Extract. Vietnam achieves comprehensive growth in 2000 Statistics have so far this year shown signs of unexpected socio-economic development in many fields, according to a government report to be delivered at the eighth session of the National Assembly scheduled for November 14. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to reach 6.7%, against the target of between 5.5 and 6% set forth by the National Assembly early in the year. Other major targets are also likely to be over fulfilled. Agricultural, forestry and fishery production expects a growth rate of 4.9 %, against the target of at most 4 %. Food production expects an increase of at least 1.7 million tonnes equivalent to rice, to 35.7 million tonnes. Industrial growth is expected to reach 15.5 % against the target of 10.5-11%, and services' growth will hit 6 %, or at least 0.5 % more than planned. Export turnover is tipped to see an increase of 21.3 %, almost doubling the target of at most 12 %, the report says. Consumer good prices were successfully put under control with an average increase of one percent against the target of six percent, meanwhile the budget deficit in relation to the GDP is expected to reach 4.9 % when the target was set at less than five percent. So far this year, about 1.3 million new jobs have been generated and 790,000 people have gone through vocational training, against the respective targets of at most 1.3 million and 780,000. The birth rate has dropped by 0.05 %, as expected, and the poverty rate by 11 % as planned, the report shows. On objectives for socio-economic development in 2001, the report says that major targets for the year should be focused on obtaining an economic growth rate higher than that in 2000, developing cultural and social activities, enhancing scientific and technological research and application, renovating technology and management and creating changes in the economy's competitiveness. Efforts should be made to improve the quality of tertiary and vocational training, boost health care, effectively resolve social evils, and maintain social stability. In the year 2001, the country aims to achieve a GDP growth rate of 7.5-8 %, a 4.5-5 % increase in agro-forestry and fishery production value, a 14-14.5 % rise in industrial revenue, a 7-7.5 % growth in service value, a 15-16 % increase in export turnover and a 14 % rise in import value. Total investment capital for social development is planned to increase by 20 % while the inflation rate will be controlled under five percent and the budget deficit below six percent of GDP. Regarding social targets, the report says that next year the country plans to increase the number of junior secondary pupils by 4.6 %, senior secondary pupils by six percent and university students by five percent. At least 10 provinces and cities will reach national standard of junior high education universalisation in 2001, the report noted. Other major social targets include a population growth rate of 1.48 %, a birth rate reduction of 0.05 %, a poverty reduction of 9-10 % (or 15-16 % according to the new poverty line), and reducing the child malnutrition rate to 32 %. About 1.4 million jobs will be created and clean water will be supplied to half of the total population next year. Next year, major policies already drafted for the coming ninth National Party Congress, will be developed in parallel with the continuous implementation of incumbent effective measures and policies. These will pave the way for the development of a policy system of the next five-year socio-economic plan (2001-2005). These guidelines are as follows: 1. Policies and measures to facilitate structural changes and production and business promotion: First, to clear hurdles and effect major changes in agricultural structure. Second, to help increase the competitiveness of industrial products. Third, to expand the scope of activity and increase the quality of performance in the service sector. 2. Measures to further implement all policies of developing a multi-sectoral economy and mobilise the entire population into national construction: First, to carry out far-reaching reforms in all State-run businesses. Second, to help develop the co-operative economy. Third, to expand the private economy. 3. Measures to promote the efficiency of macro-economic management instruments and policies. First, to centralise efforts on the State budget allocation and management. Second, to improve credit operations and banking services as well as implement a flexible monetary and foreign exchange policy. Third, to actively manage and make full use of all national assets and property. 4. Measures to develop external economic policies and expand international economic integration. 5. Measures to renew all education and training programmes and methods as well as to enlarge socialisation in the education and training sector. 6. Measures to deploy management and development policies in the science and technology sector, thus laying the ground for the realisation of a law on science and technology. 7. Measures to reform policies of social affairs, measures to ensure employment and increase wages and salaries, environmental protection, public health care, social allowance and insurance, and measures to fight drug addiction and trafficking as well as to prevent traffic accidents. 8. Measures to promote administrative reforms, streamline the State apparatus and enhance effective State management. (VNA) _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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