1. Important achievements gained in first half of 13th National Party Congress’s tenure
From May 15-17, the Party Central Committee held a mid-term meeting in Hanoi. Participants at the meeting evaluated that in the reviewed period, the Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat led and directed affiliates to resolutely, comprehensively, and effectively implement the resolution adopted at the 13th Party Central Committee.
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An overview of the mid-term meeting of the 13th Party Central Committee |
The country firmly surmounted difficulties and challenges and continued to achieve important and comprehensive outcomes in many fields. The country basically met the goals and tasks of concentrating on disease prevention and control while promoting socio-economic recovery and development; building an independent, self-reliant economy coupled with pro-active and active international integration in an intensive and effective fashion.
2. National Assembly holds vote of confidence and Q&A event
At the sixth meeting of the 15th National Assembly (N.A), the legislature successfully held a vote of confidence on persons elected or approved by the N.A. The vote of confidence was conducted strictly, democratically, objectively, publicly, transparently and seriously according to the content, process and procedures.
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Party and State leaders cast the vote of confidence at the sixth sitting of the 15th N.A. |
Also at this sixth sitting, the N.A., for the first time, held a Q&A event to examine the commitments made by government members, and heads of sectors to implementing the resolutions of the 14th and 15th legislatures since the start of the 15th N.A.’s tenure to its fourth meeting. In 2023, the N.A. held five meetings, including three extraordinary ones, the most ever.
3. Bright spots in socio-economic growth despite difficulties
In 2023, Vietnam surmounted difficulties and achieved impressive socio-economic results. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 5.05%; inflation was controlled at 3.25%. Many reputable international organizations highly praised the country’s economic achievements and prospects and predicted Vietnam’s economy would recover quickly in the near future.
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Production at An Mi Tools Co., Ltd. (Hung Yen) |
Credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded Vietnam's long-term issuer default rating to BB+ (from BB) with a “stable” outlook. Vietnam's national brand value reached USD 431 billion, ranking the 32nd in the top 100 strong national brands in the world, up one place. Clearer results were also seen in culture and social affairs which continued to receive attention and investment. All social planning targets were met and and some were exceeded, clearly demonstrating the good nature of the political system of not sacrificing social progress and justice to pursue simple economic growth.
4. Many important, historic external affairs activities held
In the year, Vietnam welcomed the state visits by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden. During the latter’s visit, Vietnam and the U.S. upgraded their ties to comprehensive strategic partnership.
A number of visits, and overseas working sessions by Party and State leaders deepened the good relationship between Vietnam and important partners.
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Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right) and Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping during the latter’s State visit to Vietnam in November 2023 |
Vietnam successfully organized the ninth global conference of young parliamentarian. The country’s bilateral and multilateral external relations were expanded and further deepened. So far, Vietnam has comprehensive strategic partnership or strategic partnership with all five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and many G20 member countries, helping improve Vietnam’s position and prestige in international arena, maintaining an environment of peace and stability.
5. The eighth meeting of the 13th Party Central Committee issued resolution on national defense strategy in the new situation; the military seriously, resolutely, comprehensively, effectively carried out the year of force reorganization: the Minister of National Defense made the decision on establishing Army Corps 12, the first regular, mobile, strategic army corps in the elite, compact, strong and modernized direction to meet the military building, defense consolidation and national defense tasks in the new situation.
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Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang hands over the “Determined-to-Win” flag to Army Corps 12 at its debut ceremony. |
Army Corps 12 was founded by merging Army Corps 1 and Army Corps 2.
6. Agricultural exports set record high trade surplus
The total export and import turnover was estimated at USD 683 billion, trade surplus about USD 28 billion, particularly agricultural exports with exports of vegetables, fruits and rice setting new records. Agricultural exports reached USD 24.3 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the previous year.
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Farm produce available at Winmart in Hanoi |
Fruit and vegetable exports achieved USD 5.6 billion, a record high and exceeding the yearly plan of USD 4 billion. Vietnam's rice exports also set a record with more than 7.7 million tons of rice, over USD 4.4 billion in value, up 36% against previous year. Vietnamese rice won the first place in the world's best rice contest.
7. Transport infrastructure development, disbursement of public investment capital promoted
Of 26 transport infrastructure projects started in the year, 20 projects were put into operation. Nine expressway projects with the length of 475km brought the total length of expressways under operation nationwide to nearly 1,900km.
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Mai Son - National Highway 45, a section of the North-South Expressway put into operation in 2023 |
It was the year with the most new expressway projects completed and started in more than a decade. The disbursement of public investment capital of the Ministry of Transport reached more than 95%, contributing to the overall disbursement results of the whole country.
8. Eightieth anniversary of Vietnamese Culture Outline and first national conference on development of cultural industries held
These important events continued to realize the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws on cultural development, especially the directions of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Cultural Conference 2021.
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At a national scientific conference held on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Outline of Vietnamese Culture |
9. Year of achievements for Vietnam’s sports
Vietnam women's football team participated in the FIFA Women's World Cup finals 2023; Vietnamese sports topped the overall medal tally for the first time when competing abroad at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May. The impressive results contributed to affirming Vietnam’s sports’ position and new stature, were a momentum for the country’s sports eyeing continental and Olympic Games.
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Vietnamese sport delegation achieves high results at 32nd SEA Games. |
10. UNESCO honors Vietnam’s heritage, cities and celebrities
Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as a natural world heritage site at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, becoming Vietnam’s first inter-provincial UNESCO-listed world heritage site.
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A corner of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, UNESCO-recognized world natural heritage |
Hoi An and Da Lat became members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Progenitor of Vietnamese traditional medicine Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac was honored as an eminent personality on the occasion of his 300th birth anniversary. That was the recognition and appreciation of the international community for his contribution to society and the community, particularly the humanistic thought of “living for everyone” and the spirit of “life-long learning.”
Translated by Mai Huong