Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc on May 20 reported on the anti-COVID-19 work and key solutions forsocio-economic recovery and development, calling for joint concerted effortsand high resolve to weather difficulties and perform tasks as best as possible.

Addressing the opening sitting of the ninthsession of the 14th-tenure National Assembly, PM Phuc pointed out that in thefirst months of 2020, the international and domestic situation witnessed bigand unprecedented changes due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The globaleconomy has slipped into recession while major partners of Vietnam have beenseriously affected. Almost all sectors in the Vietnamese economy have beenstrongly influenced with many socio-economic activities stagnating.

However, he said, the entire Party, people andarmy have joined hands and exerted all-out efforts to realise the dual targetsof fighting against the pandemic, and maintaining, recovering and developingsocio-economic activities and ensuring people’s livelihoods.

The COVID-19 combat is unprecedented, requiringstrong, synchronous, swift, flexible, timely and effective measures, he said,elaborating that the Government has ordered the pandemic prevention and controlbe implemented in a comprehensive manner that suits the outbreak’sdevelopments.

Response measures have been carried out earlierand at a level higher than recommendations by the World Health Organisation(WHO). Social distancing was imposed adamantly and opportunely, thus effectively stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Thanks to the whole political system’sengagement and the people’s solidarity and unanimity in seriously and effectivelyimplementing the measures, Vietnam has basically put the pandemic undercontrol, PM Phuc said, noting that for the past more than one month, thecountry hasn’t recorded any community infections while the recent confirmedpatients are all imported cases.

Amid this global pandemic, Vietnam has beencooperating closely with other countries and UN organisations, especially theWHO, in developing treatment regimens and vaccines, according to the Governmentleader.

Vietnam has also had many initiatives inexternal relations in this context, he said, adding that as Vietnam is ASEANChair in 2020, the PM issued the Chairman’s Statement on ASEAN CollectiveResponse to the Outbreak of COVID-19 and successfully chaired the special ASEANand ASEAN+3 virtual summits on COVID-19.

The meaningful victories in the fight againstCOVID-19 are the crystallization of patriotism, trust and strength of the greatnational unity bloc, PM Phuc affirmed.

Looking back on socio-economic performance in the first months of 2020,the PM said the COVID-19 pandemic has strongly hit almost all economic sectors.The agricultural sector registered a growth of only 0.08 percent due to exportdifficulties, and industry up only 1.8 percent due to the shortage of inputmaterials as well as problems I export markets. The service sector sufferedfrom severe losses, especially in tourism, restaurant and transportation.

The number of newly-established firms dropped 13.3 percentwhile 33.6 percent of all firms suspended their operations. More than 5 millionworkers have been affected.

PM Phuc reported that the Government and the PM promptlyissued mechanisms and policies in support of businesses and the public, as wellas held online meetings to tackle their difficulties.

He pointed to bright spots in the economic picture,including stable macroeconomic foundation and major balances of the economy,facilitating post-pandemic recovery. The consumer price index in April fell by1.21 percent from December 2019, and regulatory interest rates down 1.5percent, thus ensuring liquidity for credit institutions and the economy.

Despite the challenges caused by COVID-19, the leader saidthe Government still pays attention to socio-cultural development, stepping upadministrative reform, preventing corruption and wastefulness, and enhancingnational defence-security and external activities.

According to him, the Government issued Resolution No.42 onmeasures supporting residents hit by COVID-19 with a total funding of nearly 62trillion VND (2.69 billion USD), along with reducing electricity, water andtelecommunication prices and offering preferential loans to poor households viathe Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

“In the new context that is full of difficulties andchallenges, all of us must reform mindset and working methods for development,improve capability, grasp opportunities, re-organise economic activities, seeknew development models, and make use of the shift of investment and productionin the region and the world,” PM Phuc said.

In addition, it is also necessary to stronglybring into play the role of businesses in all economic sectors and proactivelytake part in economic links and production and value chains generated bynew-generation free trade agreements.

For the rest of 2020 and the following period,aside from pushing ahead with the disease prevention and control, theGovernment will direct the synchronous and drastic implementation of tasks andsolutions for socio-economic recovery and development, he noted.

He emphasised that the country has entered a newdevelopment stage with intertwined challenges and opportunities. In thissituation, the strength of the great national unity bloc and the people’s trustin the Party and State’s leadership need to be further promoted.

PM Phuc called for joint efforts and highresolve to overcome challenges to perform tasks for 2020 and the 2016-2020period as best as possible./.