Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the meeting (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The economic growth target for this year remains unchanged with two scenarios of 6 percent and6.5 percent expansion for this year, affirmed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ata regular Government meeting held in Hanoi on July 1.
The meeting looked back at the socio-economic situation in the first half ofthis year and discussed tasks for the rest of 2021, while reviewing legal regulations that are causing difficulties to COVID-19 prevention andcontrol activities so as to make timely adjustments.
It was reported at themeeting that in the first sixth months of this year, the socio-economicsituation stayed stable with positive results in implementation ofthe “dual targets”.
Gross domestic product(GDP) growth reached 5.64 percent, much higher than the 1.82 percent recorded inthe same period last year, while inflation was kept at a low level and theaverage consumer price index for six months rose 1.47 percent year on year.Total import-export revenue hit 316 billion USD.
However, the reportforecast that Vietnam will continue to face difficulties and challenges in therest of the year, especially when the pandemic is developing complicatedly.
The Government heldthat COVID-19 may continue to prolong and pose adverse impacts on socio-economic situation, with transport and tourism disrupted and social welfare affected.They stressed the need for synergy and consensus of the Government, businessesand people in effectively implementing the “dual targets”.
Concluding themeeting, PM Chinh said that COVID-19 is being under good control, and people's life and businesses' operations are gradually returning to normal. Good signs were seen in othersocio-economic indications, which received positive assessments by internationalfinancial institutions, he noted, adding that the macro-economy was stable andthe CPI was kept at the lowest level in many years, and people’s livelihood wasensured. The defence-security situatio was firmly protected, while external relationshave been strengthened, particularly vaccine diplomacy was implemented actively, hesaid.
The PM also pointed todifficulties and weaknesses as well as reasons behind them. He held that in the timeto come, Vietnam will see both advantages and challenges with greaterdifficulties.
He stressed the needfor the harmonious and appropriate implementation of monetary-fiscal policies and those in other fields to maintain macro-economic stability andsocio-economic development, as well as for the successful realisation of the vaccination strategy,along with optimising advantages from free trade agreements, stimulating domestic demand, developing e-commerce and ensuring energy security.
The Government leaderasked ministries and sectors to keep up with measures to safeguarddefence, security and promote the vaccine diplomacy.
He also called onpeople, enterprises and economic sectors to continue to accompany with andsupport the Party, State and Government in overcoming the current difficultiesand challenges, thus successfully implementing the dual targets of controllingCOVID-19 and boosting socio-economic development at the same time./.
