The “central” point in the first article of General Secretary To Lam

Public opinion is very interested and excited about the new, steadfast viewpoint on economic development in the articles and speeches of General Secretary and President To Lam in recent weeks. First of all, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized an important idea: "Firmly developing socio-economic development is the center" in his first article as General Secretary ("Determination to build a strong Party, a rich, democratic, fair, civilized Vietnam"). It must be affirmed that this viewpoint is very important and key, showing the central position of socio-economic development in the coming years. Of course, this approach will have a positive impact on the process of achieving the development goals set at the milestones of 2035 and 2045. Why is affirming this viewpoint extremely important? For the simplest reason: "People put food first". It has always been like that.

General Secretary andPresident To Lam. Photo: Hoang Ha

Economic reforms after Doi Moi have helped our country reduce the poverty rate from 60% in the early 90s to below 3%. This is a very impressive achievement, recognized internationally. However, since 2019, through the blockades due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and especially the situation of "passing the buck", "avoiding", "fear of mistakes", "fear of responsibility" in many state agencies from the central level down, people's lives, business activities and the economy have encountered many difficulties. Let me cite the domestic private economic sector as an example. In previous years, investment in this economic sector grew by 15-17% per year, which was the driving force of economic growth. Up to now, the growth rate has dropped to only 2.7% in 2023 and 6.8% in the first half of this year, which if inflation is deducted, may still be negative or increase insignificantly. In the first half of 2024, the number of newly established and re-operated enterprises was nearly 120,000, only slightly higher than the more than 110,000 enterprises withdrawing from the market. Thus, the ratio of enterprises entering the market to the number withdrawing from the market was about 1/1, the lowest level in many years. Previously, there were 4 enterprises entering the market, but only 1 enterprise withdrew from the market. A survey by the General Statistics Office of 30,530 enterprises in the second quarter of 2024 further found that up to 53.8% of enterprises said that domestic market demand was low; 43.6% said that domestic goods were highly competitive. Up to 46.9% of construction enterprises encountered difficulties due to the lack of new construction contracts. In other words, most enterprises encountered difficulties in both input and output. VCCI's PCI report also said that business optimism is at its lowest level compared to previous years. Specifically, only 27% of businesses will expand production and business in 2024 and 2025, down significantly from 35% in 2022. This 27% figure is also lower than the previous bottom in 2012-2013 when the Vietnamese economy faced the double impact of the global financial crisis along with domestic macroeconomic instability. According to data from the State Bank, total means of payment (M2) increased by only 0.82% in the first half of this year. Economic experts calculate that the M2 growth rate must at least be equivalent to the growth rate (6.42%) plus the inflation rate (2.75%) in the period to ensure liquidity for the economy. The thermometer, through the above figures, shows that the economy is cooling down. The mindset and confidence of business people are being affected by many issues taking place in the business environment. Let me briefly mention some of the above figures to see that the viewpoint of "Firmly developing socio-economics is the center" that General Secretary and President To Lam put forward is very correct and accurate. The immediate solution was proposed by him when chairing the regular meeting of key leaders on August 6: Regarding the task of socio-economic development, it is necessary to focus on removing difficulties, obstacles, and bottlenecks to create favorable mechanisms for businesses and businessmen to have conditions to develop, invest, and do business, promote effective production, and create an exciting atmosphere for people in production, business, and daily life. In the long term, he affirmed in the article: Comprehensively and synchronously promote the innovation process, develop the country rapidly and sustainably, and consolidate national potential. Build and synchronously perfect institutions to develop a modern, integrated, socialist-oriented market economy. Strongly promote investment, production and business; mobilize maximum social resources for the cause of sustainable national development, environmental protection and climate change adaptation. The above goals, in the end, are to realize "people are the root", "People are the subject and center of the innovation process"; all policies and strategies must truly originate from the lives, aspirations, rights and legitimate interests of the people, taking the happiness and prosperity of the people as the goal to strive for; ensure that all people enjoy the fruits of innovation and development, live happily in a secure and safe environment, with no one left behind. At the press conference after the 13th Party Central Committee elected a new position, General Secretary and President To Lam talked about the priority tasks: In the immediate future, we will review and re-evaluate the targets set by the 13th Congress to have breakthrough solutions, have quick movements, and accelerate the implementation of the goals. "We only have a little over a year left, so the requirement to accelerate the implementation of the targets set by the 13th Party Congress to reach the finish line early is an important priority," he said. Economic growth was 2.55% (in 2021); 8.12% (in 2022); 5.05% (in 2023) and 6.42% in the first half of this year. Experts calculate that the growth rate in the second half of the year must be 7-7.5% to achieve the growth rate of 6.5-7% as targeted by the National Assembly. In addition, economic growth in 2024 and 2025 must reach an average of 9% per year to ensure the average growth target of 7% in the 2021-2025 period based on the growth of the past 3 years. These are "extremely difficult" tasks, especially in the context of the extremely complicated and unpredictable world situation. "Lagging behind" is one of the four "risks" first identified at the 9th Congress in 1991 and has always been mentioned again in the documents of the following congresses. However, this "risk" has not yet been summarized and evaluated in the context that the goal of industrialization and modernization of the country by 2020 has not been achieved. High economic growth is always identified as a legal number, expressing the aspiration to help the country overcome its backwardness and catch up with other countries in the world. Therefore, the Party's guidelines and policies need to be institutionalized and turned into State laws before they can enter the daily lives of the people because if this is not done, no matter how good or numerous the guidelines and policies are, it will be very difficult to have a basis for implementation. All of the above goals and measures demonstrate the vision of the General Secretary and President to promote the spirit of "self-reliance, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, and national pride". Lesson 2: Awareness of the new era of the nation

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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/diem-trung-tam-trong-bai-viet-dau-tien-cua-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-2314158.html