Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has gained remarkable achievements insocio-economic development and Party building in 2018 and after three years ofimplementing the 12th National Party Congress’s Resolution, thusconsolidating trust in the nation’s bright future.

In his article published ahead of the 89th foundinganniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3), Party GeneralSecretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong wrote that despite difficulties andchallenges, Vietnam’s position and strength have been enhanced and the countryis thriving.

Vietnam has never had such a high position, potential and prestige likeat present, the leader affirmed.

In 2018, Vietnam accomplished all 12 set targets and surpassed nine ofthem. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate hit 7.08 percent –the highest level in a decade, and its export turnover reached 238 billion USD,resulting in a record trade surplus of 7.2 billion USD.

The economy was valued at over 5.5 quadrillion VND (more than 240billion USD), a 1.3-fold rise compared with 2015. The country remainedattractive to foreign investors, with the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI)exceeding 30 billion USD, of which 19.1 billion USD was disbursed. The tourismsector served nearly 15.6 million foreign tourist arrivals, three times higherthan that of 2010, he wrote.

Regarding external relations, the leader stressed that the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was ratified bythe National Assembly in November 2018 and officially came into force onJanuary 14, 2019. Vietnam also successfully organized numerous internationalevents, including the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) 2018 and the 26th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26). In the year,the country was voted for the first time as a member of the United NationsCommission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) for the 2019-2025 tenure.

The Party, National Assembly and Government issued a lot of policies andmechanisms related to important and urgent issues in 2018.

For the apparatus organization, the Party promulgated differentresolutions and regulations, thus creating a firm foundation and strongmotivation for sustainable socio-economic development.

In terms of the Party building and consolidation, resolutionspromulgated by the Party Central Committee blew a new breath of fresh air in leadingand steering the implementation of strategic political missions.

Notably, the fight against corruption, wastefulness, bureaucracy andnegative phenomena was stepped up and gained positive results.

“This is a breakthrough in the Party building and consolidation as wellas in tightening disciplines in the State apparatus and the whole politicalsystem, thus helping enhance trust of people from all walks of life in the Party’sleadership,” the leader emphasised.

In his article, he also affirmed that the reform, industrialization, modernization,socialist-oriented market economic development and international integrationare a great revolutionary cause, a “giant struggle”, and a “severeself-surgery”.

Regarding the missions in 2019, the leader required the highest effortsto fulfill all socio-economic development tasks, stabilize the macro-economy,step up the implementation of strategic breakthroughs, speed up economicrestructuring in line with growth model reform, ensure social welfare, andimprove people’s living conditions.

Along with maintaining independence, sovereignty and a peaceful, stableenvironment for national development and promoting external relations, he askedfor the continued implementation of the resolution of the 12-tenure PartyCentral Committee’s fourth session on Party building and the Politburo’sDirective No. 05 on enhancing the study and following late President Ho ChiMinh’s thoughts, morals and lifestyle, thus creating strong changes in the Partybuilding and consolidation.-VNA