Hanoi (VNA) – The Government opened ateleconference on December 28, the biggest annual meeting with provinces andcities, to discuss measures to implement the Party and National Assembly’ssocio-economic resolutions and State budget estimates for 2018.

The event was also attended by General Secretaryof the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, PresidentTran Dai Quang and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. This isthe first time the Party and State leaders have attended a Government meeting.

Opening the one-and-a-half-day event, PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc noted numerous difficulties in the domestic situationalong with complicated international and regional issues in 2017. 

Major countries’ adjustment of their strategies aswell as trade and diplomatic policies affected Vietnam, he said, adding thatnatural disasters in the northern, central, and Central Highlands regionskilled 367 people and caused damage in excess of 60 trillion VND (2.6 billionUSD). 

At the year’s outset, many growth drivers likemining, agriculture, industry and exports encountered difficulties. Themacro-economy also faced pressure from inflation, exchange rates, public debtand non-performing loans, he noted, adding that many called for a revision ofthe economic growth target at that time.

Under the Party’s leadership, the wholepolitical system worked together, while several sectors and localities activelymoved to improve the investment environment, tackle business bottlenecks andmobilise resources for development, the PM said.

As a result, all targets set by the NationalAssembly have been fulfilled, he noted, saying that the economy expanded by6.81 percent – beyond the target of 6.7 percent.


The Government leader also highlighted greaterstability in the macro-economy and considerable improvement of the businessclimate and competitiveness. More than 5,000 administrative procedures wereeliminated. Many ministries and sectors even cut a third or half of theiradministrative procedures.

In 2017, many corruption cases were investigatedand brought to trial, gradually re-gaining the people’s trust, he added.

PM Phuc attributed the outcomes to the effortsof the whole political system under the Party’s leadership, as well as ofpeople and businesses.

He said the Government wants continued andstronger efforts to surpass this year’s achievements. In 2018, it is necessaryto optimise the growth momentum of 2017, promote a comprehensive socio-economicdevelopment programme and boost economic reforms.

At the meeting, participants will look into theGovernment’s performances in 2017, the implementation of Resolutions 19 and 35on improving the investment and business climate and supporting businesses, theimplementation of the Prime Minister’s Directive 16/CT-TTg on improving thecapacity to get access to Industry 4.0, administrative reforms, the settlement ofcomplaints and denunciations and the corruption fight.-VNA