Overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and experts gathered at a forum inHanoi on June 7, contributing their opinions to the country’s economicdevelopment and integration during 2016-2020. Themed “Improving Vietnam’s competitiveness in the global economy”, theforum was co-organised by the Party Central Committee’s EconomicCommission, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, and theForeign Ministry. Speaking at the event, ViceState President Nguyen Thi Doan said that Vietnam has gained manyachievements in all fields as a result of the nearly 30-year renewal(Doi Moi) process, but various weaknesses have also revealed themselves,which affected the country’s competitiveness in the internationalarena. The weaknesses must be removed to ensurethe country’s development on the right track and successfulintegration, she said, thus hailing the right move in organising theforum to hear the opinions of the overseas Vietnamese intellectuals,many of whom are working for prestigious universities, researchinstitutes, transnational economic groups and internationalorganisations. Their knowledge, experience andskills have contributed to the country’s fast and sustainable growth,she said, adding that the Party and State always appreciate thesevaluable contributions. At the forum, overseasVietnamese intellectuals joined their domestic colleagues and policymakers in discussing growth model reform, economic restructuring, humanresources training and science and technology application in order toraise Vietnam’s competitiveness. They also shared other countries’ experience in industrialisation and modernisation. They proposed the annual or regular organisation of a Business Forumfor both domestic and overseas intellectuals, experts and scientists.-VNA