Vietnam Aims for 2012 Growth of 6% to 6.5%

By VU TRONG KHANH

HANOI—Vietnam's gross domestic product is expected to expand 6% this year, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Thursday, with a target for 2012 of 6% to 6.5%.

Mr. Dung, speaking at the opening session of a biannual meeting of the National Assembly, the country's lawmaking body, said the consumer price index is expected to rise 18% this year. The government's goal is to cap inflation at 10% in 2012 and 5% to 7% in 2015, he added.

Mr. Dung said this year's budget deficit will be 4.9% of GDP, compared with an initial target of 5.3%.

The assembly meeting, scheduled to end Nov. 26, will also discuss economic targets for 2012 and the 2011-15 period.