Determining to control pandemic, successfully fulfil socio-economic development tasks and ensure social security

At the opening of the second plenary session of the 15^th National Assembly (NA) on October 20, following the opening speech by NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented a report on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan of 2021 and draft plan of 2022.

Synchronously implementing measures to tackle difficulties caused by COVID-19

Presenting the report, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in order to tackle difficulties caused by COVID-19, the Government asked ministries, agencies and localities to resolutely implement Government, Party and National Assembly resolutions, policies and action plans as well as adjust fiscal and monetary policies and others in a flexible fashion.

Due to COVID-19, production and business activities and the life of many people face many difficulties, particularly in lockdown and pandemic-hit areas. The resilience of the economy dropped sharply; the number of workers temporarily stopped working and unemployed people increased; the spiritual life and psychology of people are affected, particularly in areas suffering from prolonged social distancing.

In the remaining months of the year, the PM said the Government would focus efforts on pandemic prevention and control in the spirit of giving first and foremost priority to protecting the health and life of the people while drawing up a roadmap on safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of the pandemic to deal with consequences and boost socio-economic development.

Giving first and foremost priority to protecting the health and life of the people

Presenting the draft socio-economic development plan for 2022, PM Chinh said 2022 is a significant year as it creates a foundation for the implementation of the 2021-2025 plan.

The Government defined viewpoints in direction and management tasks as following:

(1) Closely following development viewpoint of the Resolution of the 13^th National Party Congress. Promoting the strength of the national solidarity and political system; upholding the spirit of self-reliance, depending mostly on internal strength.

(2) Giving the first and foremost priority to the health and the life of people; gradually, safely and flexibly adapting to and effectively control the pandemic. Pandemic prevention and control is a regular and long-term task, of which vaccination, testing, isolation and treatment are of special importance.

(3) Effectively preventing and controlling the pandemic while recovering socio-economic development, keeping stable macro-economy, ensuring social security, recovering the labour market and improve the living conditions for people.

(4) Adjusting monetary and fiscal policies flexibly and properly to adapt to the context of prolonged pandemic; focusing on three issues, including recovering and promoting production and business, increasing exports and speed up public investment capital disbursement and mobilise social resources to develop the infrastructure system.

(5) Ensuring political stability and social order and safety; and continuing to enhance national defence and security as well as improve the quality and efficiency of diplomatic activities and international integration.

Removing difficulties, obstacles for businesses

The goals of 2022 are safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of COVID-19, protecting the health and life of people while tapping every opportunity to promote socio-economic recovery and development with comprehensive measures to stimulate the economy, support and tackle difficulties for businesses and people.

The report also sets 16 key targets, mainly in the fields of socio-economy and environment, including a GDP growth rate of 6-6.5 percent, a consumer price index (CPI) average increase of 4 percent, and keep budget overspending around 4 per cent of the GDP.

12 key tasks and solutions in 2022: increasing social insurance coverage

First, focusing on flexibly and effectively implementing the goal of pandemic prevention and control and socio-economic recovery and development.

Second, prioritizing the construction and completion of institutions and organization of law enforcement and focusing on tackling difficulties, simplifying administrative procedures and improving business and investment environment.

Third, restructuring the economy in connection with renewing the growth model, and developing the digital economy and digital society.

Fourth, speeding up the development of a strategic, comprehensive and modern infrastructure system, particularly in transport, energy, digital infrastructure and climate change adaptation.

Fifth, improving education and training quality and increasing scientific research. Approving the education development strategy during the 2021-2030 periods with a vision to 2045.

Sixth, promoting regional linkage and connection between economic zones and urban development.

Seventh, harmoniously and reasonably connecting economic development with social and cultural development, focusing on ensuring social security, creating jobs, reducing poverty and increasing social insurance coverage, particularly voluntary social insurance.

Eighth, effectively managing and using land and natural resources and promoting environment protection. 

Ninth, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of State management.

Tenth, enhancing national defence and security.

Eleventh, effectively and synchronously implementing diplomatic activities and proactively and actively integrating into the globe, contributing to strengthening Viet Nam’s position and prestige in the international arena.

Twelfth, promoting information dissemination to create consensus among the society and improve the effectiveness of the mass mobilization task.

Promoting strength from the community

Presenting a report verifying the outcomes of the Government’s implementation of the socio-economic development plan for 2021, chairman of the NA Committee for Economic Affairs Vu Hong Thanh affirmed that the committee basically agreed with many contents of the report.

The report stresses that amid the context of many difficulties and challenges, with the policy of not exchanging the environment and the health and the life of people for economic growth, many policies and solutions have been issued to cope with the pandemic, ensure social security, support citizens, workers and businesses affected by the COVID-19.

Illustrative image (internet)

The fight against COVID-19 has been carried out in a drastic, comprehensive, and timely manner. The country has actively sped up vaccine diplomacy and quickly established field hospitals and intensive care units to meet pandemic prevention and control demand.

Agencies, localities and particularly frontline forces like medical workers, army and police have tried their best to contribute to pandemic prevention and control. Many creative measures and methods were carried out in some localities helped to promote the strength from the community, contributing to raising public awareness and responsibility for the society.

People’s trust in the Party and State continues to increase and be strengthened. The patriotism was demonstrated by practical and effective activities from different social resources.

The implementation of policies and measures issued recently has resulted in important achievements. The pandemic has so far been basically kept udner control nationwide.

Regarding the draft socio-economic development plan for 2022, the committee agreed with the plan’s general target of “safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of COVID-19, protecting the health and life of people” together with “tapping opportunities to promote socio-economic recovery and development with comprehensive solutions.

Concerning key solutions and tasks in pandemic prevention and control in 2022, the committee suggested the Government to improve forecasting capacity, proactively build scenarios and prepare for all situations.

It is also necessary to build suitable roadmap for the reopening of the economy; consistently follow the target of stable macro-economy; keep the financial and monetary market stable; complete mechanism about the State budget; and cut uncessary expense to focus resources for pandemic prevention and control./.