Vietnam to host ADB annual meeting
Print 
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will hold its 44th annual meeting in Hanoi on May 3-6, the financial institution said in a news release issued Friday.
The meeting will bring together 3,000 delegates from 67 countries and territories, international organizations, multilateral financial institutions and non-governmental organizations as well as academics and entrepreneurs from around the world.
Topping the agenda will be a wide range of measures to prevent risks affecting long-term socio-economic development, foster sustainable and environmentally friendly growth, step up regional cooperation and initiate a joint response to climate change.
The meeting also provides opportunities for member governments to interact with ADB staff, NGOs, media, and representatives of observer countries, international organizations, academe and the private sector.
Founded in 1966, the ADB currently has 67 members, including 48 countries from the Asia-Pacific region alone. Vietnam officially became a member of the bank in 1966. After interrupting its credit ties with ADB for a few years, Vietnam resumed relations with the bank in 1993.
Vietnam has been chosen to host the meeting thanks to the active part it plays in ADB’s operations, the huge achievements in socio-economic development, especially its efforts to reduce poverty, as well as its growing position in the global community.
The country is now the third largest recipient of soft loans from the ADB, after Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The ADB has funded projects to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, improve people’s living conditions, reform polices, enhance institutions, develop the country’s infrastructure and train workers.
