In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency(VNA)’s reporters in Singapore, Associate Prof. Bilveer Singh, deputy head ofthe Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore,highlighted the country’s outstanding political stability.
Vietnam has been among the countries in the worldwith the most successful economic growth over the past five years, whichremained positive (nearly 3.0 percent) in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic,he added.
The economic growth has reflected the CPV’s soundpolicies as well as the balance between domestic and external trade, whiledemonstrating that domestic economic bases, whether agriculture and industry,have borne fruits.
Singh also commended the country’s achievements inexternal affairs and national defance with highlights over the past five years,notably 2020, such as ASEAN Chairmanship, non-permanent membership of theUnited Nations Security Council and hosting the signing ceremony of theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement that forms thebiggest trade area so far.
The scholar expressed his impression on the numberof COVID-19 infections and fatalities in Vietnam that remain very low incomparison with those in other countries in Southeast Asia and the world, givenits population of nearly 100 million.
Regarding the 13th National PartyCongress, scheduled to take place from January 25 to Feberuary 2, Singh saidthe event is of special significance as it will put forth socio-economicdevelopment plans for the country in the next five years when Vietnam has toface the impact of the pandemic and competition among trading partners at thesame time.
The scholar suggested Vietnam carry forward itsperformance in handling internal matters, while tightening its coordinationwith other ASEAN member countries.
Vietnam needs to continue with COVID-19 preventionand control measures, maintain economic growth and political stability, andprove its role in regional and international issues, he said.
Singh expressed his belief that with those efforts,Vietnam would bring a lot of benefits to ASEAN, and become a “middle power” inSoutheast Asia in the next 10-20 years./.
VNA