With a goal of protecting Hanoi against the Covid-19 pandemic at all costs, the city’s utmost priority at the moment is to prevent the spread of the virus and protect people’s lives.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photos: Thanh Hai

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the statement during a meeting with Hanoi’s leaders today [July 19] on Covid-19 countermeasures and solutions to boost growth in the final months of the year.

The prime minister called on local authorities to step up supervision and raise public awareness on the necessity of restriction measures to create a positive response from the society in the Covid-19 fight.

“Efforts should be made to stop the spread of the virus in areas where new cases have emerged, however, business and production activities must continue in places not affected by the pandemic,” he continued.

Chinh requested the army to step in to ensure smooth circulation of basic necessities to meet people’s demands, while the police are responsible to keep a close watch on quarantine zones.

Given the strong consensus of the entire political system and the people, Chinh expected Hanoi to continue realizing the twin goal of both containing the pandemic and boosting growth.

Pursuing twin goal

At the meeting, the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung said in the first six months of the year, the city maintained positive economic growth while putting the pandemic under control.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung.

“New cases emerged in recent days, however, have complicated the situation,” Dung added.

In addition to Covid-19, Dung noted the city has to tackle major challenges to growth, including the overloaded socio-economic infrastructure system and inadequate inter-provincial transport linkage to tap into the potential of the northern key economic zone with Hanoi at the center.

“Hanoi seeks further support in terms of policies and resources from the government to overcome the pandemic and lay the foundation for a rapid and sustainable economic development,” Dung stated.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh.

On efforts against the pandemic, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh said as of present, 201,524 people have been vaccinated, or 2.4% of the population, with the majority being frontline workers and people in industrial parks.

“With vaccination being seen as the most effective solution to realize the twin goal, Hanoi has set up a vaccination plan to ensure the quick and effective implementation,” he added.

According to Anh, the authorities issued decision No.15/CD-CTUBND on July 18 to urge people to stay at home and refrain from going outside, while requesting non-essential businesses to close.

During the six-month period, Hanoi posted a GRDP growth of 5.91%, higher than the national average of 5.64%.

The city’s mayor noted the authorities drafted two growth scenarios with the year’s GRDP expanding by as high as 7.5% in 2021, along with drawing up a disbursement target of public funds at 60% in the third quarter and 100% in the fourth.