VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam still has social problems to solve though it has reaped outstanding achievements in poverty reduction in the past two decades.

File photo of a man who repairs chairs on a street in HCMC. Vietnam still has social problems to solve despite achievements in poverty reduction in the past two decades – Photo: Uyen Vien

The country’s poverty rate went down to 6% last year from 58% in 1993, the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported at a seminar on targets for sustainable development in Hanoi on March 17.

Dr Pratibha Mehta, resident coordinator of the United Nations, told the seminar that Vietnam has been hailed for its development accomplishments, particularly the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, but it is still coping with many social challenges.

Mehta called for Vietnam to work harder to realize the targets for nutritional improvement for children, HIV/AIDS prevention and environmental protection.

She noted that ethnic minority groups and communities in remote areas are being left behind in the development process of the country.

Tong Thi Phong, deputy chairwoman of the National Assembly, said Vietnam had beaten the targets for extreme poverty eradication and primary education popularization in 2010. The nation has virtually accomplished the goals for gender equality and malaria control and other dangerous diseases, prevention of HIV/AIDS spread and infant mortality rate.

The ministry’s report showed that the mortality rate of less-than-one-year-old children dropped from 44.4‰ in 1990 to 15.2‰ in 2014 and less-than-five-year-old children from 58‰ in 1990 to 22.9‰ last year.

Since its formal accession to the global trade club WTO about nine years ago, Vietnam has established trade partnerships with nearly 230 countries and territories, investment ties with 84 countries and territories, and signed more than 90 bilateral trade agreements. Vietnam is an active member of over 70 regional and global organizations.

The report pointed out inequality and long-lasting poverty at vulnerable groups as the major challenges in the years to come.

Hunger and poverty are still popular in rural, mountainous and remote areas, and where there are many ethnic minority groups. Ethnic minority households make up half of the nation’s total poor households and their average income equals one-sixth of the country’s average level.

Rapid urbanization and migrants from rural areas challenge the efforts of authorities to improve the living standards and socio-economic developments in cities. Poor people in urban areas are struggling with many difficulties as they have not benefited much from supporting policies of the Government.

SGT