The Asian Development Bank (ADB) held a meeting to mark the 50th anniversary of its founding and also it's 20 year presence in Ha Noion December 2nd, 2016. Attending the Anniversary were Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, SBV Governor Le Minh Hung and representatives of Vietnam Government institutions.
Speaking at the Anniversary, the Prime Minister Nguyen said that the event was also important in acknowledging the role of ADB in the work of socio-economic development and poverty reduction in the Asia-Pacific in general, and in Viet Nam in particular, over the past five decades.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Governor Le Minh Hung with ADB staff
of Resident Mission in Ha Noi
He greatly appreciated the links and effective relationship between Vietnam and the ABD and stated that Vietnam had actively contributed to establishing the ADB over the years. The ADB has been one of leading donators to Vietnam in term of capital resources, technical assistance, and policy consultancy.
Additionally, over the past 20 years the Resident Mission of the ADB in Vietnam has played an important role in upgrading relations between Vietnam and the ADB to higher levels with 160 programs and projects worth around US$16 billion funded by the ABD from concessional funds.
The Prime Minister said "the Government of Vietnam highly values and hopes that ADB and ADB Resident Mission in Vietnam will continue to work closely with ministries and localities to successfully realize the Viet Nam-ADB Country Partnership Strategy for the 2016-2020 period, especially in the effective implementation of the annual fund resource of more than USD 1 billion funded by the ADB”.
For his part, Mr. Eric Sidgwick – the ADB Country Director - said that it was a great honour for the ADB to participate in the process of helping Vietnam to achieve success as a middle-income country in 2010 after years of poverty, and as it aspired towards becoming a higher middle-income country overthe next 20 years. Mr. Sidgwick spoke highly of the fast and sustainable growth of Vietnam, and its significant achievements in poverty reduction. He expressed his gratitude to Vietnam's Government, the Prime Minister and SBV Governor for their heartfelt support and close collaboration.
Mr. Sidgwick said that, as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) grew stronger, it's aim was to work more efficiently and promptly towards the goals of eliminating poverty and promoting sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific, and he committed to boost ADB assistance to Vietnam for socio–economic development and progress.
VMH