Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: In a more difficult context, we must achieve the dual goals

On July 1, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Government held its regular meeting for June 2021.

Conclusion of the meeting,Prime ministerclearly stated that we have been implementing the dual goals well, socio-economic development has achieved many positive results; in the coming time, we must persistently implement the dual goals but not mechanically, rigidly, must be proactive, flexible, creative, harmonizing between disease prevention and socio-economic development, based on the actual situation at each agency, unit, and locality at different times to choose priority goals.

The meeting focused on discussing the following contents: Socio-economic situation in the first 6 months of the year, directions, tasks and solutions in the last 6 months of 2021; removing difficulties and obstacles related to Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control; some contents related to business activities, improving the investment and business environment; policies to support employees and employers facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic...

At the meeting, Government members affirmed the positive results achieved in the first 6 months of the year, especially GDP growth, showing great efforts of the entire political system, the entire army and the entire people in the context of complicated epidemic developments. Agriculture grew at the highest rate in 10 years, industry made a high contribution to growth...

Delegates focused on discussing a number of emerging issues in socio-economic development and epidemic prevention, analyzing limitations, causes, lessons learned and forecasting the situation, goals, directions, guiding viewpoints, tasks and solutions in the last 6 months of the year. Opinions proposed many solutions for the economy to overcome difficulties and challenges, mobilize and effectively use development resources, take advantage of opportunities to promote production and business in the context of many major economies recovering strongly, global trade growing strongly...

Strengthen and consolidate people's trust

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the situation in the first 6 months of the year had more specific fluctuations than the first 6 months of 2020, such as the 3rd and 4th outbreaks with more dangerous variants, preparations for the National Party Congress, and elections for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels.

In that context, the Government has closely followed the actual situation, closely followed the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the tasks and goals assigned by the National Assembly to be active, proactive, flexible and wise in direction and administration. Overall, we have been implementing the dual goal well. Many large outbreaks have been prevented, contained and pushed back such as in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang; life has returned to normal; most factories and businesses have resumed operations. These two provinces and Hanoi were heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic but still achieved high results in growth, budget revenue and disbursement of public investment capital. Nationwide, statistics show that the socio-economic situation has achieved good results, which have been positively assessed by international organizations.

On behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Party Committees, authorities at all levels, the political system, and the people of all walks of life for sharing, shouldering, responding, and organizing the implementation of the tasks and solutions set out. The Prime Minister also commended the frontline forces in the fight against the epidemic such as the medical staff, police, army, and the National Steering Committee.

In the first 6 months of the year, GDP grew by 5.64%, much higher than the same period last year. The macro economy was stable; the average CPI in the first 6 months increased by only 1.47%, the lowest in many years. The monetary market, credit, exchange rate, and basic interest rate were stable. State budget revenue was high, estimated at 57.7% of the annual estimate, up 15.3% over the same period. Import-export turnover continued to grow strongly, with exports increasing by 28.4% and imports increasing by 36.1%, mainly imported raw materials for production.

The work of ensuring social security and taking care of people's lives has been done well in difficult conditions due to the pandemic, affirming the view that social progress and equity will not be traded for mere economic growth. The living environment has been gradually improved according to the view that the environment will not be sacrificed for growth.

Institutional reform and improvement work has been promoted. The Government and ministries have been very determined and active in amending and supplementing regulations within their authority. For issues beyond their authority, they have urgently and boldly submitted them to competent authorities for consideration and resolution.

Digital transformation has been given attention and promoted in the context of the pandemic, with a number of large databases completed, such as the national population database system that began operating on July 1. E-commerce has grown strongly, especially supporting the consumption of agricultural products, of which lychee consumption in Bac Giang is typical.

National defense, security, and social order and safety have been maintained. Foreign affairs activities have continued to be promoted and strengthened, preventing any interruptions, and successfully organizing many foreign affairs activities of Party and State leaders. In particular, vaccine diplomacy and Covid prevention activities have been carried out very resolutely, consistently, and effectively; this issue has been mentioned very positively by our country's leaders in all meetings and phone calls with leaders of other countries. The vaccine strategy is very accurate, timely, appropriate to the situation, and is being gradually implemented effectively.

“The most important thing is that through difficulties and challenges, we see more and more the spirit of national solidarity, love, mutual support and international solidarity. The initial results in implementing the dual goals of ensuring national security and defense and promoting foreign relations in recent times have helped strengthen and consolidate people's trust in the Party,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

In addition, the Government also frankly pointed out a number of difficulties and challenges. The Covid-19 epidemic is developing complicatedly and unpredictably in some localities, such as Ho Chi Minh City and some provinces in the Southeast. The growth rate has not reached the set target. The service sector is greatly affected. The bad debt ratio tends to increase. The price of input materials is increasing, transportation costs are high due to the inadequate transportation system. Although the mobilization of social resources has increased, it is still low compared to the space and potential. Tax debt is increasing. A part of the labor force is strongly affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, so life is difficult, therefore, the Government has urgently developed and on July 1, the Government issued a Resolution to implement policies to support laborers and employers facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring timeliness, adequacy, and the right subjects, and to combat negativity.

The Prime Minister stated that, first of all, we know how to inherit and promote the achievements, achievements, and valuable lessons of many terms and years; at the same time, learn from experience, avoid the limitations and shortcomings of the previous period in the spirit of inheritance, stability, innovation and development; be modest, receptive, listen, and not be afraid or confused in the face of difficulties and challenges. Strictly follow the leadership of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the General Secretary and key leaders to organize implementation according to the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and according to the assigned authority, functions and tasks. Along with that is the participation and efforts of the entire political system, all levels and sectors, the enthusiastic support of all classes of people, the efforts of the business community, the spirit of mutual love and international solidarity.

The causes of the limitations and weaknesses are due to two outbreaks with new virus strains that are more complicated, unpredictable, dangerous, difficult to control, and more virulent. There are places and times where people are still negligent, subjective, and lose vigilance. The economy is highly open, dependent on the export market and the FDI sector. The leadership, direction, administration, and law enforcement of a number of agencies, units, localities, and leaders are not resolute, not synchronous, inconsistent in direction, not closely following reality to make appropriate decisions, even bureaucratic, lacking a sense of responsibility. There are still many development bottlenecks that have not been found and resolved, especially in terms of institutions. Some policies issued are only temporary and short-term in nature, not solving fundamental, long-term problems.

More difficulties and challenges than advantages

The Prime Minister highlighted lessons learned in the first 6 months of the year.

Firstly, it is necessary to select and inherit valuable experiences and good lessons to lead, direct and organize implementation. Closely follow the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and Party Congresses at all levels, the leadership and direction of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and key leaders at all levels, based on the actual situation to proactively, flexibly, creatively, resolutely, in the right direction, with focus, key points, efficiency, and adaptability to the situation.

Second, it is necessary to promote decentralization and delegation of power along with strengthening inspection, supervision, and control of power, promoting creativity, initiative, and flexibility of subordinates.

Third, we must actively remove economic bottlenecks, especially those related to institutions, mechanisms, and policies; for the contents that need to be submitted to superiors, we must carefully prepare on the basis of science, theory, practice, and law. Issues that are "ripe", clear, proven to be correct in practice, effectively implemented, and agreed upon by the majority, should continue to be implemented; issues that do not have regulations or exceed regulations should be boldly piloted, learn from experience while doing, and gradually expand, without perfectionism or haste. The Prime Minister gave the example of the "3-layer" blockade model, piloting F1 isolation at home...

Fourth, actively and proactively seek new resources and new motivations from the people and society to promote development, in the spirit of starting from practice, respecting practice, closely following practice, and taking practice as a measure. In recent times, some localities have had very good practices that need to be replicated in using public investment to lead private investment.

Fifth, the more difficult and complicated things are, the more we must stay calm, uphold principles, promote democracy, respect the collective, make decisions by majority, not be pessimistic or fearful, maintain our fortitude, take difficulties and challenges as motivation to strive, rise up, affirm and mature, promote the strength of great solidarity, the spirit of mutual love, humility, receptiveness, listening and learning.

Sixth, do not be negligent, subjective, lose vigilance, do not be intoxicated with initial victories, achievements, and results, and do not “rest on your laurels” as advised by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. “When you win and succeed, the greatest pressure and the greatest enemy are subjectivity, negligence, and complacency,” the Prime Minister noted.

Seventh, harmoniously, reasonably and effectively combine prevention and attack in epidemic prevention (prevention is fundamental, strategic, long-term and decisive; attack is proactive, drastic, effective and decisive, quickly stabilizing the situation).

According to the Prime Minister, the forecast for the coming time has both advantages and opportunities, difficulties and challenges intertwined, in which we must identify more difficulties and challenges than advantages. However, we must not be pessimistic or fearful because of that, "identify like that to make more efforts, be more determined, try harder, and be more determined". Build an independent and autonomous economy, promote the spirit of self-reliance, "rise up from the hands, brains, sky, sea", "turn difficult into easy, turn impossible into possible...", do not passively rely on others to strive to achieve the highest goals and tasks set out.

The Prime Minister stated that we have not changed the set target and agree with the two growth scenarios developed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (GDP growth for the whole year of 6% according to scenario 1 and 6.5% according to scenario 2); at the same time, he emphasized that in order to achieve any scenario, we must make great efforts with feasible and effective solutions.

Major perspectives in implementation

From that goal and awareness, the guiding viewpoint is to persistently implement the dual goal but not mechanically, rigidly, based on the actual situation in each agency, unit, and locality at different times to choose priority goals. Must be proactive, flexible, creative, and harmonize between disease prevention and socio-economic development. In some places and at some times, priority must be given to the task of disease prevention; in some places and at some times, priority must be given to the task of socio-economic development; in some places and at some times, both goals and tasks must be simultaneously balanced and harmonized.

Harmoniously, reasonably and effectively manage monetary policy, fiscal policy and other policies, both maintaining macroeconomic stability and promoting development, controlling inflation and ensuring major balances.

Identify internal resources as fundamental, strategic, long-term, and decisive; external resources as important and breakthrough. Further promote the implementation of 3 strategic breakthroughs and 6 key tasks according to the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, especially on perfecting institutions and building strategic infrastructure, administrative reform, improving the quality of human resources, and ending the situation of scattered, prolonged, fragmented, and ineffective public investment.

The Prime Minister stated that Covid-19 prevention and control is a task that must be focused on at the present time nationwide and in some localities. It is necessary to lead and direct the successful implementation of the vaccine strategy. In the context of a global vaccine supply shortage from now until September, it is necessary to access and purchase vaccines equally, as quickly and as much as possible, while organizing coordination in accordance with the situation; promoting technology transfer and research and production of vaccines domestically; organizing effective and timely vaccination. Be extremely flexible in lockdown and isolation, learning from experience as you go.

Diversify export markets, build and protect brands, improve product quality of strong products, especially vegetables and fruits, to continue expanding the market, effectively exploiting signed FTAs. Ensure the goal of a harmonious and sustainable trade balance; have appropriate trade defense measures.

Promote investment attraction in the processing and manufacturing industry. Ensure energy security; have a long-term energy development policy, closely following the actual situation and market mechanism, complete the 8th Power Plan, and develop a reasonable power source structure.

Expand the export market for agricultural products, especially fruits, have a strategy and long-term agricultural development plan, limit the need for "rescue", have priority policies suitable for products with strengths, pay attention to brand building, post-harvest stages... to improve the quality and value of agricultural products.

The service industry needs to innovate strongly, calculate and reorganize to reduce transportation costs. In addition to the long-term issue of developing strategic infrastructure, it is necessary to immediately solve immediate difficulties. Calculate and implement programs to stimulate domestic consumption and expand the domestic market. The Prime Minister mentioned Bac Giang's consumption of more than 200,000 tons of lychee in the context of the epidemic as an example showing that "necessity is the mother of invention".

The current context is a favorable opportunity for digital transformation, building a digital economy and digital society, and requires plans and programs to promote it.

In the coming time, the Government will discuss a separate topic on mobilizing resources, creating new momentum for development, resolving difficulties for businesses, promoting public-private cooperation in all fields, especially in investing in strategic infrastructure development; and removing obstacles in mechanisms and policies in disbursing ODA capital.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall take the lead and have solutions to restore labor and employment immediately in epidemic areas in the direction of adapting to new conditions, "both producing and fighting the epidemic" as experienced in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang recently, not to disrupt the labor market.

Strengthen the work of preventing negativity, corruption, waste, and bureaucracy, in conjunction with administrative reform and the exemplary responsibility of leaders at all levels, building a clean and strong apparatus, eliminating petty corruption. Maintain political stability, ensure national defense and security, promote foreign affairs activities, resolutely and persistently fight to firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland and maintain a peaceful environment for national development, and strengthen vaccine diplomacy.

Continue to attach importance to leadership, direction, investment in facilities and resources for information and propaganda work to create social consensus, and absolutely not allow a media crisis.

Emphasizing the need for ministries, agencies and localities to be proactive and make efforts to resolve outstanding and prolonged tasks in the spirit of “doing each task thoroughly”, the Prime Minister mentioned some specific examples such as the Cat Linh – Ha Dong elevated railway line, the flood prevention project in Ho Chi Minh City, do not let it drag on and drag on…

The Prime Minister noted that ministries, agencies and localities should pay attention to successfully ending the school year, organizing the National High School Exam seriously and safely, creating the most favorable conditions for candidates and their families in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic.

“The Government continues to call on the people and the business community to continue to accompany and support the Party, the State and the Government to overcome all difficulties and challenges and successfully implement the goals and solutions set by the 13th National Party Congress, the targets and tasks assigned by the National Assembly. To successfully carry out the dual tasks and dual goals, the companionship and sharing of the people and businesses is indispensable,” the Prime Minister emphasized.