The World Bank released its report entitled Inclusive Green Growth: the Pathway to Sustainable Development and the Vietnamese version of the book Eco2 Cities in Hanoi on June 8.

Addressing the event, WB Country Director Victoria Kwakwa underscored Vietnam ’s socio-economic achievements over the past 25 years. Vietnam has developed from a poor country to lower middle income country and its annual per-capita income reached 1,130 USD by the end of 2010.

However, she said, Vietnam should build a sustainable growth model to ensure the design and management of urbans, roads and plants in a suitable manner and tap natural sources, human and finance in an effective way.

The report emphasises that greening growth is necessary, effective and affordable; and barriers, habits, the lack of suitable financial tools are major hindrances to green growth.

All countries, rich and poor, have opportunities to green their growth without slowing the development process, the report says.

According to the report, improved environment activities will benefit the poorest and most vulnerable people and green growth policies must be designed carefully to make full use of benefits and reduce costs.

On introducing the Eco2 Cities book, which underlines creative urban planning policy and strategy, Head of the WB’s Asian Pacific Urban Development Department Victor Vergara said Vietnam is one of the first nations in the region cooperating with the WB’s Eco2 Cities programme.

He said the programme aims to assist urbans and centres of regions in the planning, management and investment in highly sustainable systems.

The WB senior expert on infrastructure in charge of Vietnam , Andre Bald said Vietnam is one of the nations with fast urbanisation rate in the region.

He suggested Vietnam define long-term vision and devise a single set of sustainability indexes for localities.-VNA