Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Vietnam needs special solutions for special times

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the National Assembly 's group meeting on the morning of May 23, 2025. (Photo: BUI GIANG)

Focus on effectively implementing 4 pillars and 3 strategic breakthroughs

On the morning of May 23, continuing the program of the 9th Session, the National Assembly discussed in groups many contents, including additional assessment of the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget in 2024; the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in the first months of 2025; the practice of thrift and anti-wastefulness, etc.

Speaking at a discussion group on solutions for growth targets, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that in the current difficult world context, financial institutions forecast lower growth this year than last year, but Vietnam goes against the world trend by raising the growth target to 8% for 2025 and double-digit growth in the following years.

"So how to go against the trend but improve more?", the head of the Government asked and shared 3 strategic breakthroughs that Vietnam is actively implementing, which are: removing institutional bottlenecks, promoting strategic breakthroughs in infrastructure and developing human resources.

Spending a lot of time sharing about promoting strategic breakthroughs in infrastructure, the Prime Minister emphasized that this is the bottleneck because the logistics costs in Vietnam are still high - about 17-18%, compared to the world average of 10-11%, reducing the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods. Therefore, it is necessary to continue promoting strategic infrastructure in transportation in all 5 modes.

View of the National Assembly's group meeting, morning of May 23, 2025. (Photo: BUI GIANG)

Accordingly, for roads, the Prime Minister clearly stated the goal is to complete at least 3,000km of highways by 2025; followed by the implementation of the railway system, saying that this is a system that harmonizes aviation and maritime, because aviation is expensive and maritime takes more time.

The Prime Minister analyzed that railways have large transport volumes, low costs, and can travel around the clock, so it is necessary to upgrade the railway system, focus on building the North-South high-speed railway and the railway connecting with China, Hanoi-Lao Cai-Hai Phong, thereby opening up traffic connections with China to Central Asia and Europe, contributing to diversifying markets and products.

Regarding inland waterways, in which the Mekong Delta has a great advantage, according to the Prime Minister, this year and next year will focus on this type of transport to reduce the cost of goods and increase competitiveness.

Regarding aviation, the Prime Minister said this is a popular method. To develop aviation, we must have airports, develop flight crews, and airlines.

"We cannot stop at 2-3 airlines, but must develop many to create competition and benefit the people," the Prime Minister stated.

Regarding maritime, the head of the Government emphasized that large ports must be built so that the largest ships can enter and exit. Our country has 3,000km of coastline, so it is necessary to develop the port system and maritime transport. Some ports are being focused on development such as Lach Huyen, Cai Mep-Thi Vai, Can Gio, Hon Khoai... to promote maritime traffic.

Besides, the Prime Minister also emphasized that infrastructure in education, healthcare, and sports must be developed comprehensively and synchronously.

To implement the above 3 strategic breakthroughs, according to the Prime Minister, the Government has recently submitted 4 resolutions, including Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in science-technology development and innovation; Resolution 59 on international integration; Resolution 66 on innovation in law-making and enforcement; and Resolution 68 on private economic development (4 "strategic pillars").

Affirming that integration is the trend of the times, the Prime Minister said: "We cannot do anything alone, we must integrate, we cannot lag behind forever. We must move forward, catch up and surpass, participate in leading the game. To do so, we must be proactive, improve competitiveness, and enhance the country's brand."

According to the head of the Government, the above 4 "strategic pillars" along with 3 strategic breakthroughs will be implemented in the coming period. "These strategies are being implemented very quickly, most actively in the past few months, contributing to economic growth," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated.

Along with that, the Prime Minister also affirmed that it is necessary to renew old growth drivers, promote new drivers such as digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, and adapt to world fluctuations.

"The problem is to know how to make it so that in difficult conditions, developed countries in the region all have to reduce growth, while Vietnam does the opposite. In special conditions, there must be special solutions, flexible and effective adaptation to the situation, only then can we dare to go against the trend and achieve the 100-year goal," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized.

Determined to completely handle backlog projects

Regarding the issue of saving and fighting waste, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the Government recently reported to the National Assembly about backlogged projects that have lasted for many years, even many terms; waste related to inappropriate policies.

The Prime Minister cited that recently a series of wind and solar power projects had to be resolved, through Resolution 133 to deal with the problems. The cause came from bad policies, leading to negativity, massive construction of wind and solar power projects that were not in accordance with planning and procedures...

The head of the Government said that according to statistics from localities, the whole country has about 2,200 pending projects. If these projects can be resolved, it could free up about more than 230 billion USD, equivalent to 50% of GDP.

According to the Prime Minister, in order to free up resources for backlogged projects, the Government is developing mechanisms and policies to submit to competent authorities for handling.

He also affirmed the view that it is not necessary to legalize the wrong, but it is necessary to find solutions to handle it, such as handling the institutional and organizational aspects, removing legal obstacles, removing implementation methods...

Notably, the Prime Minister affirmed that handling long-standing backlog projects is a mandatory requirement and cannot be avoided. These are "diseases" of the economy, and like any other disease, to completely cure it, we must accept certain losses and sacrifices.

"To treat an illness, you have to undergo surgery, you have to suffer, or if you treat it with medicine, you have to spend money. You cannot demand to remedy the consequences and demand 100% recovery. You have to accept the loss, accept the pain, accept what has to be cut off," the Prime Minister emphasized.

According to the head of the Government, it is in the process of handling these backlogs that lessons will be learned and policies will be perfected to avoid repeating mistakes in the future.

"Resolving the backlog of projects is something that cannot be avoided. We must accept some loss, consider it as 'tuition', and from there, develop policies and mechanisms, and be determined to resolve and resolve it completely," the Prime Minister emphasized.

According to Nhan Dan Newspaper

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/201356/Thu-tuong-Pham-Minh-Chinh-Viet-Nam-can-giai-phap-dac-biet-cho-thoi-diem-dac-biet.htm