Vietnam has focused on social security policies: Expert
WVR - Party and State give a great attention to social security policies and the taking care of people's lives, and the gap between rich and poor in Vietnam is not wide, said Dr. Cu Van Trung, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Educational Training and Consulting Joint Stock Company.
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| Vietnam has focused on social security policies: Dr. Cu Van Trung, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Educational Training and Consulting Joint Stock Company. (Photo: Courtesy) |
The World Happiness Report 2023 was published, reviewing a decade of the United Nations implementing the initiative to promote National Happiness Index. In this report, Vietnam's happiness index has increased 12 places, from position 77 in 2022 to position 65 this year. Are you optimistic with this report?
It must be affirmed that that report is extremely reliable and accurately evaluates Vietnam's National happiness index over the past time. The 12-level increase shows that the results that Vietnam has achieved in this aspect are very encouraging.
National happiness index is the overall resonance of citizen happiness and many other factors such as GDP, social support, and does not happen in one or two days. That is the Government's efforts as well as the citizens' ability to keep pace with the leading, stimulating and encouraging elements of the State.
Basic political rights of election, freedom, democracy, religion, belief, etc, have resulted to the development capacity and creative inspiration of the people. The current achievements in all aspects of economy - society, culture - education, have been repeatedly affirmed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong that "our country has never had the opportunity to current status, potential, position and international reputation". This is also the result of the State's efforts, but the people are the creators and architects of that process.
We have obtained independence, unity and territorial integrity, tactfully resolved disputes and disagreements with countries in the region. Vietnam has implemented a flexible, diversified, multilateral foreign policy and is a responsible member of the international community. We are perfecting a socialist-oriented market economy with the management and operating capacity of an innovative and constructive Government.
Vietnam's legal system continues to be built, adjusted and amended in the spirit of socialist rule of law. The work of building the Party and the political system, in which the focus is on the fight against corruption and negativity, has achieved a number of positive results prompting to increase of the confidence of the people and investors.
Social security policies and the taking care of people's lives are given great attention by our Party and State. The gap between rich and poor in Vietnam is not wide, the average income between social groups is not too large. In parallel with the country's development process, people have learned to properly and effectively apply their development rights.
The United Nations recommends that any country which wants its people to be truly happy must have policies and strategies to make people satisfied with their lives. What recommendations do you have for implementing sustainable development goals in Vietnam so that everyone has access to welfare policies and comprehensive development?
The United Nations' recommendations point out the relationship between people and the government in terms of the effectiveness of public policy. That is, each state needs to implement its policies in a truly good and practical way towards the people.
We need strict censorship, institutions and mechanisms with specific and thorough regulations in the policy-making process. Policies which directly impact people, specifically social security policies, need scientific surveys and assessments on the situation of beneficiary groups and specific conditions for implementation. Avoiding the situation of being "enthusiastic" but lacking in scientificity and feasibility, as well as not taking into account regional and regional customs and cultural factors, it is also very easy to "die prematurely" when implementing a certain type of policy.
Evidence shows that the new rural program has encouraged people to take ownership and join hands with the government to construct and manage local projects, achieving many commendable achievements. Regarding the poverty reduction policy which Vietnam has implemented over the past decades, it is also a bright spot worth being proud of as a typical example.
Happiness is the true measure of social progress. In your opinion, what does the happiness index suggest in national development?
Vietnam continues to promote innovation as our society is changing every day and this is continuously improving the happiness and enhancing the spiritual life of the people. Social progress is a continuous process, happiness is also a measure of progress. People and countries have both, the happiness of the past and of the new achievements, but they also need to prepare new abilities to "pick more sweet fruits" in the coming time. The happiness index is both a destination and a goal for people and countries to aim for.
I think it is very necessary for the United Nations to provide such an index to measure happiness because it helps us see the need for continuous improvement, avoiding complacency and feeling satisfied with what we already have. It also helps people and states not to "sleep" on victory but to always be ready to look for other elements to strengthen national happiness in a sustainable way.
According to the World Happiness Report 2023, Singapore is the happiest country in Asia and ranks 25th in the world. In 2022, this country ranks 27th (in the world) and in 2021 it ranks 32nd. This is typical of a country whose people live with high happiness indicators.
Their material life has also made the people feel secured, the social management of a model government is professional, clean and effective. Culture and spiritual life must also improve from those factors.
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| Vietnam has focused on social security policies:The joy of the opening day of school for students at Vo Thi Sau High School, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Tuoitre.vn/Yen Trinh) |
However, this is just a regional reference example to apply to a city scale because Singapore has a small area and a much smaller population compared to ours. This sample value is not universal while we have a complex terrain with many mountains and plains, stretching from North to South, our urbanization rate has different levels, historically, Vietnam's culture and socio-economic development are also different.
In my opinion, the happiness index and psychological happiness of Vietnamese people are consistent with the current development capacity of our society, consistent with the efforts and social security policies of the Party and The State has issued it. Therefore, we cannot hastily demand a type of happiness that is different from the entire current situation and specific conditions of Vietnam.
In your opinion, what conditions should be created so that all people and communities in society have equal opportunities to develop?
Society continues to progress and develop in a better direction with innovation and "rejuvenation" of the leading force of our Party and State. Therefore, people and social communities see themselves in that process.
In your opinion, have citizens truly exploited all conditions that the State has facilitated and developed according to the motto "people can do what the law does not prohibit and the State can do what the law does allow"?
From practical experience, I think that we have opportunities facilitated for development so that individuals, groups and social communities can assert their position.
The law has basically met many requirements of businesses, foreign investors, individuals and organizations. Among these, the needs for doing business, enjoying culture, practicing religion, belief, freedom of the press, holding meetings, even the need for political endeavor, spiritual research, and human potential development, have been realized.
I believe, with a proactive yet cautious attitude, our Party and State will increasingly reform and innovate to expand all opportunities so that all individuals, communities and societies can equally receive resources, and at the same time, promote development for expanding human capabilities.
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