Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (standing) chairs the February Government meeting on Saturday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam saw a continuous recovery trend and positive socio-economic results across all fields in February and the first two months of this year, heard the Government regular meeting held in Hà Nội on Saturday under the chair of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính.

Participants noted that the macro-economy was kept stable, inflation reined, in and all major balances of the economy ensured.

In February, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.98 per cent year on year, while State budget collection rose 10.4 per cent, completing 23.5 per cent of the yearly estimate. At the same time, import-export revenue increased 18.6 per cent, with trade surplus reaching US$4.72 billion. Public investment disbursement reached 9.13 per cent of the yearly plan, 2.16 per cent higher than that in the same period last year.

The Index of Industrial Production (IPP) in two months expanded 5.7 per cent over the same period last year. The country attracted more than 3 million foreign visitors, up 68.7 per cent year on year. The total foreign direct investment in the January-February period hit $4.3 billion, a surge of 38.6 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Socio-cultural activities received due attention, while social welfare was ensured. During the Lunar New Year (Tết) festival in February, 17,700 tonnes of rice was provided to 693,000 needy people, while Tết gifts worth VNĐ2.74 trillion ($111.13 million ) were presented to policy beneficiaries, along with VNĐ7.8 trillion to the needy on the occasion.

Socio-political and defence-security situations were ensured, while external relations and international integration were strengthened, elevating up the country's position in the world arena.

Concluding the meeting, PM Chính said that so far this year, the Government has focused on directing the drastic implementation of set tasks and targets.

The PM issued seven directives, four dispatches, as well as 18 documents and plans guiding the implementation of laws. Particularly, the PM approved an action plan of the socio-economic sub-committee serving the 14th National Party Congress, he said.

Regarding priorities for the coming time, the Government leader underlined the need to promote growth in association with maintaining macro-economic stability, inflation control, ensuring major economic balances, speeding up strategic breakthroughs and economic restructuring, and enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of the national economy.

He stressed the need for active and flexible management of monetary policies with close and harmonious coordination with fiscal policies.

Ministries, sectors and localities should work hard to increase income and reduce State budget expense, while popularising the use of e-invoice and deploying measures to ensure the supply of power, petrol, and water for business and daily activities, he requested.

The PM underlined the necessity to renovate traditional growth drivers and promote motivations from investment, exports and consumption, while speeding up the expansion of new growth motivations from institution completion, resources exploitation, and the development of six socio-economic regions, tapping opportunities from the shifting of the global and regional supply chains, and promoting digital transformation and green transition.

Along with boosting the growth of key sectors, it is crucial to speed up the disbursement of public investment capital, striving for a rate of 95 per cent for this year, he said.

Particularly, the PM ordered stronger efforts in administrative reform and removing difficulties facing production and business activities, as well as the prompt issuance of documents detailing laws and resolutions approved at the NA's sixth session and fifth extraordinary session.

On the occasion of the 65th founding anniversary of the Border Guard Force (March 3, 1959 - 2024), PM Chính extended greetings to all officers and soldiers of the force in particular and the Việt Nam People's Army in general. — VNS