Ministries, agencies and localities should do this job frequently and continually, he said.
Reflecting on the January – February socio-economic performance, itwas reported that the total retail value and agricultural productionwere on the rise while industrial production and exports-importsexperienced slight month-on-month decreases due to the nine-day LunarNew Year holiday.
Positive signals were seen in theattraction of official development assistance and foreign directinvestment, and tourism sector as well.
Social welfare continued to be made available to the poor, ethnic minorities and ex-revolutionaries nationwide.
However, Cabinet members also admitted higher incidence of trafficaccidents, especially before and after the holiday, and challenges stillfaced by enterprises.
They proposed a number ofinitiatives to accelerate the pace of equitising State-ownedenterprises, rally domestic and foreign resources for socio-economicinfrastructures, as well as fix laws and mechanisms, towards a fair,transparent and favourable business environment.
Several measures target the increased adoption of technological advancesin production and trading, the expansion of consumption markets ofagro-fisheries, among others.
Concluding themeeting, the PM conceded that the overhaul of administrative proceduresand business climate is on the way, but at a slow pace, while the rateof traffic accidents and crimes remain high.
Healso called for less-useful festivals and superstitious practices to beremoved, considering that Vietnam records 7,000 – 8,000 festivals.
The PM made it clear that the emphasis must be puton clearing business constraints, including taxation, land use, customs,social insurance, and electricity access.
At thesame time, it is a must to stabilise the macro-economy, exchange rates,and lower lending rates, he said, adding that a crackdown on smugglingand counterfeits and faster progress of constructing key buildings isalso a need.
On the economic restructuring,underperforming State-owned enterprises, banks and credit institutionscontinue to undergo shake-ups, so as to ensure that the rate ofnon-performing loans will be brought down to below 3 percent this year.
Ministries, agencies and localities were taskedwith aligning regulations with the socialist-oriented economy which isexpected to be open, transparent and fair.
Thesocialist orientations require a sound use of tools and policies andfair allocation of resources to bring about social and culturalwell-being to all citizens. Take the prices of oil and gas, electricity,coal, health care and education services for example, which he said,should be calculated on a rational basis.
About thesocial issues, he demanded better health care for the public byembracing state-of-the-art medical technologies, addressing hospitalovercrowding, and facilitating use of health insurance by the wholepopulation.
The government leader also took theoccasion to urge the consolidation of national defence-securitycapability, social security and order, and faster internationalintegration, with the negotiations on myriad free trade agreements.
Participants also gave their feedback on draft laws on fees and hydrometeorology.-VNA