I. SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

The implementation of the ten-year 1991-2000 Strategy started at a time when the economy was undergoing certain positive changes, but the country had not come out of the socio-economic crisis; the socialist regime in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe had broken down; the US continued its blockade and embargo against our country; hostile forces were trying acts of sabotage against us in many fields; and during the last years of the 1990s, our country was adversely impacted by the regional financial-economic crisis and heavily damaged by consecutive natural calamities in many areas.

Despite numerous difficulties and acute challenges, the implementation of the 1991-2000 Strategy has in general recorded great and very important achievements:

(1)- After the initial years' implementation of the Strategy, the country has come out of the socio-economic crisis. After 10 years, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has more than doubled (2.07 times). Domestic savings, once negligible, have by 2000 accounted for 27% of GDP. Once beset with a serious scarcity of goods, we can now produce enough to satisfy the essential needs of the population and the economy, increase exports, and have some reserves. The social and economic infrastructures have developed rapidly. The economic structure has made a positive shift. In GDP, the share of agriculture has dropped from 38.7% to 24.3%, that of industry has risen from 22.7% to 36.6%, and that of services, from 38.6% to 39.1%.

(2)- The production relations have experienced a change, better corresponding to the development level of the productive forces and promoting the formation of a socialist-oriented market economy. The State economic sector has played a leading role in the economy; State enterprises have been partially restructured, gradually adapted to the new mechanism, with major corporations set up in many key fields. The collective economic sector has undergone changes and developed diversely in new modes. The household economies have exerted a very important effect in agriculture; the individual, private and foreign-invested economic sectors have developed quickly. The management and distribution mechanisms have seen many innovations, meeting the socio-economic development needs.

(3)- Once suffering from blockade and embargo, our country has developed economic relations with almost all countries, joined and played an increasingly active role in many international and regional economic organizations, and embarked on proactive, gradual and efficient integration into the world economy. The export value's growth rate has nearly tripled that of GDP. A fairly large amount of external capital has been attracted, plus many advanced technologies and managerial experiences.

(4)- The material and spiritual life of the population has been markedly improved. The people's educational level, the quality of human resources, and the social dynamism have been raised considerably. The targets related to nationwide illiteracy eradication and primary education universalization have been fulfilled; junior secondary education universalization has started in a number of cities and lowland provinces. The university and college enrolments have increased sixfold. Vocational training has been expanded. The scientific research capacities have been enhanced, and many advanced technologies applied. The cultural and information activities have developed extensively and improved qualitatively.

Annually, 1.2 - 1.3 million new job opportunities have been created. The proportion of poor households (by Vietnamese standards) has dropped from over 30% to 11%. Attention and care have been given to persons with meritorious services to the country. The yearly natural population growth rate has decreased from 2.3% to 1.4%. The average life expectancy has increased from 65 to 68 years. Much progress has been registered in child protection and care, community health care, and epidemics control. The physical training movement has developed; and the records in sports contests at home and abroad have been improved.

Given the many difficulties facing the economy, the achievements and progress in the cultural and social fields represent a tremendous endeavor of our entire Party and people.

(5)- Together with the great efforts of the people's armed forces in national construction and defense, the achievements in socio-economic development have engendered conditions for enhancing potentials, consolidating the all-people defense and people's security, firmly maintaining national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and ensuring political stability and social order and safety.

However, the recorded achievements and progress are not enough for us to rise above the status of a poor and underdeveloped country, and are yet to match the country's potentials. Our economic development level still falls far below the average world standards, and below many neighboring countries'. There remain in the socio-economic realities weaknesses and inadequacies, mainly the following:

(1)- The economy's efficiency is inadequate, its competitiveness meager. Domestic savings and domestic purchasing power are low. The economic restructuring geared at industrialization, modernization and production-market linkage has been slow; there remain many irrationalities in the investment structure. State subsidy and protection are still heavy. Foreign direct investments have dropped drastically. The economic growth rate has declined over recent years only to see a rise in 2000 but still below the mid-1990s level.

(2)- The production relations are inappropriate in certain respects, restraining the release and development of productive forces. Notable changes are still lacking in the renewal and development of State enterprises. The collective economic sector has been slow to develop; the restructuring of cooperatives under the related Law has been but superficial in many places, and its efficiency low. The other economic sectors have not fully deployed their capacities, not enjoyed genuine equality, and not felt assured while making business investments. The management mechanisms and distribution policies in many aspects have still contained irrationalities, failing to motivate economization, productivity increase and development investment; the rich-poor gap has widened rapidly.

(3)- There remain elements of uncertainty in the macro-economy. The financial, banking and planning systems have been slow to change, their operations limited qualitatively; the investment and business environment is still laden with obstacles, failing to enable and help the various economic sectors to develop production and business.

(4)- The quality of education and training is still poor, the training structure inappropriate; and the teaching, learning and examination processes are fraught with negative practices, etc. Science and technology are yet to become an actual generator of socio-economic development. Serious insufficiencies still beset the material bases of the health, education, scientific, cultural, information and sports sectors. The renewal of the management mechanisms and the popularization of operations in these fields have been slow.

(5)- The life of a segment of the population is faced with many difficulties, especially in mountain, hinterland, and natural calamity-prone areas. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high. Many social vices are yet to be checked; drug abuse, prostitution and HIV/AIDS infection tend to expand. Traffic accidents are on the rise. The living environment is increasingly polluted.

The organization for implementation of Party resolutions and State laws and policies has lacked rigor, effectiveness and efficiency. Leadership, guidance and regulation, somewhat lacking responsiveness, have failed to take advantage of opportunities. The Party's leadership role and the State's managerial and regulatory functions at different levels have not been distinctly delineated and fully promoted. The principle of democratic centralism has not been properly executed, collective responsibility not clearly defined, the role of the in-charge individuals not upheld; and discipline not strict.

A number of viewpoint issues, such as those related to ownership and economic sectors, the role of the State and the market, the building of an independent and autonomous economy, international economic integration, etc. have not been clarified, thus failing to ensure uniform perception and thorough execution, leading to hesitation, inconsistency and delay in the design of decisions, policies and institutions, and impairing the renewal process and the organization for implementation.

Administrative reforms have been slow and irresolute in elaborating and improving institutions, enhancing apparatuses, raising the capacity of public officials and employees, as well as making their contingent wholesome.

There are many weaknesses and inadequacies in the ideological, theoretical, organizational and personnel work. Practical reviews and theoretical studies have failed to keep abreast of requirements. The organizational apparatuses are cumbersome, overlapping and short of effectiveness and efficiency. Not a small segment of public officials and employees has been degenerate and incapable. Undemocratic practices, bureaucratism, authoritarianism, corruption, harassment at the expense of the people, and waste, are still grave, obstructing development and causing resentment among the population.

The international context in the coming time will feature major opportunities intertwined with major challenges. The possibility of maintaining peace and stability in the world and the region allows us to focus efforts on the central task of economic development; while requiring us to heighten vigilance and proactively cope with uncertain and complex eventualities. Directly affecting our country's socio-economic development in the 10 years to come are the following trends:

Science and technology, especially information and biological technologies, will continue their frogleaps, increasingly becoming direct productive forces, driving the development of the knowledge-based economy, accelerating economic restructuring, and causing profound changes in the various fields of social life. Knowledge and intellectual property ownership will play an ever more important role. Mastery of information and knowledge is decisive to development. Ever shorter cycles of capital flow and of technology and product innovation, and ever changing business conditions in the world market require of nations and enterprises a high degree of sensitivity and adaptability. Developing countries, ours included, have opportunities to narrow down the gap with developed countries and raise their status; at the same time, they are faced with the danger of falling further behind unless they can seize opportunities, surmount weaknesses and surge ahead.

Economic globalization is an objective trend, involving different countries and almost all fields, promoting cooperation while increasing competition pressure and interdependence among various economies. Bilateral and multilateral relations among nations become increasingly intensive and extensive in economy, culture, environmental protection, and control of crimes, natural disasters and epidemics alike. Transnational corporations continue their restructuring, establishing giant groups dominating many economic domains. The rich-poor gap separating nations is widening.

Economic globalization and international economic integration constitute a process of cooperation for development on the one hand, and complicated struggle on the other, especially the struggle of developing countries in defense of their interests, for an equitable international economic order, against unreasonable impositions by economic powers and transnational corporations. For our country, the process of international economic integration in the coming period is to make a new step forward associated with the discharge of our international commitments, requiring of us efforts to raise our economy's efficiency, competitiveness and capacity for independence and autonomy, and participate effectively in the international division of labor.

The Asia-Pacific region remains one of dynamic development, where China plays a growing role. After the financial-economic crisis, many ASEAN and East Asian countries are regaining their development momentum with new competitive capacities. This creates for us enabling conditions in economic development cooperation, while increasing competition pressure in and outside the region alike.