VNHNO - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said that among the 12 targets assigned by the National Assembly (NA) this year, eight are likely to be surpassed and the four others will be met.
During a monthly Government meeting in Hanoi, the PM said this year’s gross domestic product may top 6.7% and State budget collection will be 3-5% higher than the estimate. Meanwhile, public debts are expected to decrease and inflation will be curbed below 4%.
Addressing the meeting, the leader lauded the achievements of the Vietnamese athletes at the on-going Asian Games 2018 with four gold, and many silver and bronze medals. In particular, he stressed that the Olympic football team’s run to the semi-finals was a historical success for Vietnamese sport and football in particular.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (middle) speaking at the event. Photo: VGP
He spoke highly of the Vietnam Innovation Network initiated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Science and Technology and various localities, saying it reflects the Vietnamese Party and State’s attention to talented overseas Vietnamese who want to contribute to the nation.
The leader asked the Cabinet members to give their opinions on 10 contents to be submitted to the legislature at a late October session.
Reviewing the economic performance in August, he said the consumer price index moved up by only 0.45% from July, and is forecast to be below 4% for the year as assigned by the NA.
Also during the month, industry posted growth of 13.4%, retail expanded by roughly 12% and imports-exports went up 14.5%. There were 25 kinds of goods earning more than US$ 1 billion from exports, while the trade surplus hit US$ 2.8 billion.
Investment using State funds climbed 7%, bringing the eighth-month figure to 11.3%. Foreign direct investment topped US$ 19 billion, US$11.5 billion of which was disbursed. Foreign investors’ purchases of shares soared 50.9% to US$5.28 billion.
Foreign investors’ confidence in the Vietnamese economy remains solid despite complex global developments, he said.
The PM expressed his delight that there were more than 67,000 firms established in August, up 2.4% in volume and 6.9% in registered capital. Notably, some 21,000 enterprises resumed operations.
Over the past eight months, the number of poor households fell by 8.7% and the number of poor residents plunged by 40.4%. Departments and agencies also joined together to overcome the aftermath of flooding.
National defence, security and diplomacy have been strengthened, while Vietnam’s prestige in the international arena has improved. International organisations have highly valued the country’s economic growth, he said.
As Vietnam will host the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 in Hanoi in September – the most important external event this year with the leaders of major economies taking part, he assigned the Foreign Ministry, departments and agencies to thoroughly prepare for the event.
Ministries and agencies were also asked to deal with several news agencies’ defamatory broadcasts that have hurt Vietnamese tra fish, a key earner that affects many Vietnamese lives.
Cabinet members were urged to give feedback on the socio-economic development plan for 2019 and orientations to 2019-2021.
Based on the past achievements, he suggested that this year’s growth should be 6.5-6.7%.
In the morning session, participants discussed mechanism building and several draft laws and documents./.
