Corruption and waste threaten the survival of the Party and the regime.

"Corruption and waste are still among the four threats to the survival of the Party and the regime," President Tran Dai Quang shared on the occasion of the New Year 2018.

President Tran Dai Quang and APEC economic leaders in Da Nang.

Reporter:With the consensus of the entire Party, people and army, we have completed and exceeded the main socio-economic development targets of 2017. Could the President please summarize the country's outstanding achievements?

President Tran Dai Quang:It can be affirmed that for the first time in many years, we have comprehensively completed and exceeded all 13 socio-economic development targets set by the National Assembly. The macro economy is stable, inflation is under control, budget revenue and major balances of the economy all meet the set requirements. GDP growth reached 6.81%, import-export turnover reached 425 billion USD, the highest ever; attracting foreign direct investment reached a record of over 33 billion USD...

The combination of economic development with the resolution of social issues, especially hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and people's health care, has yielded very encouraging results. National defense and security have been strengthened, political security, social order and safety have been maintained. The work of Party building and building a clean and strong political system has been focused on leadership and direction, and has achieved important results...

The comprehensive achievements in all fields have contributed to strengthening confidence, creating an exciting atmosphere in the whole society, creating favorable momentum for the country to continue its sustainable development, and have been recognized and highly appreciated by the international community. The United Nations ranked Vietnam's Sustainable Development Index in 2017 at 68/157 countries and territories, up 20 places compared to 2016.

Reporter:2017 marked Vietnam's success on the foreign affairs front. Could you please evaluate the outstanding achievements of foreign affairs work in the past year?

President Tran Dai Quang:2017 is a special year in the history of our country's diplomacy. In the context of the rapidly changing, complex and unpredictable world and regional situation, foreign affairs have been proactively and positively carried out and have achieved great achievements in realizing the country's strategic goals and interests.

First of all, it is the great success of APEC Vietnam Year 2017 and the 25th APEC Summit with our excellent performance as host, creating a historical mark in the process of economic and political integration in the Asia-Pacific region, demonstrating Vietnam's stature, mettle and intelligence; proposing many initiatives, priorities, flexible and creative management, overcoming differences, building consensus, not only maintaining the momentum of APEC cooperation and integration, but also contributing to building the strategic vision of the Forum in the coming decades.

We have strengthened our cooperative relations with neighboring countries, regions, major partner countries, and traditional friends. Leaders of our country and other countries have conducted many high-level visits and delegation exchanges. In particular, there have been dozens of high-level visits between us and leading major countries in the region and the world. Never before in one day have we welcomed the highest leaders of China and the United States on State visits to Vietnam.

Foreign affairs have contributed to mobilizing important external resources for national development. In the context of uneven and unstable global economic recovery and increasing trade protectionism, we have strongly promoted economic, trade and investment cooperation with other countries on both bilateral and multilateral levels, while making an important contribution to shaping economic and trade links in the region.

During the APEC Summit Week, we played an active role in maintaining and promoting the negotiation process of the comprehensive and progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. This year's trade activities and foreign investment attraction both achieved better results than expected.

Foreign affairs, integration and international cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, defense and security, both bilaterally and multilaterally, have contributed to firmly protecting sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, ensuring national security, social order and safety and the country's strategic interests.

Within ASEAN, we have made a very important contribution to strengthening solidarity, consensus and a common voice on strategic issues in the region. Dialogue and cooperation mechanisms on security and defense with neighboring countries, the region and major partner countries, Vietnam's active participation in multilateral forums on security and defense as well as the United Nations peacekeeping operations have enhanced political trust between Vietnam and other countries, contributing to enhancing our country's position and prestige in the international arena.

On November 11-12, US President Donald Trump paid a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang. This was President Donald Trump's first visit to Vietnam and took place in his first year in office.

Reporter:APEC 2017 was the highlight of Vietnam's foreign affairs last year, affirming the country's position and strength in multilateral diplomacy. As Chair of the 25th APEC Summit, could you please tell us about the significance and importance of this largest multilateral foreign affairs event?

President Tran Dai Quang:APEC Vietnam 2017, with the focus on the 25th APEC Summit Week, held in Da Nang from November 6 to 11, 2017, was a great success. This is an outstanding foreign policy achievement of the entire Party, people and army, contributing to enhancing the role of APEC as the leading regional economic cooperation mechanism in a rapidly changing world with turning-point changes.

That success marks a new milestone in the process of international integration and multilateral foreign affairs, contributing to consolidating the trend of peace, cooperation, development and enhancing the prestige and position of our country in the international arena.

The 25th APEC Summit Week has brought Vietnam to the center of attention of the world. The full participation of all APEC economic leaders and leaders of three guest countries including Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar at the APEC Summit Week; more than 21,000 people attending the activities of APEC Year 2017 and more than 11,000 people in the Summit Week created a record number of participants in APEC history.

This demonstrates Vietnam’s strategic position and important role in the region, the commitment of member economies to the APEC cooperation process, as well as the international community’s interest in APEC and Vietnam. APEC economic leaders all highly appreciate our role as host in leading and initiating many ideas and initiatives to bring APEC to consensus on many issues and towards building a common future.

The record number of more than 4,000 businesses participating in APEC High-Level Week events demonstrates APEC's entrepreneurial, start-up and creative spirit, affirming that APEC is a forum for people and businesses, while opening up new prospects for investment, trade and business growth for the Asia-Pacific region and our country.

In particular, APEC Year 2017 is also an opportunity for Vietnam to carry out activities to celebrate historical milestones in its multilateral diplomacy journey, especially the 40th anniversary of its accession to the United Nations (1977 - 2017) and the upcoming 20th anniversary of its accession to APEC (1998 - 2018). The achievements of APEC Year 2017 will create momentum for Vietnam to undertake major international responsibilities in the coming years, including running for the position of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020 - 2021 term and ASEAN Chairmanship 2020.

The success of APEC Year 2017 also laid the foundation for enhancing bilateral relations between our country and its partners. During the Summit Week, historic bilateral visits took place with dozens of bilateral talks and contacts. Notably, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping paid a State visit to Vietnam right after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China; for the first time, a US President - President Donald Trump - paid a State visit to Vietnam in the first year of his term.

The success of APEC Year 2017 and the 25th APEC Summit Week once again affirmed the important role and contribution of multilateral diplomacy throughout our nation's journey of building and defending the country.

In the context of the current international situation with many new changes, based on the results of APEC Year 2017 and the multilateral foreign affairs activities that our country has been implementing, we will continue to seek widespread support and effectively mobilize resources to serve the comprehensive and synchronous innovation; lay the foundation to elevate and deepen bilateral relations; create conditions to enhance the international integration capacity of ministries, departments, branches, localities and enterprises nationwide, making an important contribution to ensuring a peaceful and stable environment, firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and enhancing the country's international role and position.

This is an important foundation for us to continue to successfully implement the goals and tasks set forth by the 12th National Party Congress.

Reporter:Along with the achievements in both domestic and foreign affairs, we also see some limitations that need to be overcome. As the head of state, what are your concerns, President?

President Tran Dai Quang:We are happy and proud of the great achievements of the country, but at the same time we must be very serious and frankly acknowledge the limitations.

The quality of growth is not high, some sectors and fields are still growing slowly; many mechanisms, policies and legal regulations are still inadequate, administrative procedures in some fields are still cumbersome; corruption, waste and negativity still occur in many places, many complaints and denunciations have not been completely resolved; many investment projects are behind schedule, ineffective, losing money and leakage; the restructuring process of agriculture, industry and services in some regions and localities is still slow and ineffective; resource exploitation is still wasteful; there are no effective solutions to overcome environmental pollution in rural areas and craft villages; child abuse, domestic violence, negative manifestations, moral degradation and lifestyle have caused public outrage; natural disasters, storms and floods have caused great damage to people and property, severely affecting production and people's lives; The lives of ethnic minorities, remote areas, areas affected by natural disasters, and the poor still face many difficulties.

The above limitations are obstacles on the path of development of the country. The important thing is that we dare to face the truth and proactively propose solutions to overcome them.

Reporter:2018 is the pivotal year of the 5-year Socio-Economic Development Plan 2016 - 2020. Could you please assess the country's advantages and difficulties?

President Tran Dai Quang: Quốc hội đã thông qua các chỉ tiêu chủ yếu về phát triển kinh tế - xã hội năm 2018, trong đó tăng trưởng GDP tiếp tục được xác định ở mức 6,5 - 6,7%; tiếp tục bảo đảm ổn định kinh tế vĩ mô, kiểm soát lạm phát; tạo chuyển biến rõ nét trong thực hiện ba đột phá chiến lược, đổi mới mô hình tăng trưởng gắn với cơ cấu lại nền kinh tế, nâng cao chất lượng tăng trưởng, năng suất lao động và sức cạnh tranh của nền kinh tế...

Chúng ta có những thuận lợi rất cơ bản: chính trị - xã hội ổn định, uy tín của Việt Nam trên trường quốc tế ngày càng cao, niềm tin vào triển vọng phát triển đất nước được củng cố; đất nước còn nhiều tiềm năng phát triển và nhất là chúng ta đã gặt hái được những thành tựu to lớn, có ý nghĩa lịch sử và đúc rút được những bài học kinh nghiệm quý báu của quá trình hơn 30 năm đổi mới đất nước...

Tình hình thế giới và trong nước có cả thuận lợi, thời cơ, khó khăn và thách thức đan xen; đặt ra nhiều vấn đề mới, yêu cầu mới to lớn, phức tạp hơn đối với sự nghiệp đổi mới, phát triển đất nước và bảo vệ độc lập, chủ quyền, thống nhất, toàn vẹn lãnh thổ của Tổ quốc. Trong đó, lợi thế về lao động đang mất đi nhanh chóng do tác động của cuộc cách mạng công nghiệp lần thứ tư; nền kinh tế Việt Nam có độ mở lớn nên sẽ chịu tác động nhiều từ tình hình kinh tế thế giới...

Trong bối cảnh tình hình nêu trên, chúng ta phải phát huy cao độ sức mạnh của tinh thần đoàn kết, ý chí tự lực, tự cường, tranh thủ thời cơ, vượt qua thách thức để vững bước đi lên.

Reporter: Đấu tranh phòng, chống tham nhũng, lãng phí luôn được nhân dân cả nước quan tâm. Chủ tịch nước đánh giá như thế nào về công tác phòng, chống tham nhũng, lãng phí trong năm qua?

President Tran Dai Quang: Thời gian qua, với sự tập trung lãnh đạo, chỉ đạo quyết liệt của Trung ương Đảng, Bộ Chính trị, Ban Chỉ đạo Trung ương về phòng, chống tham nhũng, sự nỗ lực của các cơ quan chức năng và sự ủng hộ, giúp đỡ của nhân dân, công tác đấu tranh phòng, chống tham nhũng, lãng phí đã đạt được những kết quả rất quan trọng, được dư luận đồng tình, ủng hộ và hoan nghênh.

Nhiều vụ án lớn, gây thiệt hại nghiêm trọng cho tài sản của Nhà nước và nhân dân đã được điều tra, truy tố, xét xử; nhiều tài sản tham nhũng được thu hồi; số đối tượng tham nhũng đã bị xử lý nghiêm minh trước pháp luật. Tuy nhiên, tham nhũng, lãng phí vẫn đang là một trong bốn nguy cơ đe dọa sự tồn vong của Đảng và chế độ.

Vì vậy Đảng và Nhà nước đã khẳng định quyết tâm tiếp tục tập trung lãnh đạo, chỉ đạo thường xuyên, liên tục công tác đấu tranh phòng, chống tham nhũng, lãng phí, huy động sức mạnh của toàn dân tích cực tham gia phòng, chống tham nhũng, lãng phí, coi đây là một trong những nhiệm vụ trọng tâm của năm 2018 và những năm tiếp theo.

Cùng với tích cực đấu tranh phòng, chống tham nhũng, lãng phí, cần tiếp tục thực hiện có hiệu quả các nghị quyết của Trung ương, nhất là các nghị quyết Hội nghị lần thứ tư Ban Chấp hành Trung ương Đảng (Khóa XI, XII) về tăng cường xây dựng, chỉnh đốn Đảng.

Mỗi cán bộ, đảng viên phải gương mẫu, liêm chính, đi đầu trong cuộc đấu tranh phòng, chống tham nhũng, lãng phí. Cán bộ có cương vị càng cao càng phải gương mẫu, làm nòng cốt trong phát hiện, đấu tranh với các loại tội phạm, trong đó có tội phạm kinh tế, tội phạm tham nhũng, từ đó góp phần xây dựng Đảng, bộ máy Nhà nước, hệ thống chính trị ngày càng trong sạch, vững mạnh. Đấu tranh phòng, chống tham nhũng cần phải kiên quyết, không có vùng cấm và phải thu hồi được những tài sản mà số đối tượng tham nhũng đã chiếm đoạt.

To prevent and gradually push back corruption and waste, all levels, sectors, agencies and units must consider this as one of the key tasks, regularly requiring focused leadership, direction, and having practical and specific action plans. The Fatherland Front together with sectors, sectors, organizations and mass media agencies need to strengthen supervision, detection, coordination and combat, creating conditions for people to actively participate in this work.

Reporter:On the eve of the New Year, what message does the President want to send to our compatriots, soldiers nationwide, and overseas Vietnamese?

President Tran Dai Quang:The country still faces many difficulties, but with the great achievements that have been made, the country's position, strength, comprehensive power, and international prestige are increasingly enhanced, creating important premises to continue to successfully implement the goals and tasks set forth by the 12th National Party Congress.

I believe that, with the new spirit, our compatriots in the lowlands as well as in the highlands, at home and abroad, will promote to the highest extent the spirit of patriotism, the will of self-reliance, the strength of great national unity, join hands, unite, and strive to develop our country quickly and sustainably, firmly protecting the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.

On the occasion of the New Year 2018 and the preparation to celebrate the traditional Tet Mau Tuat of the nation, I would like to wish our compatriots, soldiers nationwide and our compatriots abroad health, happiness and success.

Reporter:Thank you very much, Mr. President!

According to TPO