In his opening speed, NA Chairman Nguyễn Phú Trọng stressed that during this year-end session, the NA will focus on many essential issues, especially deciding the plan on socio-economic development and State budget estimate for 2009.

Following the Chairman’s address, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng presented the Government’s report on socio-economic situations in 2008 and duties in 2009 , clearly pointing out some weaknesses, drawing many practical lessons, and putting forth eight solutions for socio-economic development next year. Inflation curbing continues to be given top priority.

On the basis of the achievements gained over the past nine months and predictions for the last quarter, the Government chief asserted that many initial positive changes have been made in fulfilling the socio-economic development plan 2008. At the same time, he outspoke some weaknesses and pointed out practical lessons.

Mentioning overall goals of socio-economic development in 2009, the PM highlighted the tasks of reining in inflation, minimizing negative impacts of the global financial crisis and economic recession, ensuring the macroeconomic stability, maintaining social security, sustainable growth, political stability, national security and social safety, so as to successfully realize the five-year socio-economic development plan 2006-2010.

According to the Government chief, to fruitfully fulfill these overall goals, it is necessary (1) to put into reality policies on monetary, fiscal year, investment, export and import while consolidate the safety of the financial and banking system, then reduce inflation rate to below 15% next year and obtain the one-digit rate in 2010; (2) to continue existing policies and issue new proper ones to on social security and poverty reduction; (3) to make full use of the country’s potentialities, promote international cooperation and economic integration; (4) to pay attention to stability and quality of growth through improving planning work, doing effective investment, applying technological advances, saving materials and energies in production and business, and increasing the competitiveness of products, enterprises and the economy; (5) to attach greater importance to agricultural and rural development, speed up the economic restructuring in agriculture and countryside, so as to improve material and spiritual life of rural residents; and (6) to clear all “obstructs” of growth and facilitate production and investment attraction, improving the qualification of human resource, considering it the most fundamental competitiveness and a immutable requirement in an increasingly globalization and rapidly-changing world.

In the Government’s report gives top priority to curbing inflation. Other solutions include to lift all difficulties and mobilize available resources to maintain growth rate and boost up production and business activities; to enhance export and put import in control in order to narrow the trade gap; to realize the Party’s Resolution on agriculture, peasantry and countryside; to effectively implement policies on social security and poverty reduction; to increase State budget-used investments and further engage the society in health care, education, culture and environment protection; to accelerate administrative reforms and anti-corruption; and to push up diplomatic operation, national defense, social safety and order.

By Xuân Hồng