Hanoi (VNA) – The Government convened its regular meeting, the first sitting in theLunar New Year, in Hanoi on March 1 chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Speaking at themeeting, PM Phuc reviewed the Tet holiday, which lasted from February 14-20, laudingefforts of agencies and sectors to ensure a warm festival for people nationwide.

The leaderexpressed his delight at seeing business activities promptly resuming after thefestival.

Regarding thecountry’s development in February, the PM said despite the week-long holiday,the macro economy, as well as interest and foreign exchange rates remainedstable.

February’sconsumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.73 percent, with food and cateringservices up 1.53 percent. The index in the first two months of this year roseby 2.9 percent year-on-year.

The leader alsocommented on exports in the month, which stood at some 13.4 billion USD,raising the total export value in the two months to 33.6 billion USD, up nearly23 percent year-on-year.

He cited a tradesurplus of 1.08 billion USD as a highlight of the national economy in February.

The PM also recognised achievements in various fields from foreigndirect investment disbursement, business establishment, social welfare andrural development to defence-security.

He mentioned unpredictable developments in theregion and the world and pointed out shortcomings in the domesticsocio-economic situation, including low investment from State budget.

He warned fluctuations in global prices andasked ministries and departments to maximise efforts to curb inflation andensure macro-economic stability. 

Inflation pressure this year could be high dueto tens of billions of USD in foreign investment being poured into the country.Furthermore, Vietnam is one of the 10 biggest recipients of remittances in theworld with 13 billion USD per year, which will make curbing inflation hard, henoted.

Focusing on business production development to create ahealthier environment remains a major requirement for all departments andsectors, the PM stressed.

He urged economic restructuring, increasinglabour productivity, attracting more foreign investment, improving domesticproduction efficiency and better Government policies in socio-economicmanagement in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. 

The PM called for bottlenecks in production forsmall-and medium-sized enterprises to be removed to drive 2018’s growth.

At the meeting, cabinet members discussed thedraft law revising and supplementing some articles of the Law on SpecialAmnesty and bills on cultivation, animal husbandry, urban developmentmanagement and population.-VNA