Vietnam wants more support from IMF: Party official

Vietnam hoped that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will continue cooperating closely with the country and provide it with more assistance, training and policy consultancy, a senior Party official has said.

Nguyen Van Binh (R), Politburo member and Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Economic Commission, and Alex Mourmouras, division chief in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department (Photo: VNA)
Nguyen Van Binh (R), Politburo member and Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Economic Commission, and Alex Mourmouras, division chief in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department (Photo: VNA)

Nguyen Van Binh, Politburo member and Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Economic Commission, made the statement during a reception in Hanoi on April 18 for an IMF delegation led by Alex Mourmouras, who is division chief in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department where he has served as mission chief for Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

While acknowledging the outcomes of earlier working sessions between the IMF delegation and relevant ministries and agencies of Vietnam, Binh spoke highly of the effective and practical cooperation between Vietnam and the IMF in the recent past, especially in banking-finance policy consultancy.

The Party official said Vietnam will continue to prioritise stabilising macro-economy, curbing inflation, enhancing the economy’s productivity, quality, effectiveness, self-reliance and competitiveness, improving the investment-business environment, boosting economic growth and restructuring the economy in combination with renovating its growth model.

Mourmouras briefed his host on the results of working sessions between the IMF delegation and relevant ministries and agencies of Vietnam.

He expressed his delight at Vietnam’s economic achievements in 2018 and the first months of 2019, saying the country has reaped steady growth in almost all spheres while its position has been strengthened on the international arena despite uncertainties, risks and trade disputes in the world.

The IMF official commended the Vietnamese Party and State’s policy on stabilising macro-economy and renewing growth model, especially the nation’s priorities and socio-economic targets for the coming time.

The IMF will continue to cooperate with and assist Vietnam in the development process, he promised.