HÀ NỘI — Work needs to be done in December to ensure the socio-economic goals set for 2018 are met or exceeded to create a springboard for the implementation of the 2019 plan, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

At the Government’s regular monthly meeting for November, held in Hà Nội on December 3, the Government leader said that over the past 11 months, ministries and sectors proactively took prompt and proper countermeasures against complicated global economic effects.

Production and business performance fared well and businesses have stronger confidence in the country, creating favourable conditions for future socio-economic development, he said.

Localities, ministries and sectors, however, should not become neglectful, he said, adding they need to implement measures and solutions. Office heads need to heighten their responsibility, enhance administrative disciplines, speed up administrative reforms and address existing problems.

“Localities, ministries and sectors have to work to safeguard the country’s strategic interests,” PM Phúc said.

He noted that all innovative ideas and technology applications that bring wealth to the country and its people are welcomed and encouraged, saying this issue should be a focus not only in December, but also for the whole of 2019.

The work required to be implemented in December include refining the draft of the Government’s Resolution 01 (Resolution 01/CP), which, the PM said, needs to reflect “a high determination and a revolutionary spirit” in accomplishing tasks and plans outlined for 2019.

“The lowest GDP growth rate should be 6.8 per cent,” he said, asking those involved in compiling the resolution to find solutions to bottlenecks in socio-economic development while achieving a higher growth rate than in 2018 with secured macro-economic stability and growth quality.

“What people want from us is the quality of growth and the handling of social problems,” the leader said, asking ministries and business sectors to “think out of the box” and step up technology application in all aspects of life.

The Government’s leader asked ministries and sectors to focus on providing sufficient commodities for people in the upcoming 2019 Lunar New Year festival, especially gifts and financial assistance for those who rendered services to the nation. He mentioned the tasks of ensuring traffic safety and fighting crime, trade fraud and smuggling.

He pointed to the need to ensure supply and demand of the market and credit capital to meet the national economy’s needs in the last month of the year, reiterating the request to tackle “loan sharks.”

He also repeated the functions and tasks of a special working group headed by Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình to inspect the slow handling of denunciations lodged by businesses and people at localities.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the macro-economic situation has remained stable since the beginning of the year.

The consumer price index in November fell by 0.29 per cent, the lowest in nine months.

Trade surplus hit US$6.8 billion while there were over 121,000 newly established firms with a total registered capital of VNĐ3.4 quadrillion ($146.2 billion) during the 11-month period, while nearly 32,000 enterprises resumed operations.

More than 14 million foreign tourists arrived in Việt Nam in the past 11 months, up 21.3 per cent. — VNS