Innovation, creativity, acceleration, breakthroughs—leading the nation to confidently advance into an era of progress.

VietNamNet newspaper respectfully presents the full text of the Prime Minister 's article. (Title provided by VietNamNet newspaper.)

The significant, comprehensive, and outstanding results achieved in various fields amidst the difficulties and challenges outweighing the opportunities and advantages of 2024 affirm the extraordinary efforts, unwavering will, and ironclad determination of the entire Party, people, and army to comprehensively promote the cause of reform; thereby consolidating the foundation and creating strong momentum to successfully implement the socio- economic development plan for 2025, contributing to the highest possible achievement of the goals and tasks of the 2021-2025 period, and leading the country steadily into a new era – an era of striving for development, prosperity, civilization, and well-being for the Vietnamese nation.

In 2024, the global situation continued to evolve rapidly and complexly, with many unprecedented and unpredictable issues; strategic competition among major powers intensified; military conflicts escalated in many places; political instability persisted in some countries; global economic, trade, and investment recovery was slow, uneven, and lacked stability; and non-traditional security issues, climate change, energy security, food security, and cybersecurity became increasingly serious. Domestically, opportunities and challenges were intertwined, but challenges outweighed difficulties; the economy continued to suffer a "double impact" from adverse external factors and long-standing internal limitations and shortcomings; while natural disasters, storms, and floods caused significant damage to production, business, and people's lives.

In this context, with the spirit of striving to "turn crisis into opportunity," "change the state, reverse the situation"; with the motto "discipline and responsibility, proactive and timely action, accelerated creativity, sustainable efficiency," and "only discuss action, not retreat"; from the beginning of 2024, the Government and the Prime Minister directed all levels, sectors, and localities to focus on implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, the Resolutions and Conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the National Assembly; proactively, flexibly, closely adhering to reality, implementing synchronously, effectively, and with a focus on key tasks and solutions in all fields; prioritizing the promotion of growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring the major balances of the economy; focusing on removing institutional and legal obstacles and bottlenecks; and accelerating the progress of key infrastructure projects. Focus on tasks related to cultural and social development, disaster prevention, and environmental protection; strengthen the fight against corruption, negative practices, and waste; consolidate national defense and security; promote foreign relations and international integration; and at the same time, closely monitor the situation and respond with timely and effective policies to external changes.

The Prime Minister visits and encourages officials, engineers, and workers at the construction site. Photo: Ho Giap.

Thanks to the strong determination, great efforts, and decisive actions of the entire political system, the people, and the business community under the leadership of the Party, and regularly and directly under the Politburo and the Secretariat, headed by the General Secretary, the socio-economic situation in our country continues to recover positively, with an improving trend each month and quarter. Overall, in 2024, all 15 key targets were met and exceeded, with outstanding results in many areas, which have been highly appreciated by the people nationwide and the international community.

Vietnam continues to be a bright spot in growth and belongs to the group of high-growth countries in the region and the world. GDP growth for the whole year is estimated at about 7%; the size of the economy is about 470 billion USD; the economic structure continues to shift positively; the proportion of the agricultural sector is about 11%. The quality of growth has improved; labor productivity growth is estimated at 5.7%, exceeding the set target; the economic freedom index increased by 13 ranks, to position 59/176 countries and territories[1].

Vietnam is highly regarded for controlling inflation and maintaining macroeconomic stability in the context of strong global fluctuations and many difficulties. The average consumer price index in 2024 increased by about 3.6%, while still implementing salary increases and price increases for some goods managed by the State. The major balances of the economy are ensured; total import and export turnover recorded a record, along with a record agricultural export of over 62 billion USD; the trade surplus is estimated at about 24 billion USD, contributing to improving the international balance of payments. Thanks to the positive economic recovery and strengthening and improving the efficiency of tax management, total state budget revenue exceeded the forecast by over 19% (about 320 trillion VND), contributing to supplementing resources for development investment; public debt, government debt, national foreign debt and state budget deficit are lower than the prescribed limit[2].

Vietnam continues to be a safe and attractive destination for international businesses, partners, and investors; it is among the top 15 developing countries attracting the most foreign direct investment (FDI) in the world, reaching approximately US$40 billion, of which realized FDI accounts for about US$25 billion; it is one of the top 20 economies in the world in terms of trade volume with 17 FTAs, becoming an important link in regional and global supply chains. Vietnam is undergoing a strong transformation towards a digital, green, high-tech, and environmentally friendly economy; in particular, it has established an important position in the global semiconductor industry chain, attracting many large technology corporations. The national brand value in 2024 reached US$507 billion, ranking 32nd out of 193, an increase of one position compared to 2023.

Strategic breakthroughs have been decisively directed and implemented, achieving many clear results. Focusing on reviewing and perfecting institutions and laws; the National Assembly has passed many Laws and Resolutions to remove difficulties, obstacles, and bottlenecks for development in various fields[3]. The development of strategic infrastructure systems has been comprehensively promoted; over 2,000 km of expressways have been put into operation; the 500 kV circuit 3 Quang Binh - Hung Yen power line project was completed in a record short time of 6 months; focus on preparing and urgently implementing national railway projects. Human resource development has seen positive changes; science and technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship have been strongly promoted. The global innovation index in 2024 ranked 44/132 countries and territories, an increase of 2 places compared to 2023. Planning work has been strengthened; Approved and implemented all 111 sectoral plans, provincial plans and national plans; at the same time focused on handling outstanding, inefficient and long-standing projects[4]; contributing to unlocking resources, combating waste, creating new space and momentum for development.

Cultural and social development is emphasized; social security is ensured; people's lives continue to improve. The poverty rate according to the multidimensional standard decreased to about 1.9%; average income of workers increased by about 7.4%; the happiness index increased by 11 ranks, ranking 54th/143[5]; the sustainable development index (SDGs) ranked 54th/166 countries and territories, an increase of 1 rank compared to 2023[6]. Timely khắc phục hậu quả và hỗ trợ người người bị affected by typhoon No. 3 with beautiful, touching, warm images and gestures of "national solidarity and brotherly love" across the country.

Administrative reform and the fight against corruption and negative practices continue to be intensified. Focus is placed on simplifying and reducing administrative procedures; promoting decentralization and delegation of power; and seriously and effectively implementing the policy of streamlining and reorganizing the organizational structure. Inspection, auditing, and complaint resolution are strengthened; the effectiveness of handling corruption and negative practices is improved, preventing them from affecting socio-economic development and contributing to consolidating and strengthening public trust.

National independence and sovereignty are maintained; national defense and security potential is strengthened; foreign relations and international integration are promoted; the country's prestige and position continue to be enhanced. The all-people national defense posture and the people's security posture, linked with the people's support, are strengthened and consolidated firmly; the defense industry has achieved many positive results. Political security and social order and safety are maintained. International cooperation continues to be promoted and upgraded[7], economic diplomacy is emphasized; a favorable foreign relations situation is created; contributing to maintaining a peaceful, stable, and cooperative environment for development.

While we are pleased and encouraged by the outstanding achievements and results attained in 2024, we must also frankly acknowledge the limitations, shortcomings, difficulties, and challenges that need to be addressed and resolved promptly and effectively in the coming period. These include the continued risk to macroeconomic stability, significant pressure on exchange rates, interest rates, and inflation, especially in the face of adverse external impacts. Production and business in some sectors remain challenging; market purchasing power is recovering slowly and not yet clearly defined. The implementation of some infrastructure projects is still facing obstacles; and the disbursement of public investment capital has not met expectations.

Institutions and laws remain the "bottleneck of bottlenecks"; the mindset in lawmaking is still heavily focused on management rather than development; processes and procedures still have shortcomings. Some legal regulations, mechanisms, and policies are slow to be amended and supplemented to suit practical requirements. Decentralization and delegation of power still face obstacles, with many specific tasks remaining at the central level; administrative procedures and business conditions in some sectors are still cumbersome and inefficient. Wastefulness persists in many sectors and fields, causing numerous negative consequences, depleting resources, increasing cost burdens, creating barriers, and missing opportunities for national development.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Chairman and senior leaders of NVIDIA Corporation on their second visit to Vietnam. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Human resource development, especially high-quality human resources, has not met development requirements and has not contributed to breakthroughs in productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy. The development gap between regions, areas, and social classes has not improved significantly; the lives of a segment of the population remain difficult. Addressing serious environmental pollution, traffic congestion, and flooding in major cities is slow. Climate change, natural disasters, storms, floods, landslides, subsidence, and droughts are unpredictable and have severe consequences. The situation regarding high-tech crime, online fraud, and maintaining security and order in some areas is becoming increasingly complex…

The aforementioned limitations, shortcomings, difficulties, and challenges have both objective and subjective causes. The main objective causes are the complex and unpredictable global situation, with numerous difficulties and challenges; the continued negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the severe consequences of natural disasters, storms, and floods, especially Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi). Subjective causes include: sometimes lax discipline and order; obstacles in decentralization and delegation of power in some areas; some officials avoiding responsibility, shirking accountability; in some cases, the monitoring of the situation, policy advice, and responses have not been timely or effective, failing to fully utilize development opportunities; and a lack of high levels of effort, self-reliance, and self-improvement among some agencies, units, and a segment of officials and civil servants.

Based on the analysis and assessment of the situation in various fields and from the practical experience of leadership, direction, and management, we can draw some valuable and profound lessons that will contribute to supplementing and improving our thinking, methodology, policy orientation, and implementation in the future.

Firstly, the strength of national unity under the leadership of the Party is an invincible force, a fundamental element for sustainable development, and a support for overcoming all difficulties; it is necessary to promote the spirit of self-reliance, self-improvement, and the efforts of the entire nation to innovate and strive for progress; always placing the national interest, the interests of the people, and the interests of the nation above all else.

Secondly, we must have a breakthrough development mindset, a strategic vision, foresight, deep thinking, and big-scale action; completing each task thoroughly; valuing time, intellect, creativity, decisiveness, and timing. We must focus on thoroughly understanding the situation, responding with flexible, timely, and effective policies; and be proactive, flexible, and creative in implementing the Party and State's guidelines and policies.

Thirdly, we must focus on unlocking, mobilizing, allocating, and effectively utilizing all resources; considering internal resources as fundamental, strategic, long-term, and decisive, while external resources are important, necessary, and breakthrough; maximizing the potential, strengths, intelligence, and resilience of the Vietnamese people.

Fourth, special attention must be paid to ensuring social security and improving the material and spiritual lives of the people; placing people at the center, as the subject, the goal, and the most important resource and driving force for development; not sacrificing progress, social justice, and environmental protection for the sake of mere economic growth, "leaving no one behind."

Fifth, it is necessary to strengthen discipline and order, promote decentralization and delegation of power coupled with resource allocation, and enhance inspection, supervision, and control of power; resolutely reform administrative procedures; resolutely and persistently eliminate the "request-and-grant" mechanism; and intensify the fight against corruption, waste, and negative practices, contributing to consolidating trust among the people and the entire society.

III
In the coming period, the global and regional situation is projected to remain complex and unpredictable; the world economy is recovering slowly, with increasing risks; and the trend of decoupling and polarization is becoming increasingly evident. Domestically, alongside favorable factors, the economy continues its recovery trend, and new policies and mechanisms are continuing to yield positive results; however, significant difficulties and challenges remain, especially from unfavorable external factors and persistent internal limitations and inadequacies; non-traditional security factors, natural disasters, climate change, resource depletion, and population aging are having increasingly serious impacts; while Vietnam is a developing country with an economy in transition, still modest in scale, highly open, and with limited resilience and competitiveness.

The year 2025 holds special significance, as it is a year of acceleration and breakthroughs to achieve the goals of the 2021-2025 five-year socio-economic development plan. It is also a year of many important national events – the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Party, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Nation, and the year of holding Party congresses at all levels, leading up to the 14th National Party Congress, ushering in a new era – an era of striving for prosperity, development, and a civilized and thriving nation, as General Secretary To Lam has outlined. To successfully achieve the strategic goal of becoming a developing country with modern industry and a high-middle income by 2030, and a developed country with a high income by 2045; Starting in 2025, we must make maximum efforts to create breakthroughs that attract investment, strongly promote production and business, and strive to achieve a growth rate of at least 8%, or even higher under favorable conditions; thereby creating a solid foundation to achieve double-digit growth rates from 2026 onwards.

At historical junctures, the nation requires historically significant decisions. Implementing the strategic goals commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding and the 100th anniversary of the nation's founding is a challenging yet glorious mission for our generations today and tomorrow. It connects the past, present, and future, and is a prerequisite for escaping the middle-income trap and becoming a developed country. We can absolutely achieve this with innovative thinking, high determination, great effort, decisive action, breakthrough solutions, effective methods, and timely, flexible, and efficient implementation. Focusing on realizing the unique potential, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages of the country, each level, each sector, each agency, unit, enterprise, and every Vietnamese citizen needs to highly promote the spirit of solidarity, working together, and "daring to think, daring to act, and daring to innovate for the common good." "What is said must be done, what is committed must be fulfilled; what is done and implemented must be effective, measurable and quantifiable"; thoroughly understand and effectively implement the motto "The Party directs, the Government agrees, the National Assembly concurs, the people support, the Fatherland expects, then only discuss and act, do not hesitate, do each task properly, and complete each task thoroughly."

The Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, the Resolutions and Conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Government, and the directives of the Prime Minister have clearly outlined the tasks and solutions in all fields and need to be implemented synchronously, comprehensively, and effectively by all levels, sectors, and localities with the spirit of "clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear accountability, clear deadlines, and clear results"; focusing on the following key areas:

1. Continue to focus on perfecting institutions and laws to truly achieve a "breakthrough of breakthroughs," creating momentum for national development with the spirit of "open policies, seamless infrastructure, and smart governance." Pay special attention to innovative thinking, fostering development, and creating new development spaces. Innovate, digitize, ensure transparency, and improve the efficiency of all types of markets; implement comprehensive solutions to restore and develop a healthy real estate market and upgrade the stock market soon. Decisively reorganize the organizational structure towards a "Sleek - Lean - Strong - Efficient - Effective - Efficient" approach, linked with restructuring and improving the quality of cadres and civil servants in accordance with Resolution 18-NQ/TW; implement specific policies to create favorable conditions for cadres and civil servants to dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility for the common good. Continue to promote reforms, simplify administrative procedures, build an e-government, and implement Project 06; effectively implement solutions to improve the investment and business environment, ensuring regional and international competitiveness.

2. Continue to prioritize and strongly promote economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring the major balances of the economy. Enhance analytical and forecasting capabilities; proactively, promptly, flexibly, harmoniously, and effectively manage fiscal and monetary policies to unlock, mobilize, and effectively utilize resources, especially those from the people. Focus on renewing traditional growth drivers, especially solutions to stimulate investment, consumption, and exports; while simultaneously creating breakthroughs to promote new growth drivers, especially digital transformation, green transformation, and the development of emerging industries and sectors such as semiconductors, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing…

3. Focus on developing a comprehensive and modern strategic infrastructure system; accelerate key projects; connect the expressway system with airports and seaports; urgently implement high-speed rail and urban rail; strive to complete 3,000 km of expressways and over 1,000 km of coastal roads by the end of 2025. Strongly develop digital infrastructure, urban infrastructure, culture, social services, education, healthcare, sports, etc.; research and effectively exploit underground space, marine space, and outer space.

4. Promote industrialization and modernization, restructure the economy in conjunction with reforming the growth model towards strengthening the application of science and technology, improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness. Strongly develop agricultural, industrial, and service sectors with potential and advantages, applying high technology, in a green, efficient, and sustainable direction; reduce logistics costs; awaken the potential and strongly develop various forms of tourism. Improve the operational efficiency of state-owned corporations and enterprises; build policies to strongly encourage the development of private enterprises; promote selective attraction of foreign investment; and participate more deeply in regional and global value chains.

5. Clearly define and implement breakthrough mechanisms, policies, and solutions at both strategic and tactical levels to ensure that high-quality human resources, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation truly become top national priorities in accordance with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, creating breakthroughs, soaring high, and reaching far in the effort to "catch up, keep pace, accelerate, break through, and surpass," putting the country on a trajectory of rapid and sustainable development. Focus on reviewing and implementing breakthrough mechanisms and policies to improve the quality of education and training, and boost labor productivity. Promote national digital transformation, develop an innovation ecosystem, create momentum, and inspire the business community, entrepreneurs, and Vietnamese people at home and abroad, especially the young generation of Vietnam to take the lead and rise strongly.

6. Focus on developing culture in harmony with the economy and society; build mechanisms and policies for the development of the cultural and entertainment industries; build a comprehensive system of Vietnamese human values; effectively implement policies for meritorious individuals, social welfare, ensure social security, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction; pay attention to ethnic and religious policies, promoting the spirit of "religion and nation," and living a "good life and virtuous conduct." Effectively implement national target programs on building new rural areas, sustainable poverty reduction, socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions, cultural development, and drug prevention and control. Promote the emulation movement "Joining hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide by 2025"; strive to complete over 100,000 social housing units as soon as possible.

7. Strengthen the fight against corruption, waste, and negative practices. Continue to improve institutions, address loopholes and inadequacies in mechanisms, policies, and laws. Enhance transparency, accountability, and responsibility; effectively control the assets and income of officials and those in positions of power. Continue to strengthen inspections, audits, and strictly handle acts of corruption, negative practices, and waste.

8. Continue to consolidate and strengthen national defense and security; maintain national independence, sovereignty, and interests; promote the development of defense industry and dual-use security industry; ensure political security and social order and safety. Strengthen measures to curb crime, striving to reduce the number of social order crimes by 5%; ensure traffic safety; and focus on improving the effectiveness of fire and explosion prevention and control.

9. Enhance the effectiveness of foreign affairs and international integration; continue to deepen, strengthen, and improve relations with partners, fostering intertwined interests. Improve the quality of strategic planning and forecasting, proactively responding to and protecting the Fatherland from early on, from afar, and before danger arises. Strongly promote economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and people-to-people exchanges to serve national development.

10. Strengthen information and communication work, especially policy communication; enhance the dissemination, promotion, and replication of good models, innovative approaches, and exemplary individuals and good deeds. Improve the effectiveness of propaganda and mass mobilization work, closely coordinating with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, and people's associations, contributing to creating social consensus, consolidating the great national unity, and striving to comprehensively achieve the set goals and tasks for socio-economic development.
*

* *

The tasks set for 2025 and beyond are very challenging. We must build upon the achievements gained after nearly 40 years of reform; With the spirit of solidarity, unity, high sense of responsibility, and self-reliance of the entire political system, the people, and the business community under the glorious leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, our country will certainly overcome all difficulties and challenges, striving to successfully achieve the socio-economic development goals and tasks of 2025, contributing to the highest possible completion of the 2021-2025 five-year socio-economic development plan. We firmly believe that the wisdom and resilience of Vietnam, tested through the glorious history of our nation's thousand-year struggle for national liberation and defense, will continue to shine, leading our country to new heights, achieving even greater accomplishments in the era of national development, prosperity, and civilization, bringing our country to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading powers, as our beloved President Ho Chi Minh always wished.

Pham Minh Chinh

Member of the Politburo, Prime Minister

———-
[1] According to Heritage Foundation rankings.
[2] Of which, public debt is about 36-37% of GDP, government debt is about 33-34% of GDP.
[3] In 2024, the National Assembly passed 31 laws and 67 resolutions, accounting for more than 40% of the total number of laws and resolutions passed since the beginning of the 15th term; the 8th session alone passed 18 laws and 21 resolutions.
[4] Including Thai Binh 2, Van Phong 1, Song Hau 1, Cai Mep - Thi Vai liquefied gas thermal power projects; Lot B - O Mon gas power project chain; fertilizer plants, Vietnam-China steel plants…
[5] According to the report of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN).
[6] According to the United Nations (UN) Report.
[7] In 2024, comprehensive strategic partnerships were established with Australia, France, and Malaysia; comprehensive partnerships with Mongolia and the UAE; and strategic partnerships with Brazil were signed; many international commitments and agreements were signed through all Party, State, and people channels, at all levels and in all fields.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/doi-moi-sang-tao-tang-toc-but-pha-dua-dat-nuoc-tien-vao-ky-nguyen-vuon-minh-2358934.html