The government’s regular meeting concluded on July 1 after two days of
sitting, giving comments to the country’s socio-economic,
security-defence and external relations performance in June and the
first six months of this year, and drawing out directions for the rest
of the year.
Leaders of many localities nationwide
asserted that besides a number of achievements, including a GDP growth
of 5.18 percent in the first half of this year, the country’s
socio-economic situation still faced certain difficulties.
They pointed out that business and production still saw obstacles,
with a high number of enterprises being dissolved and low credit growth,
coupled with slow disbursement of State budget and capital from
government bonds.
At the same time, a number of
domestic and foreign-invested firms in several localities were affected
by the recent incidents caused by some extremists taking advantage of
local workers’ protest against China’s illegal placement of its oil
rig in Vietnamese waters to damage the enterprises’ property, they
said.
It crucial to design effective measures to
ensure macro-economic stability and better control inflation, they said,
adding that socio-economic goals set earlier for 2014 should not be
adjusted.
It is also necessary to focus more on
easing difficulties for business, providing support to the expansion of
markets, especially export ones, and capital for prioritised areas, and
speeding up the process of restructuring State-owned enterprises.
Together with further improving investment environment, it is
important to remove obstacles facing investors and broaden markets to
avoid depending on any certain market.
More support
policy should be designed for investors in rural areas, while more
investment made to national target programmes, especially that on
sustainable poverty reduction, they said.
Regarding
China ’s illegal placement of drilling rig Haiyang Shoyou-981 in
Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, they held that
the government and the Prime Minister have made drastic and systematic
response measures in accordance with international law to resolutely
demand China withdraw the rig out of Vietnam ’s waters.
An environment of peace and stability has been maintained to serve the country’s socio-economic development, they stated.
Meanwhile, the security, property and safety of enterprises and
investors have been ensured, while effective and timely support rolled
out for affected firms so that they could resume their operations.
Leasers of some localities proposed that the
Government should take more measures to actively cope with unexpected
negative situation in economic, trade and investment relations with
China, while issuing special assistance policies for fishermen and
mobilising international community’s support in safeguarding national
sovereignty.
It needs to provide law enforcement forces at sea with more equipment to enhance their capacity, they said.
President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Dang Ngoc
Tung suggested that the Government should pay a special attention to
the diversification of markets to prevent dependence on any single
economy, thus avoiding risks.
Concluding the
meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung hailed efforts by the entire
Party, army and people to the socio-economic achievements in the first
half of this year despite challenges and difficulties, particularly
China’s illegal placement of its rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in the
exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam.
Vietnam has maintained a high economic growth, macro-economic
stability with controlled inflation, monetary market and foreign
exchange rate, and increased foreign currency reserves, thus ensuring a
balance for state budget, boosting export and reducing the poverty rate,
the PM said.
Besides, Vietnam resolutely safeguard its
sovereignty by peaceful measures in accordance with international law
while affirming the country’s stance of demanding China to pull its oil
rig from Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.
The
measures to solve the issue are applauded by all people and
international community, he said, adding that countries around the world
have raised their voice to support Vietnam’s justice and condemn
illegal acts by China.
The PM elaborated on the tasks for the
second half of this year, asking ministries and localities to keep a
close watch on the situation and report to the Government in the context
that the world economic and political situation remains complicated and
the country is struggling against China ‘s acts in the East Sea.
He
asked for utmost efforts to safeguard sea and island sovereignty by
ways conforming to international law while successfully implementing
goals and targets set earlier this year without adjustments to
socio-economic development targets.
The leader emphasised three
major goals, particularly safeguarding the sea and island sovereignty
and demanding China to immediately withdraw its illegal rig from
Vietnam’s waters.
Ministries and localities must continue to
take measures to ensure normal relations, promote economic ties, trade
and investment with China for the common benefits of both sides
while considering plans in response to disadvantages arising in specific
economic cooperative ties between the two countries.
He asked
ministries and localities to build and operate an independent, self
-reliant and globally integrated economy while expanding markets for
import and export activities and fully tapping trade agreements and
international commitments.
The second goal is to keep
politics-security stability and social order to serve the country’s
construction and development, avoiding turbulences caused by extremists
who take advantage of sovereignty protection to violate law and damage
firms’ estates.
The PM said the third goal is to realise the country’s GDP growth of 5.8 percent in 2014.
He
instructed ministries and localities to complete regulations and
institutions, improve investment climate and raise state management
effectiveness.
They need to promote international integration,
ease difficulties for businesses, while implementing sustainable poverty
reduction measures, especially among ethnic minority people, he said.
Economic
restructuring should be strictly carried out with focus on weak banks
to ensure security and safety for the banking system, he said, adding
that agricultural restructuring needs to be accelerated along with
building new-style rural areas.-VNA