(VOVworld) – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has granted the Vietnam News Agency an interview on the occasion of the New Year. He reviewed the achievements of the Party Central Committee and stressed what needs to be completed during the rest of its tenure.

Party leader Trong said that global complicated fluctuations including conflicts, the financial-monetary crisis, and the economic downturn, have had a negative impact on Vietnam’s construction and defense. However, the Party and State have made timely adjustments and issued appropriate policies to restore the economy. Inflation has been contained, the macro-economy has been stable, an appropriate growth rate has been maintained, and social security has been ensured. The Consumer Price Index was reduced to just over 6% in 2013, the lowest in 10 years. Vietnam’s average annual growth rate has been maintained at 5.6%. Political security and social order have been ensured, national defense strengthened and national sovereignty and territorial integrity safeguarded. Greater efforts have been made in managing natural resources, protecting the environment, adapting to climate change, building up the party, consolidating the political system, promoting the movement to follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example, fighting corruption, preventing wastefulness, and practicing thrift. Democracy in the party and society has been enhanced and promoted. Major achievements have been recorded in external relations. In addition to upgrading relations with its partners, Vietnam has participated in many important regional and global cooperative institutions. Vietnam has for the first time been elected to the UN Human Rights Council, the UNESCO Heritage Committee, and the board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, raising its profile in the international arena.  Party leader Trong said that fighting corruption is a time consuming and difficult task. Corruption causes great wastefulness in terms of money, property, time, resources, and efforts. The 4^th plenum resolution of the 11^th Party Central Committee is aimed at preventing and combating corruption and wastefulness and moral degradation in party members and managers.    

Regarding works to be done in the remaining 2 years of the 11^th Party Central Committee, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong reiterated that first priorities go to stabilizing the macro economy, controlling inflation, maintaining a reasonable growth rate, and ensuring social welfare. He added that major tasks ahead include solving difficulties, generating resources for production and businesses, creating motives and building trust for businesses and people to restore the pace of growth. He called for efforts to be made to boost the implementation of 3 strategic breakthroughs regarding institutions, human resources, and infrastructure, in combination with growth model and economic restructuring, to ensure rapid and sustainable development in the coming years. This will help to In addition, greater attention should be paid to addressing cultural and social issues to improve people’s material and spiritual lives, while securing political stability and social order.