Health care and poverty reduction are EU’s focus in its assistance to Vietnam in future, EU Commissioner for Development Andris Pieblgs has affirmed.

At a press briefing in Hanoi on March 29 on the occasion of his Vietnam visit, Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said i n many ways, Vietnam can be seen as a "success story" of development.

The country has succeeded on lifting millions of citizens out of poverty through successful reforms, and is on the way to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 .

Piebalgs said he had discussed with Vietnamese leaders how to build on the country’s success, focusing on bilateral development cooperation.

The European Union will not change its aid commitment to Vietnam in spite of the country’s achievements in poverty reduction in order to bring greater benefit to Vietnamese people in a shorter time, he affirmed.

Regarding human resource development, Piebalgs said that young human force is Vietnam ’s advantage.

The EU can become Vietnam ’s partner in developing its human resource by offering scholarships to Vietnamese students, he said.

EU is currently Vietnam ’s largest donor with 754 million EUR in official development assistance committed for 2012.-VNA