Strive to overcome all shocks, difficulties and challenges to ensure growth as set out.

On the morning of April 6, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the regular Government meeting for March and the first quarter of 2025 online with the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to discuss socio -economic issues, public investment disbursement, 3 national target programs, direction and administration of the Government, the Prime Minister, key tasks for April and the coming time...

Efforts to overcome all shocks, difficulties and challenges to ensure growth as set out in the target — **Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the regular Government meeting in March and the first quarter of 2025 online with localities** (Photo: TRAN HAI)

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that we have passed a quarter of 2025 in the context of a complex and unpredictable world situation, with strategic competition becoming increasingly complex, intense and sensitive. Recently, the United States suddenly announced a very high tariff policy; escalating trade tensions could lead to supply chain disruptions; many countries and partners have had different reactions, international stock markets have declined, including the Vietnamese stock market, strongly affecting global economic growth and stability.

The Prime Minister stated that since the beginning of the year, we have proactively implemented measures, in which the leaders of the Party, State, ministries and branches have communicated with the US side through all diplomatic channels: General Secretary To Lam had a phone call with US President Donald Trump; Ministers have had online discussions with partners; domestically we have implemented many solutions.

Regarding trade and economy, we have studied to reduce import taxes, facilitating the import of goods from countries including the United States; the Prime Minister has met with US investors and the US Ambassador to Vietnam; we have resolved the legitimate requests of the US side...

This shows Vietnam's efforts based on harmonious benefits, shared risks, maintaining a calm attitude, bravery, and intelligence of the Vietnamese people when facing difficulties or external shocks such as epidemics, climate change, floods, natural disasters with the spirit of Vietnamese culture, intelligence, creativity, flexibility, suitability, and efficiency. We also share with our partners, especially cooperation such as market diversification, supply chain because "we cannot let this ruin another"; we must put Vietnam's overall trade relations with countries around the world, especially countries that have signed FTAs with our country.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the United States is Vietnam's largest export market but not the only market; therefore, it must be considered comprehensively to ensure national and ethnic interests.

On April 3 and 5, the Government Standing Committee met with ministries and sectors to discuss solutions to respond to the US imposition of reciprocal tariffs; in particular, General Secretary To Lam had a phone call with President Donald Trump on the evening of April 4. In the meeting on April 5, the Government Standing Committee also requested that diplomatic measures be taken to request the US to postpone the imposition of this tariff while the two sides negotiate. In addition, ministries and sectors also listened to the opinions of the business community in the spirit of putting national interests first and foremost.

The Prime Minister especially emphasized that we must place the Vietnam-US trade relationship in the overall trade relations with other countries, trade, and trade agreements that Vietnam participates in. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to continue restructuring its economy in a fast and sustainable direction, digitalization, relying on science and technology, innovation to rise up; restructuring export markets, upgrading the quality of goods to penetrate other markets with many opportunities such as the Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, South America, India, and ASEAN countries.

During this process, the Government has always received close guidance from General Secretary To Lam. According to the Prime Minister, if we are always proactive, positive, and have effective solutions, we will limit disadvantages. Although such shocks are not easy to overcome immediately, we have had synchronous, comprehensive, and overall solutions to cope, not "jerky", not "doing whatever we see"; there are both immediate solutions and long-term, comprehensive, strategic and specific solutions, commercial and non-commercial, direct and indirect.

The Prime Minister stated that domestically, all levels, sectors and localities have focused on drastically implementing key tasks in the first quarter of 2025, especially focusing on 5 important groups of tasks different from the first quarter of 2024: promoting growth of 8% or more according to the new scenario approved by the Central and the National Assembly, creating momentum, creating force, creating momentum for double-digit growth in the coming years to achieve the 2 100-year development goals; focusing on arranging the organizational apparatus according to the direction of the Central, arranging local governments at 2 levels; reviewing and perfecting documents of the 14th National Party Congress, preparing to well organize Party Congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress; focusing on implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on promoting science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation; prepare to celebrate the country's important anniversaries.

In that context, under the leadership of the Party, directly the Politburo, the Secretariat, and directly General Secretary To Lam, with the drastic participation of the entire political system, the community and the people, the socio-economic situation is better month after month, the first quarter of 2025 is better than the same period last year in most areas. The growth in the first quarter of 2025 reached 6.93%, higher than the same period in the past 5 years, higher than the initial growth scenario, but lower than the new growth scenario.

However, this is also a positive signal in the current new context, which is high growth in the region and the world; stable macro-economy, controlling inflation, ensuring major balances, controlling budget deficit, government debt, public debt, foreign debt; the three sectors of industry, agriculture, and services have grown positively, especially agriculture; the fields of social security, culture, education, and health have received attention and care; social work is stable, national defense and security are consolidated; foreign affairs are strengthened; a peaceful and stable environment for national development is maintained.

We must grow the economy to have resources for development, firmly protect independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; ensure that the people are increasingly prosperous and happy, each year higher than the previous year. However, we cannot be subjective, cannot "rest on our laurels", we must clearly see the limitations and shortcomings of the economy such as the pressure to manage exchange rates and interest rates is still high; purchasing power is slow to recover; land policies and the real estate market are still inadequate; on this point, the Prime Minister requested to rectify the land auction work, not to allow real estate manipulation, to lose people's trust, and to destabilize society; the Ministry of Public Security must intervene to handle this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment must have solutions and sanctions to handle this matter.

The Prime Minister requested clarification on the fact that the disbursement rate of public investment capital is lower than the same period last year, because this causes waste because under the same conditions, some ministries and sectors disburse well, while others do not. The Prime Minister also emphasized that the first quarter growth is lower than the new scenario, so there must be a solution to overcome it.

In this session, the Prime Minister asked the delegates to further analyze the context of the first quarter, how it is different from the first quarter of 2024; the direction and administration of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministers, heads of sectors, and Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities; what are the outstanding, impressive, worrying, and troubled socio-economic situations; what is the current situation, forecast for the second quarter, what are the difficulties and challenges, and what must be done to overcome the difficulties? Clearly identify the key tasks and solutions for the second quarter and the remaining months; note what needs to be done immediately, in the short term and in the long term to respond to the current situation in the world, especially the possibility of a trade war.

What must each ministry, sector and locality do to achieve a growth rate of 8% or more? It is necessary to arrange and organize the administrative apparatus but must inherit the work being done; it is necessary to implement Resolutions 57 and 59 of the Politburo well; it is necessary to have mechanisms and policies to remove institutional obstacles related to planning, reform administrative procedures, and reduce compliance costs for the people? It is necessary to strongly promote public investment, which will contribute positively to growth. Promote traditional growth drivers (investment, consumption and export), especially export which is being greatly affected.

Regarding the issues of culture, society, national security and defense, what should we pay attention to? Especially eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses, developing social housing, especially having a strong determination to eliminate temporary houses, promoting the policy of buying and renting social housing; how to build a two-level local government to adapt so as not to affect political tasks? We must do it with development, arrange the organization and apparatus to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and efficiency of State management. State management agencies and organizations must "beat in unison", all for the development of the country.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister hopes that delegates will speak directly to the point, focus on the issue, offer advice, assess the situation, causes, especially lessons in management and operation.

NDO

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/chinh-tri/no-luc-vuot-qua-moi-cu-soc-kho-khan-thach-thuc-bao-dam-tang-truong-nhu-muc-tieu-de-ra-155938.html