The Prime Minister emphasized the key directions, operations, tasks and main solutions in the new situation.

The Prime Minister delivered the concluding remarks at the regular Government meeting in July 2022.Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On August 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the regular Government meeting for July 2022, which was connected online to localities.

In the morning, the Government focused on discussing the socio-economic situation in July and the first 7 months of 2022; the implementation of Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP of the Government; the implementation of the socio-economic recovery and development program; and the work of preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports and opinions presented at the meeting unanimously assessed that, in the context of more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, the context of the complicated, unpredictable, unprecedented and highly impactful global and regional situation, under the correct and close leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the accompaniment and support of the National Assembly, the joint efforts, unanimity and high determination of the entire political system, people and businesses, the cooperation and assistance of international friends, the Government, the Prime Minister, all levels, sectors and localities have directed and operated resolutely, flexibly, creatively, effectively, closely following the situation, focusing on key tasks and solutions, strengthening inspection, urging, responding and promptly handling arising issues, resolutely handling backlog and prolonged work, especially weak projects.

Strong recovery momentum across sectors

Thanks to that, our country's socio-economic situation in July and the first 7 months continued to improve, achieving positive results in most areas, many economic sectors recovered and developed strongly, were highly appreciated by international friends, consolidating and strengthening the confidence of people, businesses and investors.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop complicatedly in the world, mainly due to new variants, but domestically, the epidemic is still basically well controlled nationwide.

The macro economy is stable; inflation is controlled in a context of many pressures. The consumer price index (CPI) in July increased by 0.4% compared to the previous month, the average increase in 7 months was 2.54% over the same period, basically stable compared to the same period from 2018 to present; the financial and monetary markets are basically stable; interest rates and exchange rates remain reasonable; credit increased by 9.42% compared to the end of 2021 and increased by 16.6% over the same period; major balances are guaranteed (revenue-expenditure; import-export; labor supply-demand, energy security, food security are guaranteed). State budget revenue is estimated at 77.5% of the estimate, up 18.1%.

Industrial production continued to recover strongly, businesses were more proactive in labor and production and business plans, and production was restored and expanded. The IIP index in July increased by 1.6% compared to the previous month, increased by 11.2% over the same period and increased by 8.8% in 7 months (of which the processing and manufacturing industry increased by 9.7%); 61/63 provinces and cities had an industrial index increase in 7 months. Thus, the IIP increased at a high level for 6 consecutive months. The PMI index of industrial production in July reached 51.2 points (marking the 10th consecutive month of reaching over 50 points since October 2021).

Agricultural, forestry and fishery production is stable. The fishery sector has positive growth, with output increasing by 2.4% in the first 7 months.

Trade and services are vibrant and recovering quickly in all sectors: Total retail sales of goods and service revenue in 7 months increased by 16%, reaching over 3.2 million billion VND (compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019, it increased by 15% and 27.6%, respectively). International visitors in 7 months reached nearly 1 million arrivals (10 times higher than the same period). Import and export in 7 months reached nearly 432 billion USD (up 14.8%), trade surplus of 764 million USD.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai speaks.Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Realized investment capital from the state budget in July reached 46.2 trillion VND, up 22.5% over the same period; in 7 months it reached over 237.6 trillion VND, equal to 43.3% of the plan, up 11.9% over the same period. Realized FDI capital in 7 months reached 11.57 billion USD, up 10.2%, the highest since 2018; adjusted registered capital increased by 7.24 billion USD, up 59.3% over the same period.

Regarding the recovery and development program, up to now, 14/17 documents have been issued, basically creating a legal framework and guidelines to quickly put policies into practice; many contents are being implemented for the first time but have been quickly developed, assessed for impact and issued in accordance with regulations. The disbursement of policies under the Program has achieved good results, with preliminary statistics reaching about 48 trillion/301 trillion.

Business development has achieved positive results, the number of newly established and re-operated businesses in July was 15,500, and in 7 months was 133,700 (1.4 times the number of businesses leaving the market). The total registered capital added to the economy in 7 months was over 3.3 million billion VND, up 37.2% over the same period.

The socio-cultural fields are focused on. The series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day were organized solemnly, meaningfully, practically, demonstrating the fine traditions of the nation and profound humanistic significance. The high school graduation exam was safely and effectively organized. Supported 728,500 employers and 50 million workers facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a total budget of over VND 82.1 trillion. Social security was ensured, people's lives continued to improve, the rate of households with income remained unchanged and increased to 81.6%.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the meeting.Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prevention and fight against corruption and negativity continue to be strengthened. Social order and safety are ensured; national defense and security are maintained; foreign affairs and international integration are promoted, and arising issues are promptly and appropriately handled. Information and communication are strengthened; a lot of fake, bad, and toxic information is controlled, restricted, prevented, and refuted...

Many long-standing issues were directed to be resolved (such as plans to handle banks; groups of 12 inefficient projects and enterprises, Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant, Long Phu 1, projects under O Mon Power Center...; Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Project Phase 2; Ban Mong Irrigation Reservoir).

Many prestigious international organizations and experts have highly appreciated Vietnam's achievements and development prospects. According to a recent report, Vietnam's "Quality of Life" index reached 78.49 points, ranking 62/165 countries on the list, up 39 places after only 1 year. Vietnam has just been elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee - the mechanism for managing and monitoring the implementation of the 2003 Convention - term 2022-2026 of UNESCO, with a high number of votes.

Pay more attention to security, safety, public safety and social security

Listening to opinions, the Prime Minister praised the efforts and results of ministries, branches and localities in recent times. For example, the Ministry of Transport has had bright spots in public investment disbursement. This is also the Ministry with the largest public investment capital; resolutely implementing non-stop toll collection; promoting railway development...

The Prime Minister also noted a number of specific tasks such as requesting the Ministry of Public Security to study and find solutions to issues related to the new passport model, avoiding adverse impacts in the context of opening, recovering and developing the economy and society.

The Prime Minister sent his deepest condolences to the relatives and families of the three police officers who bravely sacrificed their lives in the recent fire in Hanoi, and reminded localities to pay more attention to ensuring social order, security, safety and public safety, including fire prevention and fighting.

The head of the Government also requested localities to strongly promote housing support for workers; to publicize in the press which localities have done well and which have not. According to Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, the Prime Minister has continuously given instructions and urged on this content.

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra reported.Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Recently, at the request of the Government Party Committee, the Politburo issued a Resolution assigning an additional 65,980 teacher positions in the period from 2022 to 2026. The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Training to guide and localities to implement this work, and at the same time restructure the teaching staff in a suitable, scientific, effective, and practical manner, avoiding waste and negativity.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, the management of fiscal and monetary policies has been closely and regularly directed. The recent macroeconomic management has paid great attention to listening to the opinions of experts, businesses, and people, closely following the situation, promptly and appropriately, such as issues of prices, gasoline and pork supply, etc.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that the shortage of medicine and medical supplies has been basically resolved in one step; in the near future, plans will be made to use the state budget to buy textbooks for school libraries for students to borrow and use many times, and to respect and preserve the books for long-term use.

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that 2022 has set a new record in terms of support for people and businesses; by July, taxes worth about 43,000 billion VND had been extended, and taxes, fees, and charges worth about 46,000 billion VND had been exempted, surpassing the amount extended and exempted in 2020 and 2021.

The Prime Minister said that it is necessary to strictly follow the Party's leadership; unite, maintain discipline and administrative discipline; remain calm, maintain courage, promote experience, grasp the situation, correctly assess the causes in order to have appropriate causes and solutions.Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The socio-economic situation still has many difficulties and challenges.

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that, in recent times, the leadership, direction and administration work has continued to be implemented synchronously, resolutely and systematically. In July, the Government and the Prime Minister issued 14 Resolutions; 07 legal documents (05 decrees, 02 legal decisions of the Prime Minister). In total, in 7 months, the Government submitted to the National Assembly 06 Laws, 04 Resolutions; issued 93 Resolutions; 66 legal documents (49 Decrees, 17 legal decisions of the Prime Minister).

Agreeing with the assessments of the achievements and results, the Prime Minister pointed out that the socio-economic situation still faces many difficulties and challenges. The disbursement rate of public investment capital is still low, with 41/51 ministries and central agencies and 18/63 localities having disbursement rates below the national average.

The implementation of a number of national target programs, disbursement of public investment capital, development of guidance documents and disbursement of capital for a number of policies in the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program are still slow.

Production and business activities of enterprises are facing difficulties, especially due to the high prices of many input materials; difficulties in capital and credit...

The lives of a part of the population are difficult, especially in remote areas and ethnic minority areas. Damage caused by natural disasters increased, with a total value of VND 5,624.5 billion (7.3 times higher than the same period in 2021).

The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing due to the appearance of new variants. COVID-19 vaccination in some localities has not reached the set target.

Among the subjective and objective causes, the Prime Minister emphasized that the subjective cause is that there are still some collective leaders, especially the heads, who are not really thorough, resolute, do not stick to the work, do not check and urge, and are sometimes negligent and subjective.

Emphasizing a number of lessons learned, the Prime Minister said it is necessary to strictly follow the Party's leadership; unite, maintain discipline and administrative discipline; remain calm, maintain courage, promote experience, grasp the situation, correctly assess the causes to have appropriate solutions.

The Prime Minister emphasized the requirements of "4 stability, 3 strengthening, 2 promoting, 1 reducing and 1 resolutely not"". Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Key focuses, tasks and solutions in the coming time

Regarding the focus of direction and management, the Prime Minister emphasized the requirements of "4 stability, 3 strengthening, 2 promoting, 1 reducing and 1 resolutely not".

Accordingly, 4 stabilizers include: Stabilize the macro economy, control inflation, promote growth, ensure major balances; stabilize financial markets, securities, corporate bonds, real estate and prices, markets of goods serving production and people's lives; stabilize politics and social order and safety, maintain independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; stabilize and improve the material and spiritual life of the people.

In a more specific analysis, the Prime Minister stated that stabilizing the macro economy, controlling inflation, promoting growth, and ensuring major balances are priority, consistent, urgent, and long-term goals; political stability and social order and security, maintaining independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are the foundation and premise for all successes in the revolutionary cause of our Party and people.

Three enhanced contentsincluding: Strengthening the situation, responding promptly, flexibly and effectively; strengthening the capacity of the health system, especially preventive medicine, primary health care and especially increasing vaccination; strengthening discipline and order in the administrative system. Strengthening the situation, responding promptly, flexibly and effectively is very important in the context of the current complex, unpredictable and unprecedented developments in the world situation.

Two contents to promoteincluding: Boosting production and business, developing enterprises and creating jobs for people, along with strengthening the fight against corruption and negativity; promoting disbursement of investment capital, especially public investment capital and planning work.

A reductionis to save thoroughly, reduce all unnecessary expenses.

A resolute nois not to operate jerkily, suddenly switching from one extreme to the other, but always be proactive, scientific, flexible, creative, and effective.

On the main tasks and solutionsThe Prime Minister stated that, first of all, focus on perfecting institutions in the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress, ensuring the quality and progress of projects submitted to the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the National Assembly; deploying, institutionalizing, and concretizing resolutions and conclusions of the Party and the National Assembly.

Continue to consistently implement the goal of maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major balances, promoting growth, rapid recovery, and sustainable development.

Focus on implementing well the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program, disbursing public investment capital and national target programs.

Promote economic restructuring, innovate growth models, enhance the application of science and technology, promote digital transformation, innovation, develop digital economy, green economy, improve competitiveness and resilience of the economy to external shocks.

Focus on socio-cultural development, environmental protection, ensuring harmony with economic development.

Strengthen national defense and security, maintain social order and safety, prevent corruption and negativity.

Strengthen foreign affairs, consistently implement an independent, self-reliant, diversified, and multilateral foreign policy, be a good friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Building an increasingly independent and self-reliant economy associated with active and proactive international integration, deeply, substantially and effectively, taking internal strength as fundamental, strategic, long-term and decisive, and external strength as important, breakthrough and regular.

Strengthen information and communication, create motivation, inspiration and trust for the people, prevent and neutralize distorted, defamatory and untrue information, "use beauty to eliminate ugliness", use positivity to repel negativity; press and media agencies must have specific, methodical and professional communication plans.

The Prime Minister stated that, from "blood and bone" experience, vaccines are still a strategic weapon and an effective shield in epidemic prevention and control; it is necessary to continue to speed up COVID-19 vaccination for target groups; closely monitor developments, prepare plans, scenarios, human resources, medical equipment and supplies to serve medical examination and treatment and epidemic prevention and control nationwide and in each locality.

The Prime Minister once again emphasized that in the new situation with complex, unpredictable and unprecedented developments, the Vietnamese economy has great openness, limited scale, limited resilience, and very heavy tasks. He requested all levels and sectors to promote the spirit of solidarity, unity, collective leadership role and responsibility of the head, closely follow the practical situation, build appropriate, feasible and effective goals, tasks and solutions, promptly detect and handle arising problems, and promptly adjust and supplement them.

Regarding the recommendations, the Prime Minister requested that localities send them directly to the Prime Minister, the Government Office collect them, and agencies provide a roadmap and timely and effective handling plan to avoid congestion.

On the afternoon of August 3, the Government continued to listen to reports and discuss the implementation and disbursement of public investment capital (including the synthesis of the results of 06 Working Groups inspecting and urging the disbursement of public investment capital) and the implementation of 03 national target programs (hunger eradication and poverty reduction; new rural construction; and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas).

Ha Van