Hanoi (VNA) – The socio-economic situation was kept stable and recordedpositive results in different fields during the first half of 2021, DeputyPrime Minister Pham Binh Minh told the ongoing first session of the 15th NationalAssembly (NA) on July 22.

Deliveringa report on the implementation of the socio-economic development and Statebudget plans in the first six months, he said amid the complex COVID-19situation, the entire Party, people, and army have stayed united and strived tosurmount difficulties and challenges to achieve the “twin targets” of fightingthe pandemic and boosting socio-economic recovery and development.

Thepandemic has been developing complicatedly in the country with the appearanceof the Delta variant that is more contagious and dangerous, severely affecting someprovinces and cities, especially the southern key economic region, the Mekong Deltaand, particularly, Ho Chi Minh City.

Facingthat fact, Minh noted, the Party Central Committee (PCC), the Politburo, andthe PCC Secretariat have issued conclusions and official dispatches on some keytasks on COVID-19 prevention and control and socio-economic development.

Hesaid Vietnam has proactively cooperated with other countries and internationalorganisations while making use of resources, experience, and other nations’assistance for the pandemic combat.

Relevantsides have worked hard to remove obstacles to vaccine procurement, development,production, and inoculation. The COVID-19 vaccine fund was also set up and hasreceived strong support from the entire people, businesses, and overseasVietnamese.

Giventhe global vaccine shortage, the Party General Secretary, the State President,the NA Chairman and, especially, the Prime Minister, ministries, and sectorshave worked with other countries and international organisations via differentforms so as to access and purchase vaccine for people, according to Minh.

Regardingtasks for the remaining months, he said the Government is determined to realisethe “twin targets”, but the current priority is curbing COVID-19 so as to fuelproduction and business activities and achieve the set targets at the highestpossible level.

TheDeputy PM pointed out that all-level authorities, sectors, and localities needto focus on treating serious COVID-19 cases, minimising deaths, and effectivelyimplementing the vaccine strategy.

Itis also necessary to tighten control over the exit from and entry into thecountry, ramp up contact tracing and quarantine and post-quarantine management,and stringently deal with violations, he added./.