Strategy for Socio-Economic Development 2001-2010

1 Strategy for Socio-Economic Development 2001-2010 . (Presented by the Central Committee, Eighth Tenure, to the Ninth National Congress). The Seventh Party Congress endorsed the 1991-2000 Strategy for Socio-Economic Stabilisation and Development . The Ninth Congress is to evaluate the implementation of that Strategy and decide upon the Strategy for Socio-Economic Development during the first decade of the 21st century - Strategy for accelerated industrialisation and modernisation along the socialist line, laying the foundations for ours to become by 2020. basically an industrialised country. I. SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT.

2 1. Evaluation of the implementation of the 1991-2000 Socio-Economic Strategy 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 affected by the regional financial- economic crisis and heavily damaged by consecutive natural calamities in many areas.

3 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 ( 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.

4 The economic structure has made a positive shift. In GDP, the share of agriculture has dropped from to , that of industry has risen from to , and that of services, from to (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.

5 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 organisations, and embarked on proactive, gradual and efficient integration into the world economy. The export value's growth rate has nearly tripled that of GDP.

6 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 universalisation have been fulfilled; junior secondary education universalisation has started in a number of cities and lowland provinces. The university and college enrolments have increased six-fold. Vocational training has been expanded.

7 The scientific research capacities have been enhanced, and many advanced technologies applied. The cultural and information activities have developed extensively and improved qualitatively. Annually, - 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 to 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.

8 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.

9 In general, most of the main targets set by the 1991-2000 Socio-Economic Strategy have been fulfilled. The economy has made a new step forward in terms of productive forces, production relations and international economic integration; the people's material and spiritual life has been markedly improved, constant progress has been registered in the cultural and social fields; the country's vantage position and strength are definitely better now than they were 10 years ago, its capacities for independence and autonomy have been enhanced, and more conditions have been created for accelerated industrialisation and modernisation.

10 Those achievements originate from the far-sighted renovation policy of the Party and the efforts and progress in State management that, together, have brought into play the decisive factor which is the steadfastness, dynamism, creativeness and endeavors of our people. 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 2. 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 meagre.