Bali (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc metwith Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ChristineLagarde in Bali, Indonesia, on October 12.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of theannual meetings of the IMF-World Bank Group in Bali.

PM Phuc highlighted Vietnam’s socio-economicachievements in 2018, especially stable macro-economy, controlled inflation, anannual economic growth rate of some 7 percent, and high trade surplus in thelast nine months.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government ispushing ahead with economic restructuring, growth model reform, fiscalconsolidation, public debt control, prudent and flexible financial – monetarypolicies, business climate improvement, development of the private economicsector, innovation encouragement, and improvement of the capacity of joining inthe Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He appreciated IMF’s support for Vietnam’ssocio-economic development policies and its advice about how to stabilise the macro-economy,promote the economic growth, and ensure social welfares.

The leader also welcomed IMF’s positiveevaluation of the country’s economic situation and prospect, asking theorganisation to continue providing Vietnam with policy advice about economicrestructuring, growth model reform, perfection of financial-banking systems,and utilisation of the Industry 4.0 in the financial sector.

For her part, Lagarde highly valued theVietnamese PM’s speech at the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering on the sidelines of theIMF-WB annual meetings, noting that it introduced many concrete and practicalproposals and initiatives.

She congratulated Vietnam on the country’ssocio-economic development attainments, particularly in reinforcingmacro-economic stability, improving the business climate, and raisingcompetitiveness. She suggested Vietnam press ahead with restructuring, increaseinvestment in education and health care, control public debt, step up fiscalconsolidation, control exchange rates flexibly, and actively integrate into theworld.

The Managing Director affirmed that the IMF willcontinue assisting Vietnam to keep macro-economic stability and bolster its economicgrowth to achieve sustainable and inclusive development goals.

She also appreciated the country’s contributionsto the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust.–VNA