German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) featured the story “Vietnam’sfight against hunger – a success story” on its website on May 27,highlighting Vietnam’s efforts to achieve the UN Millennium DevelopmentGoals, including economic development, poverty reduction and hungereradication.
The story cited a report publishedby the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on May 27 , whichstates that the country has achieved more in the fight against hungerthan any other in the world.
While one third of thepopulation suffered from malnutrition in the 1990s, today this numberhas dropped to ten percent, no small feat as DW pointed out .
The article argued that the thirty-five years of war against Frenchand US forces badly damaged the country's infrastructure. After the war,Vietnam ’s economy faced a number of difficulties, with a percapita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of less than 100 USD. As a result, aquarter of the population faced food shortage.
Gerhard Will, an expert at the German Institute for International andSecurity Affairs, told DW that the Communist Party of Vietnam made asound decision when it launched its Doi Moi (Renovation) policy in 1986.
The Doi Moi process has showed positive results since 1990s, Will said.-VNA
