Hanoi (VNA) – Resuming and developing socio-economic activities after COVID-19is an urgent task for the country and people, said Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc at a regular cabinet meeting in Hanoi on May 5.

Henoted that global economic growth was negative from January-April due to thepandemic.

Inthe period, Vietnamese ministries and departments focused on carrying out dualtasks of protecting people’s health while fueling economic development.

The government has issued a number of directives and resolutions to removedifficulties for enterprises and ensure welfare policies and social order andsafety.

Asa result, the economy still reported year-on-year growth of 3.82 percent.

TheInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) evaluated that Vietnam will enjoy the highestgrowth in Southeast Asia this year, which is projected at 2.7 percent, said PM Phuc.

Headded that the country aims to achieve a higher rate as sectors and businessesresume operations while taking drastic safety measures.

Thegovernment leader requested that along with attaining the highest growth possible,it is necessary to curb inflation below 4 percent, while developing businessesand promoting infrastructure construction. Especially, transport projects mustbe kicked off and have the investment form shifted from public-privatepartnership to public investment.

Besides,greater attention should be paid to social issues, including the upcoming highschool entrance exam, the implementation of an aid package worth 62 trillionVND (2.6 billion USD), and socio-economic development projects for ethnicminorities.

PMPhuc emphasised the need to disburse 700 trillion VND (over 29.7 billion USD) ofpublic investment in 2020, while ordering ministries, sectors and localities towork hard to realise the plan. 

The PM mentioned the country’s achievements in containing theCOVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the drastic, synchronous and timely directionof the Party and the State, and joint efforts of the entire political systemand people in the fight against the disease.

The pandemic has been basically controlled without zero deaths, he said.

He noted that in recent online international conferences andtelephone talks, leaders of other countries and international organisationshighly valued Vietnam’s effective COVID-19 response measures.

ThePM lauded the sense of responsibility of agencies and sectors, and the publicsupport for fighting the pandemic.

About2 trillion VND (85.1 million USD) has been mobilised in response to thecampaign launched by the PM and the President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front CentralCommittee to support the battle against the disease.

However,it is necessary to maintain vigilance, he reiterated, adding that theGovernment will convene a meeting this week to put forth measures to continuecontaining the epidemic, while facilitating business and production.

Duringthe meeting, Cabinet members will look into the socio-economic situation inApril and the first four months of this year, the fight against COVID-19, and thedraft resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee on principles,criteria and quota of public investment allocation from the state budget for2021-2025, among others.

Vietnam recorded no new COVID-19 infections in the community on May 5, making it 19 days in a row since April 16 without new cases, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Among the total 271 cases, 131 were imported and quarantined right after their arrival in the country.

To date, 221 patients have been given the all-clear. The remainders are being treated at medical facilities nationwide. Most of them are in stable condition. Ten tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 once and 11 negative twice or more.

Some 25,625 people having close contact with the patients or entering from pandemic-hit countries are under quarantine at hospitals, concentrated quarantine areas, or at home./.