Prime Minister: We cannot tolerate the indifference and irresponsibility of officials.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered the opening speech at the conference. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc acknowledged the socio-economic development results in the first 6 months of the year and pointed out the highlights.

However, according to the Prime Minister, although growth in the first 6 months of the year was the highest compared to the same period since 2011, it is necessary to continue to add new momentum for growth in the remaining 2 quarters of 2018, and growth drivers for the following years.

"Our country has developed in many aspects, but the low average income calculated by GDP is not something that the leaders can be proud of" - the Prime Minister shared and emphasized that we must ponder this issue to think deeply and find new solutions to move forward together.

In particular, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested that all levels, sectors, Party committees, local authorities, ministries and branches must improve the business environment for better international integration and development.

"What is preventing people from investing in business, what is hindering production capacity must be removed to create favorable conditions for people and businesses."

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

Therefore, the Prime Minister suggested that it is necessary to continue to abolish unreasonable and unnecessary business conditions at a faster pace; detect and prevent the risk of new business conditions appearing under the guise of newly issued policies and laws, especially from ministries.

The economy also needs to prioritize efficiency. Vietnam's business environment must be improved further with the principles of equality, safety, transparency and cost reduction.

The Prime Minister assessed that in the past two years, the business environment has been continuously improved, but the level of drastic and substantial reforms has not been uniform among ministries, branches and localities. The situation of “hot above, cold below”, the division of different powers is still common, and the inertia of reform has appeared and is growing. Therefore, the Prime Minister requested that it is not okay for officials not to do anything, or to do it poorly.

“We cannot tolerate indifference, lack of responsibility, and lack of effort from officials. We need a better and fairer mechanism for evaluating officials,” Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc pointed out, emphasizing further: “If you are afraid of responsibility, afraid of responsibility, and avoid responsibility, how can you develop comrades, while that power and responsibility belong to you - the executors.”

Loading and unloading goods at Cua Lo Port. Photo archive.

Based on the requirements, the Prime Minister urged ministries to urgently complete the draft decree amending and supplementing regulations on business conditions in the fields of State management of their sectors and submit it to the Prime Minister and the Government before August 15, 2018 to ensure the promulgation deadline before October 31, 2018 because so far only over 13% of the total of about 5,700 business conditions have been actually abolished or amended.

The revised content must ensure substantial results, clearly stipulate business conditions, avoid the situation where there are many ways to understand and implement, and the right part always belongs to the State management agency, while the wrong part belongs to businesses and people.

Regarding other tasks, the head of the Government requested to focus on administrative reform with the motto of not doing it for show, but for substance, not shouting slogans that are not commensurate with the set goals; quickly bringing newly promulgated and effective laws into life; focusing on proactively propagating good policies to the people on many different channels; at the same time fighting and refuting false information.

Delegates attending the conference at Nghe An bridge. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Prime Minister also requested ensuring security and order; building a strong grassroots political system; thoroughly grasping the spirit of handling situations in accordance with the law, not allowing bad guys to sabotage; on the other hand, paying attention to handling social issues; the provincial level must do a good job of handling complaints and denunciations.

Looking back at the 2.5 years of his term, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked each member of the Government to re-evaluate their sector; each secretary and chairperson of provinces and cities to re-evaluate their localities and individuals to continue striving for the goal of socio-economic development.

"Each agency and individual must think creatively and innovatively to develop, including implementing well the policy of preventing and combating corruption and group interests," said the Prime Minister, requesting to step up inspection, examination, and investigation of wrongdoings for handling; the direction of issues must be drastic but tight, improving the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of the plan.

Finally, the Prime Minister advised that in addition to taking care of the general, we must take care of the specific needs of the people. “Caring for the people, focusing on the people, especially people in rural areas, mountainous areas, ethnic minorities with many difficulties, areas with natural disasters and floods” - the Prime Minister pointed out.