The Government leader made the request at a national conference of the financial sector in Hanoi on November 28.

He asked the ministry to make recommendations to help the Government regulate market prices, control the stock market, and step up the equitisation of State-owned enterprises, administrative reform and the fight against corruption.

It was reported at the conference that in the past ten months of the year, budget revenue reached VND229,330 billion, fulfilling 81.4 percent of the set target. Of the amount, domestic revenue (excluding crude oil) fetched VND124,725 billion or 82.2 percent of the estimate. Meanwhile, state budget spending reached VND280,700 billion, or 78.5 percent of the estimate.

Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Van Ta said the sector still revealed shortcomings in implementing its tasks, particularly the slow pace of disbursement of investment capital for construction projects.

He noted that as 2008 is the mid-year of the 2006-2010 socio-economic development plan, the financial sector will seize opportunities to develop national financial potential, and effectively mobilize and use local and foreign financial resources aimed at stabilizing the macro economy and maintaining a steady and high economic growth.

In addition, he said, the sector will renew State budget spending to mobilize capital for socio-economic infrastructure development and continue to implement the salary adjustment roadmap.