Buenos Aires (VNA) – Argentine journalist Gaston Fiorda, known for extensive studies and monographs on Vietnam's Doi Moi (renewal) and international integration, assessed the country's 2025 socio-economic performance in an interview recently granted to the Vietnam News Agency.
Fiorda highlighted Vietnam's sustained macroeconomic stability, effective control of major economic balances, and steadfast pursuit of fast yet sustainable development as the standout features in an increasingly complex global landscape rife with risks and uncertainties.
He described the roughly 8% growth target as ambitious yet aligned with the 13th National Party Congress’s documents, which stress the need to harmoniously combine economic growth with social stability while bolstering the economy’s independence and self-reliance.
The expert observed that Vietnam has effectively leveraged its intrinsic growth drivers, particularly the role of institutional frameworks, national governance capacity and broad social consensus. Ongoing reforms to streamline organisational structures, clarifying functions and responsibilities between the Party and the State, and reorganise administrative units reflect a strong determination to create a lean, effective and efficient political system. These efforts align with the goals of the Party building and rectification set out by the 13th National Party Congress under the leadership of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and current General Secretary To Lam.
Fiorda also spoke highly of Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, noting that it has helped secure a peaceful and stable environment for development while boosting resilience against unpredictable global and regional fluctuations. This is regarded as an important strategic advantage, providing a solid foundation for the country’s long-term development goals.
On the double-digit growth target of over 10% for 2026, Fiorda called it highly challenging but contextualised within the broader development orientation ahead of the 14th National Party Congress. Draft Congress documents signal sustained focus on modernity-oriented development and industrialisation tied to science – technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
If Vietnam further refines its socialist-oriented market mechanism, speeds up administrative reforms, improves the business climate, and develops high value-added sectors like high-tech industry, digital economy, and artificial intelligence while investing heavily in workforce skills, room for growth remains substantial, he said.
Ultimately, he stressed that growth quality matters more than headline figures. Sustained macroeconomic stability, social progress, equity, inclusive and sustainable development in line with the 13th and forthcoming 14th Party congresses’ orientations would make elevated growth rates both feasible and realistic.
Fiorda authored the 2022 book "Vietnam – Genealogy of Resistance", offering in-depth analysis of the nation's renewal and integration achievements./.
VNA
