PM calls for strengthened implementation of strategic breakthroughs

The breakthroughs he mentioned are perfecting the socialist-oriented market economy institutions, improving human resources and building a synchronous infrastructure system.

Summing up a 1.5-day teleconference between the Government and representatives from 63 localities nationwide on the morning of December 29 in Hanoi, the PM explained that market economy institutions will help mobilise and allocate resources effectively, while a good infrastructure system is a factor in enhancing national competitiveness and improving the investment environment.

To upgrade the infrastructure system, the Government leader suggested creating a mechanism to attract both domestic and foreign investment.

He also emphasised the need to train high-quality human resources, and help businesses in renovating technology.

At the same time, PM Dung reminded the government to continue paying attention boosting socio-cultural development and ensuring social equality and welfare, with the focus on the national target programmes on sustainable poverty reduction and new-style rural area building.

He also called for more attention to ensuring people's rights in order to create consensus in the society and strengthen national unity, as well as additional efforts to ensure defence security and protect national sovereignty.

During the teleconference, Cabinet members answered questions raised by localities' representatives.

Regarding the road map to reduce private vehicles, Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang said that the Government has empowered localities to map out projects to cut down on individual vehicles.

In its project submitted to the Government in late 2013, the ministry designed roadmaps to gradually reduce private vehicles depending on the types of roads and the kinds of vehicles, while boosting the use of public transportation, Thang shared.

Informing participants of the State budget and finance situation, Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said that as of December 26 budget collection reached VND911 trillion (US$40.08 billion), exceeding estimates by 4.2%.

The minister stressed the need to tighten spending management while keeping strict control of public debt and debts of local authorities, in order to ensure the capacity of debt payment in 2016.

World oil prices next year could have huge impact on the budget, so the ministry has devised plans to manage the country's oil prices, he said, suggesting further oil and gas exploration and exploitation.

In terms of economic integration, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said that in 2016-2020, Vietnam would experience more market competition. As such, alongside boosting exports, more attention must be paid to competition on the domestic market.

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh expressed concern about Vietnam's limited awareness of advantages of the ASEAN Community.

While other ASEAN countries are very active in seeking ways to seize opportunities offered by the ASEAN Community, Vietnam remains passive in the process, he stated, asking the ministries, sectors and localities to review policies to facilitate the involvement of businesses and people in the ASEAN Community.

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh proposed boosting production with higher quality and efficiency for active international integration.

He stressed the need to continue equitisation of State-owned enterprises, and restructure agricultural and forest companies, credit institutions and banks.

(Source: Nhandan Online)