Accelerate, break through, and bring the country steadily into the era of growth.

Hai Duong e-newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the Prime Minister's article:

The important, comprehensive and outstanding results achieved in all fields in the context of more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages in 2024 affirm the outstanding efforts, steadfast will and iron determination to continue to comprehensively promote the cause of innovation of the entire Party, people and army; thereby consolidating the foundation and creating a strong driving force to strive to successfully implement the 2025 Socio-Economic Development Plan, contributing to the highest completion of the goals and tasks of the 2021-2025 period, bringing the country firmly into a new era - the era of striving to develop richly, civilized and prosperous of the Vietnamese people.

I.In 2024, the world situation continues to evolve rapidly and complicatedly, with many unprecedented issues beyond forecasts; strategic competition between major countries is fierce; military conflicts escalate in many places; political instability in some countries; global economic, trade and investment recovery is slow, uneven and unstable; non-traditional security issues, climate change, energy security, food and cyber security are increasingly serious.

Domestically, opportunities, advantages and difficulties, challenges are intertwined, but difficulties and challenges are greater; the economy continues to suffer "double effects" from unfavorable external factors and internal limitations and shortcomings that have lasted for many years; while natural disasters, storms and floods cause great damage to production, business and people's lives.

In that context, with the spirit of making outstanding efforts to "turn danger into opportunity", "change the state, turn the situation around"; with the motto of "discipline, responsibility, proactiveness, acceleration of innovation, sustainable efficiency", "only discuss action, no retreat"; right from the first days of 2024, the Government and the Prime Minister have directed all levels, sectors and localities to focus on implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, resolutions and conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat and the National Assembly; proactively, flexibly, closely following reality, synchronously and effectively implementing the tasks and solutions set out in all fields; in which priority is given to promoting growth associated with maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major balances of the economy; focusing on removing institutional and legal obstacles and bottlenecks; speeding up the progress of key infrastructure projects; Focus on the tasks of cultural and social development, natural disaster prevention, and environmental protection; strengthen the fight against corruption, negativity, and waste; strengthen national defense and security; promote foreign affairs and international integration; and at the same time grasp the situation and respond promptly and effectively to external fluctuations.

Thanks to the high determination, great efforts, and drastic actions of the entire political system, people, and business community under the leadership of the Party, which is regularly and directly led by the Politburo, the Secretariat, headed by the General Secretary, our country's socio-economic situation continues to recover positively, with a trend of improvement every month and every quarter, and in 2024, all 15 main targets will be achieved and exceeded, including outstanding results in many fields, highly appreciated by the people of the whole country and the international community.

Vietnam continues to be a bright spot in growth and is among the countries with high growth rates in the region and the world. GDP growth for the whole year is estimated at about 7%; economic scale is about 470 billion USD; economic structure continues to shift positively; the proportion of the agricultural sector is about 11%. Growth quality has improved; labor productivity growth is estimated at 5.7%, exceeding the set target; the economic freedom index has increased by 13 places, to 59/176 countries and territories [1].

Vietnam is highly appreciated for controlling inflation and maintaining macroeconomic stability in the context of strong fluctuations and many difficulties in the world. The average consumer price index in 2024 will increase by about 3.6%, while still implementing salary increases and increasing prices of some items managed by the State.

Major balances of the economy were ensured; total import-export turnover reached a record, along with a record agricultural export of over 62 billion USD; trade surplus was estimated at about 24 billion USD, contributing to improving the international balance of payments.

Thanks to the positive economic recovery and strengthening, improving the efficiency of tax management, the total state budget revenue exceeded the estimate by 19% (about 320 trillion VND), contributing to supplementing resources for development investment; public debt, government debt, national foreign debt and state budget deficit were lower than the prescribed limit [2].

Vietnam continues to be a safe and attractive destination for international businesses, partners and investors; among the 15 developing countries attracting the largest foreign investment capital in the world, reaching about 40 billion USD, of which realized FDI capital is about 25 billion USD; is one of the 20 economies with the largest trade scale in the world with 17 FTAs, becoming an important link in regional and global supply chains.

Vietnam is in the process of strongly transforming into a digital economy, green economy, high technology, environmentally friendly; in particular, it has established an important position in the global semiconductor industry chain, attracting many large technology corporations. The national brand value in 2024 will reach 507 billion USD, ranking 32/193, up 1 place compared to 2023.

Strategic breakthroughs have been focused on and implemented resolutely and achieved many clear results. Focusing on reviewing and perfecting institutions and laws; the National Assembly has passed many laws and resolutions to remove difficulties, obstacles and bottlenecks for development in various fields [3].

The development of strategic infrastructure systems has been comprehensively promoted; over 2,000 km of expressways have been put into operation; the 500 kV Line 3 Project from Quang Binh to Hung Yen has been completed in a record short time of 6 months; and national railway projects have been focused on preparing and urgently implementing.

Human resource development has changed positively; science and technology, innovation, and startups have been strongly promoted. The Global Innovation Index in 2024 ranked 44/132 countries and territories, up 2 places compared to 2023.

Planning work has been promoted; all 111 sectoral, sectoral, provincial and national planning have been approved and implemented; at the same time, focusing on handling backlog, ineffective and prolonged projects [4]; contributing to unlocking resources, combating waste, creating new space and motivation for development.

Cultural and social development is focused on; social security is ensured; people's lives continue to improve. The multidimensional poverty rate has decreased to about 1.9%; the average income of workers has increased by about 7.4%; the happiness index has increased by 11 places, ranking 54/143[5]; the sustainable development index (SDGs) has ranked 54/166 countries and territories, up 1 place compared to 2023[6]. Timely overcoming the consequences and supporting people affected by storm No. 3 with beautiful, touching, and warm images and gestures of "national love and compatriot love" across the country.

Administrative reform and anti-corruption work continue to be promoted. Focus on simplifying and cutting down administrative procedures; promoting decentralization and delegation of power; seriously and effectively implementing the policy of streamlining the organizational apparatus.

Strengthen inspection, examination, and settlement of complaints and denunciations; improve the effectiveness of handling corruption and negativity, not allowing them to affect socio-economic development, contributing to consolidating and enhancing people's trust.

National independence and sovereignty are maintained; national defense and security potential is enhanced; foreign affairs and international integration are promoted; the country's prestige and position continue to be enhanced. The national defense posture, the people's security posture associated with the people's hearts posture are strengthened and consolidated; the defense industry has achieved many positive results. Political security and social order and safety are maintained.

International cooperation continues to be promoted and upgraded [7], economic diplomacy is focused on; a favorable foreign situation is created; contributing to maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developing environment.

II.We are happy and excited about the outstanding achievements and results achieved in 2024, but we also frankly acknowledge that there are still limitations, inadequacies, difficulties and challenges that need to be continued to be focused on, resolved and resolved promptly and effectively in the coming time.

In particular, macroeconomic stability still has potential risks, the pressure on management of exchange rates, interest rates, and inflation is still large, especially in the face of adverse external impacts. The production and business situation in some areas is still difficult; market purchasing power recovers slowly and is unclear. The implementation of some infrastructure projects is still stuck; disbursement of public investment capital has not met requirements.

Institutions and laws are still "bottlenecks of bottlenecks"; the thinking of law-making is still more about management than about development; processes and procedures still have shortcomings. Some legal regulations, mechanisms and policies are slow to be amended and supplemented to suit practical requirements.

Decentralization and delegation of power are still entangled, there are still many specific tasks at the central level; administrative procedures and business conditions in some areas are still cumbersome and congested. Waste still exists in many sectors and fields, causing many consequences, reducing resources, increasing cost burdens, creating barriers, and missing opportunities for the country's development.

Human resource development, especially high-quality human resources, has not met development requirements and has not contributed to creating breakthroughs in productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy. The development gap between regions, areas and social classes has not improved much; the lives of a segment of the population are still difficult.

Solving serious environmental pollution, traffic congestion, and flooding in big cities is still slow. Climate change, natural disasters, storms, floods, landslides, inundation, subsidence, and drought are unpredictable, causing serious consequences. High-tech crime, online fraud, and security and order in some areas are complicated...

The above limitations, shortcomings, difficulties and challenges have both objective and subjective causes. The main objective causes are the complicated and unpredictable world situation with many difficulties and challenges; the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to have negative impacts; meanwhile, natural disasters, storms and floods, especially storm No. 3 (Yagi), have caused serious consequences.

The subjective causes are that discipline and order are sometimes not strict in some places; decentralization and delegation of power in some areas are still problematic; some cadres avoid, shirk responsibility, and are afraid of responsibility; situational awareness, advice, and policy responses in some cases are not timely and effective, and development opportunities have not been fully exploited; the spirit of efforts to overcome difficulties, self-reliance, and self-reliance of some agencies, units, and a number of cadres and civil servants is not high...

Based on the analysis and assessment of the situation in various fields and from the practical experience of leadership and direction, we can draw some valuable and profound lessons, contributing to supplementing and perfecting the thinking, methodology, policy orientation and implementation organization in the coming time.

Firstly, the strength of great national unity under the leadership of the Party is an invincible strength, a fundamental factor for sustainable development, a fulcrum to overcome all difficulties; it is necessary to promote the spirit of self-reliance, self-strengthening, and efforts to innovate and rise up of the entire nation; always put the interests of the nation, the people and the interests of the people above all else.

Second, we must have a breakthrough development mindset, strategic vision, foresight, broad-mindedness, deep thinking, and big-mindedness; do one thing at a time; value time, intelligence, creativity, decisiveness, and timing. Focus on grasping the situation, responding to policies flexibly, promptly, and effectively; be proactive, flexible, and creative in implementing the Party and State's guidelines, policies, and guidelines.

Third, we must focus on unblocking, mobilizing, allocating and effectively using all resources; taking internal resources as fundamental, strategic, long-term and decisive and external resources as important, necessary and breakthrough; maximizing the potential, strengths, intelligence and mettle of the Vietnamese people.

Fourth, we must pay special attention to ensuring social security, improving the material and spiritual life of the people; taking people as the center, the subject, the goal and the most important resource and driving force for development; not sacrificing progress, social justice, and environmental protection to pursue economic growth alone, "leaving no one behind".

Fifth, it is necessary to strengthen discipline and order, promote decentralization and delegation of power associated with resource allocation and strengthen inspection, supervision and control of power; drastically reform administrative procedures; resolutely and persistently eliminate the "request - grant" mechanism; step up the fight against corruption, waste and negativity, contributing to strengthening trust among the people and the whole society.

III.In the coming time, the world and regional situation is forecast to continue to develop in a complex and unpredictable manner; the world economy will recover slowly, risks will increase, and the trend of separation and polarization will become increasingly evident.

In the country, besides favorable factors, the economy continues to recover, new policies, mechanisms and strategies continue to have positive effects; but difficulties and challenges are still very large, especially from unfavorable external factors and long-standing internal limitations and shortcomings; non-traditional security factors, natural disasters, climate change, resource depletion, population aging have increasingly serious impacts and influences; while our country is a developing country, the economy is in the process of transformation, the scale is still modest, openness is high, resilience and competitiveness are limited.

The year 2025 is of special significance, a year of acceleration and breakthrough to reach the finish line to successfully implement the 5-year socio-economic development plan 2021-2025, a year of many important events for the country - the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Party, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, the reunification of the country, the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the country and the year of holding Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Party Congress, opening a new era - the era of striving, developing richly, civilizedly and prosperously for the nation, as General Secretary To Lam has directed.

To successfully achieve the strategic goal of becoming a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030, and a developed country with high income by 2045; from 2025, we must make maximum efforts, create breakthrough factors to attract investment, strongly promote production and business, strive to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% or higher in favorable conditions; on that basis, create a solid foundation to achieve double-digit growth from 2026.

The country in historical times needs historic decisions. The implementation of the strategic goals of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country is a challenging but also glorious mission for our generations today and tomorrow, a connecting point between the past, present and future, a prerequisite for the country to escape the middle-income trap and become a developed country.

We can absolutely do it with innovative thinking, high determination, great efforts, drastic actions, breakthrough solutions, effective methods, timely, flexible and effective implementation. Focusing on realizing the country's distinct potentials, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages, each level, each sector, each agency, unit, enterprise, and each Vietnamese citizen needs to promote the spirit of solidarity, unity, and consensus, "dare to think, dare to do, dare to break through for the common good"; "what is said is done, what is committed is done; what is done, what is done must be effective, measured and quantifiable"; thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the motto "The Party directs, the Government is unified, the National Assembly agrees, the people support, the Fatherland expects, then only discuss and do, not back down, do each thing and do it right, finish each thing".

Each level, each sector, each agency, unit, enterprise, and each Vietnamese citizen needs to promote the spirit of solidarity, unity, and consensus, thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the motto "The Party directs, the Government is unified, the National Assembly agrees, the people support, and the Fatherland expects, then only discuss and do, not back down, do each task properly, and complete each task".

The Resolution of the 13th Party Congress, the resolutions and conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, the National Assembly, the Government, and the direction of the Prime Minister have clearly demonstrated the tasks and solutions in all fields and need to be implemented synchronously, comprehensively and effectively by all levels, sectors and localities in the spirit of "clear people, clear work, clear responsibilities, clear deadlines and clear results"; focusing on the following key contents:

1.Continue to focus on perfecting institutions and laws to truly be a "breakthrough of breakthroughs", creating momentum for national development in the spirit of "open policies, smooth infrastructure, smart governance". Pay special attention to innovative thinking, development creation, and creating new development space.

Innovate, digitize, publicize, be transparent, and improve the efficiency of all types of markets; synchronously implement solutions to restore and develop the real estate market healthily and soon upgrade the stock market.

Resolutely reorganize the apparatus in the direction of "Refined - Lean - Strong - Effective - Effective - Efficient" associated with restructuring and improving the quality of the staff and civil servants in the spirit of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW; have specific policies, creating favorable conditions for staff and civil servants to dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility for the common interest.

Continue to promote reform, simplify administrative procedures, build e-Government, implement Project 06; effectively implement solutions to improve the investment and business environment, ensuring regional and international competitiveness.

2.Continue to prioritize strongly promoting economic growth associated with macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, and ensuring major balances of the economy.

Improve analytical and forecasting capacity; proactively, promptly, flexibly, harmoniously and effectively manage fiscal and monetary policies to unblock, mobilize and effectively use resources, especially among the people.

Focus on renewing traditional growth drivers, especially solutions to stimulate investment, consumption, and exports; at the same time, create breakthroughs to promote new growth drivers, especially digital transformation, green transformation, and develop emerging industries and fields such as semiconductor chips, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, etc.

3.Focus on developing a synchronous and modern strategic infrastructure system; accelerate key projects; connect the expressway system with airports and seaports; urgently deploy high-speed railways and urban railways; strive to complete 3,000 km of expressways and over 1,000 km of coastal roads by the end of 2025.

Strongly develop digital infrastructure, urban infrastructure, culture, society, education, healthcare, sports, etc.; research and effectively exploit underground space, marine space, and outer space.

4.Promote industrialization, modernization, and economic restructuring associated with growth model innovation towards enhancing the application of science and technology, improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness.

Strongly develop potential and advantageous agricultural, industrial and service sectors and fields, applying high technology, in the direction of greening, efficiency and sustainability; reduce logistics costs; awaken potential and strongly develop various types of tourism.

Improve the operational efficiency of state-owned corporations and groups; develop policies to encourage the strong development of private enterprises; promote selective attraction of foreign investment; participate more deeply in regional and global value chains.

5.Clearly identify and have breakthrough mechanisms, policies, and solutions at both strategic and tactical levels so that high-quality human resources, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation are truly the top national policies in the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, creating breakthroughs, flying high, and reaching far in the effort to "catch up, move forward, accelerate, break through, and surpass", putting the country on the trajectory of rapid and sustainable development. Focus on reviewing, having breakthrough mechanisms and policies to improve the quality of education and training, and promote labor productivity growth.

Promote national digital transformation, develop an innovation ecosystem, motivate and inspire the business community, entrepreneurs, Vietnamese people at home and abroad, especially the young generation of Vietnam to take the lead and rise strongly.

6.Focus on developing culture in harmony with the economy and society; build mechanisms and policies for developing cultural and entertainment industries; build a comprehensive system of Vietnamese human values; effectively implement policies for people with meritorious services, social protection, ensure social security, and sustainable poverty reduction; focus on ethnic and religious policies, promote the spirit of "religion and ethnicity", and live "a good life and a good religion".

Effectively implement national target programs on new rural construction, sustainable poverty reduction, socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, cultural development and drug prevention and control.

Promote the emulation movement "Join hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide by 2025"; strive to soon complete over 100,000 social housing units.

7.Strengthen the fight against corruption, waste and negativity. Continue to improve institutions, overcome loopholes and inadequacies in mechanisms, policies and laws. Enhance publicity, transparency and accountability; effectively control assets and income of people with positions and powers. Continue to strengthen inspection, examination and strict handling of acts of corruption, negativity and waste.

8.Continue to consolidate and strengthen national defense and security; maintain independence, sovereignty and national interests; promote the development of defense industry and dual-use security industry; ensure political security and social order and safety.

Strengthening solutions to curb crime, striving to reduce 5% of social order crimes; ensuring traffic order and safety; focusing on improving the effectiveness of fire and explosion prevention and control.

9.Improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs and international integration; continue to deepen relations with partners, making them more practical, effective, and intertwined with interests. Improve the quality of strategic advice and forecasting, proactively respond and protect the Fatherland early, from afar, before it is in danger. Strongly promote economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and people-to-people exchanges to serve national development.

10.Strengthen information and communication work, especially policy communication; increase propaganda, encouragement, and replication of good models, creative ways of doing things, good people, and good deeds.

Improve the effectiveness of propaganda and mass mobilization work, closely coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, and people's organizations, contribute to creating social consensus, consolidate the great national unity bloc, and strive to comprehensively fulfill the set socio-economic development goals and tasks.

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The tasks set for 2025 and the coming time are very heavy. Promoting the achievements after nearly 40 years of renovation; with the spirit of solidarity, unity, high sense of responsibility, self-reliance and self-improvement of the entire political system, people and business community under the leadership of the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam, our country will definitely overcome all difficulties and challenges, strive to successfully implement the socio-economic development goals and tasks in 2025, contributing to the highest completion of the 5-year socio-economic development plan 2021 - 2025.

We firmly believe that the Vietnamese intelligence and mettle, which have been tested through our nation's heroic history of thousands of years of struggle to build and defend the country, will continue to shine to bring our country to new heights, achieving even greater achievements in the era of national growth, development, wealth, civilization, and prosperity, bringing our country on par with the world powers, as beloved President Ho Chi Minh always wished.