World Bank looks forward to stronger ties with Vietnam: country director

The World Bank will continue to side with Vietnam in the course of realizing sustainable growth targets, said the organization’s Country Director for Vietnam, Carolyn Turk, on March 28.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets World Bank's Country Director for Vietnam Carolyn Turk on March 28. Photo: VGP

The US-based global financial institution will extend its technical, expert, and financial support to Vietnam as it has done in the past 30 years, Carolyn told Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and she said goodbye at the end of her tenure.

Further cooperation between the World Bank and Vietnam will focus on green transition, digital transformation, high technology development, carbon emission cut, energy transition, power transmission enhancement, and workforce training, she said.

Carolyn said these activities will help Vietnam enhance its versatility and overcome difficulties amidst a volatile global market and geopolitical tensions.

The World Bank official appreciated the Vietnamese Government and agencies' support during her four-year tenure in Vietnam. She also spoke highly of the Prime Minister’s decision to set up a task force that has assisted the World Bank in resolving issues with its local projects.

Considering Vietnam as her second home, she pledged to provide full support for Vietnam and hoped to return soon to contribute to Vietnam’s socio-economic growth achievements.

In his part, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Carolyn for her successful four-year tenure in Vietnam and appreciated the World Bank for its positive impacts on the country’s growth in the past 30 years.

According to the Vietnamese Government leader, under Carolyn’s administration, the World Bank has assisted Vietnam in rescheduling the repayment of loans borrowed from the International Development Association (IDA).

Such effort has made steadfast support for Vietnam to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, perform the post-pandemic socio-economic recovery, and improve the domestic preventive healthcare capacity.

The Prime Minister also treasured the World Bank’s actions to help Vietnam raise finances for local mass infrastructure projects, call for more non-refundable aids, improve institutions, and enhance central and local governance.

He said that Vietnam has fulfilled its commitments, responsibilities, and obligations as a member of the World Bank, and contributed a part of the working capital of the organization.

"The Government and its agencies also cooperate with the World Bank to improve the legislation and discuss feasible solutions to facilitate the organization’s project implementation in Vietnam," PM Chinh added.

The Vietnamese Government leader suggested the World Bank increase funding for Vietnam to implement key national projects in green transition, digital transformation, strategic transportation development, urban railroad construction, renewable energy, power transmission, smart agriculture, low carbon emissions, and climate change response.

He also wished for Carolyn to be successful with her new job and contribute to a stronger relationship between Vietnam and the World Bank.

PM Chinh also expected that Vietnam would soon receive the World Bank President on his visit to the country to enhance the two sides’ relations.