(VOVWORLD)-Vietnam continues to give a high priority to ensuring social security, considering it one of the top tasks for this year. In addition to controlling inflation and stabilizing the macro economy, the government is determined to create more jobs, restructure the labor force, and improve people’s living conditions.

The traditional Lunar New Year is meaningful to every Vietnamese. Those who live far away from home are filled with nostalgia and high hopes for the future of the homeland.

Vietnam had impressive results in poverty reduction last year thanks to substantial economic growth. A number of fruitful programs were the National Target program on Poverty Reduction, the socio-economic development program for most disadvantaged communes in mountainous areas and areas inhabited by ethnic minority people and the program on fast and sustainable poverty reduction in 62 poor districts.

Restructuring production focusing on high added value commodities is the orientation of the agricultural sector this year and the long-term vision until 2020.

The early days of a new year are in time for people to review the past year and make wishes for the future. We’ll now talk to some Vietnamese people and find out their New Year wishes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in co-ordination with the Hanoi People’s Committee, organized a program in Hanoi this week to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year festival with overseas Vietnamese who have come home for Tet. The program gave overseas Vietnamese an opportunity to learn more about their homeland’s tradition and culture.

Standard and Poor’s downgraded the credit ratings of nine euro-zone countries last week, making big news on a Black Friday the 13th. The rating downgrade hammers the euro-zone politicians’ efforts to win back investor confidence and renews doubts about Europe’s ability to bail itself out of its financial crisis.

Last year, Vietnam did a great job organizing many events promoting its land and people. In 2012 the country will continue to use diplomacy to promote its culture.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has expressed Vietnam’s readiness to join the world economy’s growth. Hai made the statement at a recent international Vietnam Summit called “A New Path to a New World”, held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Economist Conferences in Ha Noi. During the open and candid dialogue with domestic and foreign investors, the Deputy Prime Minister repeated Vietnam’s determination to effect economic reforms and facilitate foreign investment.

Nigeria is in crisis with escalating racial and religious conflicts. Demonstrations against a government decision to raise fuel prices have become widespread. The media reports growing social instability there and risk of a civil war.