Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchas asked central and local officials to have a political resolve andaspirations to develop the country in the new period although numerousdifficulties remain.

Concluding a two-day teleconference between theGovernment and localities on December 29, he said the achievements obtained in2016 are respectable, but an array of difficulties are forecast for 2017 regardingnatural disasters, public debt, low economic competitiveness, and unpredictableinternational situation.

To better serve people and businesses, the wholepolitical system must take actions, particularly grass-roots administrationswhich are closest to people, he noted.

“Leaders of ministries, sectors and localitiesmust set aside their own interests to successfully perform the task of economicrestructuring,” he stressed.

PM Phuc asked for efforts to ensure a stablemacro-economy and an inflation of not higher than 4 percent in 2017 which, hesaid, are prerequisites and favourable conditions for sustainable development.

To achieve a growth rate of 6.7 percent nextyear, he requested ministries and sectors to continue tackling businessdifficulties, soon disburse public investment capital, applyscience-technology, and improve productivity and competitiveness.

The ministries and sectors should ensure the quality ofeconomic growth but not at all costs, while protecting the environment, heemphasised.

Ministries, sectors and localities need totimely detect and ask the Government to abolish regulations that hampernational development. They also need to immediately eradicate irrationalregulations which fall within their jurisdiction.

The Cabinet leader ordered the prompt settlementof non-performing loans and public debt and also asked officials at all levelto practice thrift, prevent wastefulness and take into account theeffectiveness when using people’s money.

Localities, ministries and sectors must pushforward with improving the business climate so that Vietnam can be among thetop four ASEAN countries with the best business environment.

State-owned enterprises must be drasticallyrestructured by 2020, he said, adding that the People’s Committee chairpersonsof each locality and each minister must take responsibility for thisrestructuring. They must work to minimise the loss of State asset anddeterminedly handle big loss-making projects.

Ministries, sectors and localities also have topay heed to improving people’s material and spiritual life, the PM stressed.-VNA