Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the Ministry ofEducation and Training (MoET) to decide on the organisation of the national highschool graduation examinations as regulated in the Law on Education, at aregular cabinet meeting in Hanoi on August 3.

He asked thechairpersons of People’s Committees in all cities and provinces to ensure theexams are conducted safely. MoET has been tasked with coordinating with theMinistry of Health and the Ministry of Information and Communications toprevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the health of students and examinationofficials.

The PM alsodirected certain measures be adopted for socio-economic development, pointingout three external risks and challenges: the unpredictable development ofCOVID-19 and its effect on important foreign partners; trade tensions andescalating technologies between many countries; and geopolitical complexity andnatural disasters that affect economic recovery.

Regarding theresurgence of COVID-19, which threatens economic recovery, the PM requested allministries, sectors, and localities to be more conscientious and not lower theirguard. Ministers and chairpersons of People’s Committees are directlyresponsible for the prevention of the disease.

He alsoordered ministries and localities to maintain macro-economic stability and curbinflation.

The PMdirected the continuation of extensions, postponements, and exemptions from interestrates for businesses, expanding credit packages and ensuring growth, especiallyin priority fields.

The financial,planning and investment, banking, industry and trade, and agriculture and ruraldevelopment sectors must compile specific management scenarios for the thirdquarter of 2020 and for 2021, he requested.

TheGovernment leader also asked cabinet members to actively support businesses,workers, and people in need of support. The Ministry of Labour, Invalidsand Social Affairs, in particular, should use its experience to moreeffectively implement the Government’s aid package of 62 trillion VND (2.65billion USD).

He also calledfor increases to the disbursement of public investment and official developmentassistance (ODA).

TheMinistry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade were tasked withimproving markets and price management and preventing smuggling and tradefraud.

Reformingadministrative procedures and improving the business and investment climate arekey tasks, he said, adding that it is necessary to create a more openenvironment to attract shifting investment flows to Vietnam./.