Vietnam intends to be among the leading countries in the ASEAN in the field of statistics by 2025 despite currently trailing its neighbours, a conference in northern Bac Ninh province heard this morning.

The World Bank 2010 report indicates that Vietnam ranks 7th out of nine countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (without Brunei), only ahead of East Timor and Myanmar.

The country's statistical capacity is seven points below the ASEAN average and four points below the world average, the report reveals.

However, lots of improvements had been made by the country to improve its statistical capacity over recent years, said WB statistics consultant Richard Roberts at the workshop organised by the General Statistical Office (GSO).

GSO acting director Do Thuc said the opposite trends in ranking and assessment by the WB was because different statistical methodologies were used by the world and Vietnam .

"Despite inadequacies, the overall picture is positive," Roberts said.

The UNDP country director Setsuko Yamazaki agreed, saying that Vietnamese statistical authorities had made great efforts to reform and improve operations, making it better able to meet the data needs of a fast changing economy.

These reforms included the development of the Statistical Law in 2003 and the setting up of the National Statistics Indicator System in 2005, which was revised and standardised earlier this year, she said.

"But data on some issues is confusing because of many different sources, varying definitions and methodologies, as well as conflicting figures used," she said./.