Balance of development

This is based o­n a new viewpoint and thinking of the sixth congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The congress set out a renovation line, underlining and bringing into play “the human factor” in the cause of national construction and defence. Economic development goes along with social development, and people are the target of all activities. Respecting and paying attention to people is o­ne of the new ethical criteria. The goal of development in Vietnam is for the people and by the people. People are both the objective and motive force for socio-economic development. The interest of every individual, collective and entire society are closely linked, in which individual interest is the direct motive. Our people are striving for the goal of a “rich people, strong country, equitised, democratic and civilised society”. All wish to live in prosperity . Individual development is associated with social development and to be masters of their own and society. President Ho Chi Minh o­nce said: “When the country is independent, but people don’t enjoy happiness and freedom, their independence is nothing”.

Economic growth and implementation of social progress and equality has a mutual relationship. Economic growth is a precondition and basis for implementation of social progress and equality. In turn, implementation of social progress and equality is a condition for economic growth.

Social progress brings about a better life for people of all strata; social democracy is expanded; people really are masters of their country; social discipline is strengthened; the legitimate rights of every citizen are respected; society is united. Social equality means fairness in devotion and enjoyment for all people in all aspects of life, but also means fairness in all opportunities for development and accessibility to all sources for development for all, especially those regarded disadvantaged.

In the past 20 years of renovation, along with the leadership for sustainable and steady economic development, our Party and State has invested much in the human development and implemented social progress and fairness, realising President Ho Chi Minh’s wish “All have food to eat, clothes to wear and have access to education”. High economic growth has brought about positive results for solving issues relating to social progress and fairness. Policies o­n rural and agricultural development, support for farmers, ethnic minority people, healthcare and social allowances have shown the humanity and socialist orientation of economic development in Vietnam.

In the past five years, we have effectively implemented many social policies. The community has raised over VND 30,000 billion and US $450 million from international projects for poverty reduction. The country has replaced over 240,000 dilapidated houses and built tens of thousands of houses for poor people. Most of provinces and cities have opened vocational training schools for nearly 5.5 million students with an average increase of 10.5% per year. The country also has  had a policy o­n providing vocational training for farmers, rural workers, retired soldiers, workers working abroad and young ethnic minority people at boarding schools. Every year, nearly 60,000 people are sent to work abroad, an increase of 2.3 fold o­n the previous five years. 400,000 Vietnamese workers and experts working abroad  has not just earned for themselves but contributed US $1.5 billion to State budget.

The United Nations agencies have praised Vietnam for its achievements in implementation of some millenium development goals set out by the United Nations. The rate of poor families has reduced by 24.1% in 2004 from 58.1% in 1993. The rate of primary school  children going school at their right school age reached 94.4% in the 2003-2004 school year.

In general, all Vietnamese people have benefited from the renovation achievements and economic growth. It is notable that while the gap between the rich and the poor widens, the average per capita income and the living condition of poor people both improve. o­ne typical point in the process of development in Vietnam is that though the country’s average per capita income is still low compared to other regional countries, its human development index is higher than theirs by dozens of places.

This has affirmed the success of the Party and State and people of Vietnam in combining economic growth with the implementation of social progress and fairness.

However, we are facing big difficulties in the context of market economy development and international integration. The number of people joblessness and with inadequate jobs, especially in rural areas, is still high. The poverty reduction programme has been covered a larger area than before. The new criteria for poor people is comparable with global standards, two folds higher than the previous o­ne. In 2005, the rate of poor families was 7% according to the old criteria but 22% according to the new criteria. There remain now over 2,000 extremely poor communes, accounting for about 22% of all communes in the country. The gap between the rich and the poor is o­n the rise. The world market and price are unstable. Natural disasters and diseases are more frequent, causing consequences mainly to farmers. Corruption is still serious. Social vices remains.

One of the important factors ensuring the sustainable and steady economic development is the effective solving of the social problems and escaping all these above mentioned challenges and obstacles. We create equal and favourable chances for all people for human and social development and provide assistance for poor people and encourage them to enrich themselves within the framework of the law. Another urgent need is that more investment must be poured in developing agriculture and building a new rural life and improving the living standards of farmers who accounts for two thirds of population and over 90% of poor people in the country. The system of social policies should also be improved. In addition, the improvement of the legal environment and regime and the continued fights against corruption and effective democracy will help create a healthy society.