Hanoi (VNA) – Optimising all opportunities, even thesmallest, to create development breakthroughs is one of the central tasks setfor the Ministry of Planning and Investment in 2019, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung hassaid.

Breakthroughs are necessary to complete the 2016-2020 socio-economicdevelopment plan, the official said at a teleconference in Hanoi on January 16.

Vietnam should make thorough preparations for stronger connectivity betweendomestic and foreign businesses as the country has become an attractivedestination for foreign investors, he suggested.

“Vietnam must be consistent in pursuing short- and long-term targets as well assolutions towards development breakthroughs, not only in 2019 but also in theyears to come, while also striving for the upper middle-income status, economicprosperity, environmental sustainability, and social equality and progress,” hestressed.

According to the official, the ministry will also focus on breakthroughs inworkforce development, especially in the private economic sector, and economicrestructuring in tandem with growth model reform and the improvement of growthquality, productivity, and competitiveness of the national economy.

The ministry aims to make marked changes in the structure of each sector aswell as the public investment structure, he added, stressing the need todevelop the infrastructure system synchronously on the basis of the efficiencyof public-private partnerships.

Dung also called for greater efforts to promptly form national innovationcentres; step up the operation of innovation networks; promote smart productionmodels for urban areas, green growth, and clean energy; and enhance thecountry’s resilience and adaptation to climate change.

Localities that play the role of economic locomotives, especially Hanoi and HoChi Minh City, need to make breakthroughs in growth, he said, adding thateconomic spearheads should be developed based on the achievements of the FourthIndustrial Revolution.

The minister said the national gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 7.08percent in 2018, in addition to the stable macro economy and controlled inflationamidst the world’s financial and commercial uncertainties, have reflected theresilience of the domestic economy.

Given the opportunities and challenges ahead, Vietnam should be persistent inpursuing its aim of reform, standing ready to cope with fluctuations and consolidatethe independence and self-reliance of the economy towards prosperity andsustainability, he said. –VNA