Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính chairs the working session. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has suggested prioritising public investment, public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and finding appropriate solutions to address issues without wasting investment resources, while promoting double-digit economic growth.

Chairing a working session on Sunday morning at the Government headquarters to resolve problems for more than 1,500 delayed projects, the PM requested that while removing obstacles, any discovered violations must be strictly handled.

PM Chính said at the meeting that the country has numerous backlogged projects that have been delayed for many years.

Việt Nam has adjusted its growth target to over eight per cent for this year and double digits in the following years, requiring strong determination and great effort to resolve issues, including project backlogs.

The PM said that the Ministry of Finance has listed and categorised more than 1,500 stuck projects. However, he noted that the quality of project reports is uneven, with lengthy reporting times and a lack of data.

According to the Government leader, some localities have not reported project progress accurately due to fear of mistakes or avoiding responsibility.

"We must be proactive in resolving issues at the central and local levels to be able to do it quickly. We must identify problems, determine their causes, and then seek appropriate solutions,” Chính said.

“In the spirit of resolving problems, we must be very determined, make great efforts and take drastic actions, with a focus on key points. We must also review and develop solutions to handle all issues,” he said.

The PM requested that the Steering Committee and working groups actively direct, manage and assign tasks to ministries, as well as resolve obstacles according to their authority.

Localities must select the optimal solution based on consensus and evaluation, ensuring the interests of relevant parties, minimising disputes, complaints and negative impacts on the investment environment and social order.

Relevant agencies must investigate and strictly punish violations by organisations and individuals according to the laws.

Economic, civil and administrative measures should be prioritised, with criminal punishment as the last resort.

Reports

Reporting at the meeting, a representative from the Ministry of Finance said that a total of 1,533 projects are facing difficulties and obstacles, including 338 public investment projects, 1,126 non-budgetary investment projects, and 69 PPP projects.

Of these, the National Assembly has the authority to handle 22 projects, the PM has the authority to handle 136, and ministries can handle 107. The remaining projects fall under the authority of localities.

For two hospitals, Bạch Mai Hospital No. 2 and Việt Đức Hospital, the Government has issued Resolution 34 to resolve obstacles and quickly put them into operation to serve the medical examination and treatment needs of the people, ensuring the goal of fighting waste.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Phạm Thế Tùng raised issues with site clearance over the past few years.

"Site clearance procedures were clearly stipulated in the laws. So why is it slow? Because of fear of responsibility. I propose developing a specific process for site clearance. Only then can it be implemented,” he said.

Minister of Justice Nguyễn Hải Ninh said that removing obstacles for projects must ensure the leadership of the Party and comply with the laws.

He proposed adding content to current regulations stating: "in cases where the laws do not provide regulations or existing regulations fail to resolve the issue, the relevant authority may issue or propose a legal document to address it". — VNS