Socio-economic situation stable in year’s first half: Deputy PM

Hanoi (VNA) – The socio-economic situation was kept stable and recorded positive results in different fields during the first half of 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh told the ongoing first session of the 15th National Assembly (NA) on July 22.

Delivering a report on the implementation of the socio-economic development and State budget plans in the first six months, he said amid the complex COVID-19 situation, the entire Party, people, and army have stayed united and strived to surmount difficulties and challenges to achieve the “twin targets” of fighting the pandemic and boosting socio-economic recovery and development.

The pandemic has been developing complicatedly in the country with the appearance of the Delta variant that is more contagious and dangerous, severely affecting some provinces and cities, especially the southern key economic region, the Mekong Delta and, particularly, Ho Chi Minh City.

Facing that fact, Minh noted, the Party Central Committee (PCC), the Politburo, and the PCC Secretariat have issued conclusions and official dispatches on some key tasks on COVID-19 prevention and control and socio-economic development.

He said Vietnam has proactively cooperated with other countries and international organisations while making use of resources, experience, and other nations’ assistance for the pandemic combat.

Relevant sides have worked hard to remove obstacles to vaccine procurement, development, production, and inoculation. The COVID-19 vaccine fund was also set up and has received strong support from the entire people, businesses, and overseas Vietnamese.

Given the global vaccine shortage, the Party General Secretary, the State President, the NA Chairman and, especially, the Prime Minister, ministries, and sectors have worked with other countries and international organisations via different forms so as to access and purchase vaccine for people, according to Minh.

Regarding tasks for the remaining months, he said the Government is determined to realise the “twin targets”, but the current priority is curbing COVID-19 so as to fuel production and business activities and achieve the set targets at the highest possible level.

The Deputy PM pointed out that all-level authorities, sectors, and localities need to focus on treating serious COVID-19 cases, minimising deaths, and effectively implementing the vaccine strategy.

It is also necessary to tighten control over the exit from and entry into the country, ramp up contact tracing and quarantine and post-quarantine management, and stringently deal with violations, he added./.