PM Dung: Economy shows signs of recovery

He reported encouraging results across all sectors, creating an impetus for development in the remaining months of this year and into 2014.

GDP growth for 2013 is forecast to reach 5.4%, meeting the target that this year's growth rate should be higher than the 5.25% of 2012.

The country has over-achieved on 11 of 15 key socio-economic development targets set by the NA for 2013; narrowly reaching two others and failing to meet two goals.

Based on this, the PM said, the overarching task for 2014 is continuing to strengthen macroeconomic stability and controlling inflation.

He said the Government will continue to ease difficulties in production and business, and speed up economic restructuring linked to raising the growth rate and implementing three strategic breakthroughs.

At the same time, the Government will work to ensure social security and social welfare and improve people's living conditions.

The PM also outlined plans to expand and improve external activities and international integration while strengthening defence, ensuring political security and safety and enhancing the fight against corruption and wastefulness.

Also during the morning session, the National Assembly heard the NA Economic Committee's analysis of the Government report on the socio-economic plan for 2013 and 2014.

The Economic Committee shared the Government's view that the nation's socio-economic situation has undergone improvement and that the overall yearly targets have basically been met.

However, the committee noted that major socio-economic indicators in the last three years have remained lower than the targets set by the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress and the NA Resolution on the 2011-2015 Five-Year Plan. Some members of the committee were of the view that the national economy has yet to escape the difficult period and would not be able to regain a high growth rate in the next two years.

Therefore, the committee suggested that the Government try to ensure investment resources for development with a priority given to production and agriculture in order to support appropriate growth and meet the targets on job generation.

Later, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan presented a report summing up the opinions and proposals of voters.

The mass organisation gathered 1,129 opinions and proposals in the lead up to the NA's sixth session. They focused on five main issues, including amendments and supplements to the 1992 Constitution and the revised law on land, production and living conditions, health care, food safety and environment, traffic and the fight against corruption and wastefulness.

In the afternoon, the deputies listened to a report by the NA Committee for Social Affairs on adjustments to the draft law on employment.

(Source: Nhandannewspaperonline)