Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has an online working session with WB Managing Director of Operations Axel van Trotsenburg. (Photo: VGP)

At an online working session with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Trotsenburg affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and the WB is developing fruitfully, saying the bank is willing to engage in flexible exchanges amidst COVID-19 to further boost the links.

The WB leader expressed his sympathies over the huge losses caused by recent floods in Vietnam’s central region, and lauded the country’s efforts in containing the pandemic while maintaining economic growth.

For his part, Minh said Vietnam treasures the valuable and effective support of the WB and Trotsenburg himself to Vietnam over the past time.

The Vietnamese Government always considers the bank an important development partner, he said, adding that many WB-funded projects and policy consultations have significantly contributed to the national socio-economic development.

Minh called on the WB to continue its development financial aid and accompany Vietnam in policy and development orientation making in the time ahead, particularly in building the socio-economic development plan and the mid-term public investment plan for 2021-2025.

Appreciating the bank’s non-refundable aid worth US$6.2 million for Vietnam in the COVID-19 combat, the official suggested it give more resources to the country in this regard.

He also proposed the WB closely coordinate with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to remove bottlenecks in the disbursement of the loans from the bank and other donors in Vietnam.