He said the Government would focus on stabilising the macro-economy, boosting investment, while increasing production, trade and economic restructuring.

Under the plan, the Government would introduce a flexible monetary and financial policy, while controlling trade deficit and curbing inflation. He also said the Government would boost social welfare, education and training standards and environmental protection, and concentrate on minimising the effects of natural disasters and climate change.

Dung ordered ministries, sectors and localities to take more responsibility for implementing their entrusted tasks to realise Party, National Assembly and Government directives, resolutions and policies.

He said leaders should base decisions on local needs, while making accurate socio-economic development forecasts and also asked ministries and sectors to co-operate more closely.

At the meeting, officials also heard reports on the achievements and shortcomings in the implementation of the 2009 socio-economic plan.

From the first quarter of the year, the Government proposed that the Politburo and the National Assembly approve adjustments in policies from curbing inflation to preventing economic recession and maintaining reasonable growth, while attaching greater importance to macro-economic stabilisation and social security.

Officials heard that the Government had implemented a timely economic stimulus package, which had helped to create jobs and secure growth.

The Government also delayed revoking the advance capital programme and funnelled money from the State budget into urgent projects.

In coping with fast development changes, in the final months of the year the Government focused on supporting lower-interest rates.

During the global economic downturn, the Prime Minister authorised interest rate subsidies of 4 per cent for medium-and long-term loans to encourage investment.

As a result, the CPI for the whole year was only 6.88 per cent. While the world economy contracted, Viet Nam was one of the few countries to report positive growth of 5.32 per cent.

Industrial production and construction increased by 5.32 per cent, services by 6.63 per cent and agriculture-forestry-fishery production, by 1.83 per cent.

Coupled with curbing a recession, the Government ensured it maintained support for the social welfare system, while implementing a number of hunger-eradication and poverty-reduction programmes.

Total financial support for the country’s 62 poorest districts reached VND10.7 trillion (US$590 million), 1.8 times higher than that for the previous year.

The number of poor households decreased to 12.3 per cent.

The Government also invested in national defence and security, as well as social order. It also implemented administrative reforms and boosted its fight against corruption.

The Prime Minister said he highly appreciated the great contribution made by the mass media, particularly the Vietnam News Agency, Viet Nam Television, Radio Voice of Viet Nam and Nhan Dan newspaper.

However, the Government also acknowledged the Government’s shortcomings when it came to giving guidance on socio-economic policies and protecting the environment.

Source: VietNamNet/Viet Nam News