HÀ NỘI — The Government held its annual teleconference with provinces and cities yesterday to discuss implementing Party and National Assembly socio-economic resolutions and State budget estimates for 2018.

The event was attended by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President Trần Đại Quang and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân.

It was the first time that Party and State leaders attended a Government meeting. 

Opening the one-and-a-half-day event, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc reported that in 2017, there were numerous domestic difficulties and complicated international and regional issues.

Strategic adjustments by major countries as well as trade and diplomatic policies affected Việt Nam, he said, adding that natural disasters in the northern, central, and Central Highlands regions killed 367 people and caused damage in excess of VNĐ60 trillion (US$2.6 billion). 

He said that at the beginning of the year, many growth drivers, including mining, agriculture, industry and exports, encountered difficulties. The macro-economy also faced pressure from inflation, exchange rates, public debt and non-performing loans.

The PM said that many of the problems called for a revision of economic growth target at that time. 

Under the Party’s leadership, the whole political system worked together, while several sectors and localities actively moved to improve the investment environment, tackle business bottlenecks and mobilise resources for development.

As a result, he said that all targets set by the National Assembly had been fulfilled, saying that the economy expanded by 6.81 per cent – beyond the target of 6.7 per cent. 

The Government leader also highlighted greater stability in the macro-economy and considerable improvement of the business climate and competitiveness.

He said that more than 5,000 administrative procedures were eliminated. Many ministries and sectors cut a third or even half of their administrative procedures. 

In 2017, many cases of corruption were investigated and brought to trial, gradually regaining the people’s trust, he added. 

PM Phúc attributed the outcomes to the efforts of the political system under the Party’s leadership, as well as of people and businesses. 

He said the Government wanted continued and stronger efforts to surpass this year’s achievements. In 2018, it would be necessary to optimise the growth momentum of 2017, promote a comprehensive socio-economic development programme and boost economic reforms. 

At the meeting, participants are looking into the Government’s performances in 2017, the implementation of Resolutions 19 and 35 on improving the investment and business climate and supporting businesses, the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Directive 16/CT-TTg on improving the capacity to get access to Industry 4.0, administrative reforms, the settlement of complaints and denunciations and the corruption fight.

Anti-corruption

In the afternoon, participants discussed measures to strengthen the fight against corruption.

PM Phúc asked leaders of localities to pay special attention to anti-corruption tasks, explaining that high awareness could generate productive outcomes.

He said directions to be issued by the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Việt Nam and the PM will ban the giving and accepting of Tết gifts.
“The fight against corruption should begin from the grassroots level to create visible changes,” he noted.
Regarding limitations that still remain in the settlement of petitions and complaints of people, the PM stressed that local authorities must hold dialogues with residents.
He applauded efforts made by many ministries and agencies such as the ministries of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Construction to cut business conditions. 
Mentioning the fourth industrial revolution, PM Phúc said he hopes leaders of localities, ministries and agencies will pay more heed to improving productivity.
At the conference, representatives of localities contributed opinions to solutions and tasks drafted by ministries and agencies.

Party Chief message

General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng has stressed the need to perfect the socialist-oriented market economy in 2018, following the Resolution of the 12th tenure Party Central Committee’s fifth plenary meeting. 

2018 will be the year deciding the success of the implementation of the five-year socio-economic development targets set by the 12th National Party Congress, Trọng stated at the teleconference.  

While implementing policies, it is necessary to respect and make use of objective rules of the market economy and international practices in order to ensure the socialist orientation conforms with the nation’s development conditions. 

The State played a role of orienting, building and improving economic institutions, creating an equal, transparent and healthy competitive environment, while using its tools, policies and resources to orient, steer and regulate the economy, boosting business, firms and production, protecting natural resources, scenic beauty and the environment and developing cultural, artistic and social fields, Trọng said. 

He emphasised the need to thoroughly grasp the Party’s stances and policies on restructuring the economy in line with growth model reform, and increasing labour productivity and the competitiveness of the economy. 

It is essential to carry out the Party’s resolutions on reforming education and training and intensifying human resources development and information and technology application. He also stressed the need to pay more attention to improving policies toward those who rendered service to the nation and implementing sustainable poverty reduction and social welfare measures. 

The Party chief said that it is imperative to protect independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensure political security, social order and safety and effectively implement foreign work and international integration, better citizen protection and create favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the nation-building cause. 

He asked for the continued building of the Party and political system, stricter implementation of thrift practice and anti-wastefulness and stricter punishment for corruption. — VNS