Policymakers and representatives of industries, private businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and donors from Vietnam, China, Laos and Thailand gathered at a seminar in Hanoi on May 25 to discuss solutions to assistance for low-income earners.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan stressed that innovation and creativity played an important role in creating jobs for all people in each country.

Since Vietnam began its renewal process in 1986, it has recorded remarkable achievements in hunger eradication and poverty reduction, which were highly valued by the international community, he said, adding that the country’s poverty rate reduced from 58 percent in 1993 to 9.45 percent in 2010.

Also in 2010, Vietnam officially became a middle-income country, Nhan noted.

At present, 70 percent of Vietnam’s population lives in rural areas, with income mainly from agricultural activities. Therefore, to improve the living standards of low-income earners in Vietnam, as well as other Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific countries, there should be a sharing of experience and solutions on renewal and creativity in support of low-income earners.