According to a 2015 report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Viet Nam’s impressive achievement in poverty reduction – one of the eight Millennium Development Goals – is the result of strong economic growth, trade liberalization and policies that support vulnerable groups.[1] Economic growth, not only in Viet Nam but also on a global scale, has improved living standards and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty over the past 15 years. Indeed, economic growth is necessary for the development and strengthening of an advanced and prosperous society. However, it is not sufficient in itself. Legal development and judicial reform are also considered important in Viet Nam, demonstrated in the issuance of a resolution on the development of the legal system (Resolution 48) and a resolution on judicial reform (Resolution 49) in the same year, 2005.[2]
[1] National report on 15 years of implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, Ministry of Planning and Investment, September 2015.
[2] Resolution 48-NQ/TW on Viet Nam Strategy Development and Improvement of the Legal System and Resolution 49-NQ/TW on Judicial Reform, published in June 2005. “Judicial reform should be a central task during 2016-2020” said former State President Truong Tan Sang at the 25th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Judicial Reform, 17/3/2016, http://dangcongsan.vn/day-manh-cai-cach-tu-phap-va-hoat-dong-tu-phap/chu-tich-nuoc-cai-cach-tu-phap-phai-la-nhiem-vu-trong-tam-trong-giai-doan-2016-2021-378431.html.