US activist Merle Ratner (photo: VNA)

US activist Merle Ratner and Professor Ngo Thanh Nhan, coordinators of an organisation mobilising aid and responsibility for Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims in the US, had an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in New York on Wednesday. Ratner said over the past five years, Vietnam has made breakthroughs in development with many economic achievements and has basically overcome the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Vietnam is ready to enter a period of sustainable development, as well as the next phase of socialism, she added.

Sharing Ratner’s view, Nhan said amid global uncertainties triggered by COVID-19, the congress took place at the right time to consolidate the Party and Government in order to better care for people and young generations. Ratner extended her congratulations to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on his re-election as the Party chief, and expressed hope that elected leaders will make efforts to contain the pandemic, maintain economic growth, and bring first benefits to labourers and civilians.

She also hopes for a new health care system to benefit all people, improve its social welfare towards the poor, and continue the fight against corruption as set at the congress.
Both Ratner and Nhan believe that Vietnam will continue to effectively combat the epidemic thanks to the Party’s leadership in combination with people’s solidarity, and recover the national economy sustainably.