Prime Minister: Prioritize promoting growth, helping the country continue to develop in any circumstances

Emphasizing the 9 key groups of direction and management in the first 5 months of the year and that we have achieved the greatest results according to the targets assigned by the Central and the National Assembly , Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also pointed out that in the coming time, we need to continue to prioritize the growth target, focus on promoting the 3 driving forces of investment, export, and consumption, remove and handle difficulties and obstacles, and continue to develop the country in any circumstances, trying to make each quarter better than the previous quarter, each year better than the previous year according to the direction of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

On the morning of June 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the regular Government meeting for May 2023. The meeting was connected online to the headquarters of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

9 key groups of direction and administration of the Government and Prime Minister

Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister highly appreciated the reports and 17 opinions of local leaders and members of the Government, and assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Government Office to promptly receive and complete the meeting's Resolution and submit it to the Prime Minister for signing and promulgation.

The Prime Minister stated that over the past 5 months, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministers, and the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities have seriously implemented the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, the resolutions, conclusions, and directions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the National Assembly, closely following the situation to direct and operate resolutely and synchronously.

In particular, focus on preparing contents within the authority and assigned tasks to serve the mid-term Central Conference and the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly (40 reports, submissions, documents in many fields, including 21 laws and resolutions).

Leaders of ministries speak at the regular Government meeting in May 2023 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In total, in the past 5 months, the Government and the Prime Minister held more than 700 meetings, conferences, and foreign affairs activities (including 9 Government meetings, including 4 legal thematic meetings), issued 27 decrees, 101 resolutions, 16 legal normative decisions, 618 individual decisions, 36 dispatches, and 17 directives.

For the first time, the Government organized 26 working groups to work directly with localities to grasp the situation and resolve difficulties and problems; recorded over 1,000 petitions, of which 300 petitions were answered, and over 700 petitions were recorded.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the meeting - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The activities, directions and administration of the Government and the Prime Minister focus on 9 groups of contents.

Firstly, disburse public investment capital, urge key national projects (many large projects will start construction in June 2023).

Second, reduce operating interest rates and lending interest rates, increase access to credit, allow credit institutions to restructure debt, extend debt, and buy back corporate bonds.

Third, extend the deadline for paying taxes and land rents and submit to competent authorities for consideration of reducing taxes and fees, and submit to the National Assembly a 2% reduction in VAT.

Fourth, remove difficulties and obstacles, promote the stock market, corporate bonds and real estate.

Fifth, promote administrative reform, improve the investment and business environment, support business recovery and development (by May 2023, reduce 376 administrative procedures compared to the same period in 2020).

Sixth, handle difficult problems in purchasing drugs and medical supplies.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai speaks - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Seventh, organize conferences to implement the Politburo's resolutions on 6 socio-economic regions associated with investment promotion and planning implementation.

Eighth, organize national online conferences on planning, digital transformation, tourism, economic diplomacy, and implement Project 06 on population database.

Ninth, continue to step by step and thoroughly resolve outstanding issues that have lasted for many years, especially loss-making projects and weak banks...

The Prime Minister acknowledged, commended and highly appreciated the efforts of ministries, branches and localities, together with the political system, to carry out assigned tasks and duties according to their functions, duties and powers.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the reports and 17 opinions of local leaders and members of the Government, and assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Government Office to promptly absorb and complete the meeting's Resolution and submit it to the Prime Minister for signing and promulgation - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Achieve the greatest results according to the Central and National Assembly's assigned goals

Emphasizing the spirit of not beautifying or blackening but seeing the truth clearly and assessing the true nature, the Prime Minister stated that the greatest results achieved according to the goals assigned by the Central and the National Assembly are stabilizing the macro economy, controlling inflation, promoting growth, ensuring major balances, reducing public debt, reducing government debt, and reducing the budget deficit. This is the room for us to continue to exploit in the last months of the year and the coming years.

This is a common achievement of our Party, State, people, and nation, thanks to the leadership of the Central Committee, directly and regularly led by the Politburo and the Secretariat, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the accompaniment of the National Assembly, the participation of the entire political system, the support of the people, the business community, and the support of friends and international partners.

Reports and opinions at the meeting unanimously assessed that the socio-economic situation in May and the first 5 months continued to progress positively with many areas improving compared to April.

Specifically, inflation has been on a downward trend over the months and has been controlled in accordance with the Resolutions of the Central Committee and the National Assembly. Analyzing this further, the Prime Minister stated that there was a time when, when choosing between prioritizing inflation control or promoting growth, we chose to prioritize inflation control so as not to greatly affect people's lives. This was the right choice, especially in difficult times and when prioritizing the goal of controlling inflation, we had to sacrifice part of the growth target.

Along with that, the monetary market and prices are stable; the operating interest rate has decreased 3 times in a row. Exports tend to increase again; compared to April, import-export turnover in May increased by 5.3%, exports increased by 4.3%, imports increased by 6.4%; in total for 5 months, the trade surplus was 9.8 billion USD.

Agricultural production is stable; rice exports in May reached 1 million tons, worth 0.53 billion USD, up 41.1% in volume and 53.1% in value over the same period, in 5 months, nearly 3.9 million tons of rice were exported, equivalent to more than 2 billion USD, up about 40% in volume and about 50% in value over the same period in 2022.

The index of industrial production (IIP) in May increased by 2.2% compared to April and by 0.1% over the same period, of which the processing and manufacturing industry increased by 2.9%.

The service sector continued to grow strongly, with total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue increasing by 1.5% compared to April and 11.5% compared to the same period last year; 5 months increased by 12.6% compared to the same period last year. Tourism recovered quickly, with nearly 4.6 million international arrivals, 12.6 times higher than the same period last year, reaching 57.5% of the yearly plan.

Budget revenue as of May 31 is estimated at VND 782 trillion, equal to 48.3% of the estimate. Public investment implementation reached about VND 177 trillion, of which capital disbursement as of May 31 reached over VND 157 trillion, equal to 22.22% of the plan, equivalent to the same period in 2022 (22.37%), but the absolute number is VND 41 trillion higher.

There were 95,000 newly registered and returning businesses, more than the number of businesses withdrawing from the market (88,000 businesses).

Registered foreign direct investment capital in the first 5 months reached 5.26 billion USD, up 27.8%; realized capital is estimated at 7.65 billion USD, although down slightly by 0.8% compared to the same period in 2022, but higher than the same period in 2019 to 2021 (7.3, 6.7 and 7.15 billion USD, respectively).

People's lives continue to improve. The rate of households assessing income in the month remained unchanged and increased compared to the same period last year at 94.8% (up 0.4 percentage points compared to the reporting period of April 2023).

However, the industrial sector continues to face difficulties, especially electronics, footwear, textiles, and wood products; production and business face many difficulties; budget revenue tends to decrease; access to capital has improved but is still difficult; interest rates have decreased but are still high; bad debt tends to increase; FDI attraction continues to be affected; administrative procedures in some fields, localities, and some levels and sectors are still cumbersome; employment and labor face many difficulties and challenges; climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics are very unpredictable; a number of officials are afraid of responsibility, afraid of making mistakes, and do not dare to do or solve work...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the lesson of maintaining, consolidating and strengthening solidarity, unity, and striving to overcome difficulties; maintaining a steadfast spirit in all situations; strengthening administrative discipline; responding to policies promptly, appropriately and effectively. It is necessary to resolutely end the situation of shirking responsibility; clearly state one's opinions and persistently strengthen decentralization and delegation of power.

The Prime Minister requested that we continue to prioritize growth in the context of inflation being controlled and gradually decreasing, we have room for public debt, government debt, and budget deficit - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Continue to prioritize growth

Assessing that the upcoming situation will continue to have more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, the Prime Minister clearly stated that the goal is to continue to stabilize the macro economy, control inflation, promote growth, ensure major balances, maintain national security and defense, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, prevent and combat corruption and negativity, strengthen foreign affairs and international integration.

Regarding the key tasks, the Prime Minister requested to continue to prioritize growth in the context of inflation being controlled and gradually decreasing, we have room for public debt, government debt, and budget deficit. Operate monetary policy in a certain, proactive, timely, flexible, effective direction, synchronously and effectively coordinated with a reasonable, focused, and targeted expansionary fiscal policy. Focus on removing difficulties, promoting production and business, especially agriculture, services, and expanding the market for industrial production.

The Prime Minister requested Ministers and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities to focus on promoting three growth drivers (investment, consumption, export).

Analyzing more closely, the Prime Minister requested to implement solutions to stimulate consumption, increase domestic aggregate demand, support workers, and strongly develop the domestic market by continuing to exempt and reduce taxes, fees, land rents, extend debt repayment, freeze debt, reduce interest rates, promote, reduce prices, and encourage the priority use of Vietnamese goods....

Regarding investment, promote faster and more effective disbursement of public investment and promote private investment and FDI investment by measures to improve the business environment, promote digital transformation, and minimize administrative procedures.

Regarding exports, strengthen trade promotion, maintain and consolidate existing markets with 15 signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), expand new markets such as the Middle East, India, South America... complete the signing of FTA with Israel and negotiate other FTAs, reduce costs, improve the competitiveness of goods...

The Prime Minister requested Ministers and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities to focus on promoting three growth drivers (investment, consumption, export) - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall resolutely, synchronously and effectively implement the resolutions, conclusions and directions of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government and the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress; resolutely complete the planning work in the third quarter and complete it in the fourth quarter; accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital, implement the recovery program, and three national target programs; focus on site clearance and preparation of materials for key projects and works; accelerate administrative procedure reform at all levels of government; establish working groups, step up the removal of difficulties for production and business; proactively and actively review and have appropriate mechanisms for real estate, construction, industrial and commercial projects in the area, pay attention to social security policies for workers; strengthen discipline and order; handle stagnation with personnel measures.

Regarding ministries and branches , the Prime Minister assigned the State Bank to continue monitoring the implementation of Circulars 02 and 03, and make timely adjustments if problems arise; continue to implement solutions to reduce costs and lending interest rates (both old and new loans); increase access to capital, ensure reasonable credit growth, focus on growth drivers and priority areas; focus on handling weak banks, ensuring liquidity, system safety, and handling bad debts; promote credit packages such as the VND 120,000 billion credit package for social housing development.

The Ministry of Finance shall strengthen the management of budget expenditures, ensure correct, sufficient and timely collection, thoroughly save expenditures, cut down on regular expenditures, especially saving electricity in offices; accelerate VAT refunds and effectively implement the policy of reducing VAT by 2% if approved by the National Assembly; prepare additional policies on tax exemption and reduction, and promote the development of the corporate bond market.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall promptly complete the capital allocation plan; accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital, the recovery and development program, and three national target programs; continue to review and reduce business conditions, creating favorable conditions for people and businesses; strengthen analysis, forecasting, updating, and preparing scenarios to avoid surprises.

The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang to direct agencies to research and develop regulations on decentralization of the three national target programs, with the spirit of increasing decentralization to localities, allocating capital, assigning targets, and controlling efficiency, avoiding the situation where the Central Government implements each project down to each household.

The Ministry of Construction focuses on urging the implementation of Resolution 33 of the Government, removing difficulties for the real estate market, reporting monthly; working with ministries and branches to remove regulations on fire prevention and fighting; effectively implementing the project of 1 million social housing apartments.

The Ministry of Transport focuses on implementing key transport projects, and together with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, promotes and quickly starts public-private partnership projects. The Prime Minister especially noted the promotion of the Long Thanh airport project. If the work is not completed, the responsible person will be replaced. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will directly direct this issue.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade promotes large-scale industrial production projects; reviews and has solutions to stimulate consumer demand; strengthens trade promotion, expands markets, makes the most of existing FTAs ​​and promotes the signing of new FTAs.

The Prime Minister reminded the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the task of implementing the VIII Power Plan and thoroughly handling issues related to projects related to the VII Power Plan in the spirit of harmonizing benefits, sharing risks, classifying, and publicly announcing which projects are qualified or not qualified, and which are not in accordance with regulations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development deploys solutions to ensure food, increase agricultural exports, and strictly implement measures to overcome the IUU yellow card.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment guides and resolves land and environmental problems. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs ensures labor supply and demand, promptly proposes support solutions for workers appropriate to the situation this June.

The Ministry of Health will thoroughly handle the shortage of drugs, medical supplies, and vaccines (the Ministry of Finance has balanced the budget for vaccines). The Ministry of Education and Training will prepare well for the new school year, especially the issue of textbooks; coordinate to handle and prevent drug problems in schools.

The Ministry of Science and Technology will hand over the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park to Hanoi this July. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to remove difficulties for tourism and develop a national target program on culture.

The Ministry of Home Affairs continues to review and promote administrative procedure reform. The Ministry of Justice, together with ministries, branches and localities, reviews and completes regulations to remove difficulties for production and business. The Ethnic Committee focuses on implementing 3 target programs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs performs well in economic diplomacy. The Ministry of Information and Communications thoroughly handles junk SIM cards.

Media agencies have strengthened their traditional work, especially in terms of good models and innovation. The State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises has maximized the capital and assets of 19 state-owned corporations and groups to serve development; actively handled and generated output for the remaining weak projects, especially the TISCO2 project. State-owned corporations and groups have promoted their sense of responsibility and handled outstanding issues.

Requesting ministries and branches to actively resolve difficulties and problems of localities, synthesizing from the reports of 26 Working Groups of the Government and ministries, branches and localities implementing Official Dispatch 470/CD-TTg dated May 26, 2023, the Prime Minister called for the sense of responsibility, public ethics and drastic actions of each individual and each collective to remove and handle difficulties and problems, bringing the country to continue to develop in any circumstances, trying to make the next quarter better than the previous quarter, the next year better than the previous year.

Baochinhphu.vn

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thu-tuong-uu-tien-thuc-day-tang-truong-dua-dat-nuoc-tiep-tuc-phat-trien-trong-bat-cu-hoan-canh-nao-102230603140632328.htm