The National Assembly on June 19 passed a resolution on the national target program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2021-30, which aimed at improving livelihoods of ethnic minority groups, with the majority of deputies voting in favor.
 |
| The National Assembly approves a resolution on the national target program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2021-30 with 100 percent of the vote__Photo: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn |
The program sets a target of doubling the income per capita of people from ethnic minority groups in the next five years compared to the current rate (VND 1.1 million to VND 2.2 million per month per person).
By 2025, it aims to improve infrastructure, create jobs and address pressing issues of more than 16,100 households from ethnic minority groups and disadvantaged ethnic groups.
By 2030, income per capita of people from ethnic minority groups is hoped to be raised to half of the national average. The program also aims to cut the number of poor households to less than 10 percent of the total number of households, with no hamlets or communes classified as in extremely difficult conditions and 70 percent of communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas meeting new rural area criteria.
Nearly VND 272 trillion (USD 11.8 billion) will be mobilized to implement the program.
According to Do Van Chien, chairman of the NA Commission for Ethnic Minorities, the national target program will boost socio-economic development in these areas by creating livelihoods and enhance incomes for local residents, thereby reducing poverty.
The program will set multiple targets in socio-economy, national defense-security, environment and biodiversity protection, and grassroots political system construction.
A resolution on the thematic supervision of the implementation of policies and laws on preventing and fighting child abuse was also approved by NA deputies on the same day.
Law approval
Legislators passed a law amending the Law on Organization of the National Assembly on June 19 with 442 of 451 deputies voting in favor.
The law increases the number of full-time delegates from at least 35 percent to at least 40 percent of the total number of NA deputies.
The law takes effect from January 1, 2021.
Hoang Thanh Tung, chairman of the NA’s Committee on Legal Affairs, said raising the proportion of full-time NA deputies to at least 40 percent had been calculated carefully.
This was a legal basis for introducing more full-time deputies, he said, enhancing professionalism and the efficiency of the NA’s activities.
“In order to ensure the feasibility of this provision, the 14th NA Election project will detail related content as well as the arrangement of specialized deputies in the future,” Tung said.
The 14th NA also adopted a resolution on specific financial-budgetary policies and mechanisms for Hanoi with 91.51 percent of votes.
The resolution will take effect on August 15 and be valid for five years.
Under the resolution, the Hanoi People’s Council can decide to collect some fees specific to Hanoi which are not on the list of fees and charges issued along with the Law on Fees and Charges and adjust the fees and charges on the list except for those belonging to the central budget.
According to the resolution, the ceiling of debts will be no more than 90 percent of revenue with the principle that the capital city must ensure its solvency.
The city will be allowed to use the financial reserve fund to invest in infrastructure projects in the medium-term public investment plan. It must ensure the recovery of the money within 36 months.
It will also be permitted to use the local budget’s fund for regular spending for the upgrade and building of essential items in existing facilities of administrative public non-production agencies and agencies under political-social organizations.
The city can use its budget to support other localities in the country.
Nguyen Duc Hai, chairman of NA’s Committee on Finance and Budget, said the regulation creates flexibility for the city in management.
He also said it would not have a large impact on budget balance while encouraging local governments to use public assets more effectively.
The NA on Friday also approved a resolution piloting the urban administration model in the central city of Da Nang and some other specific mechanisms and policies.
According to the resolution, the city will be governed by the municipal People’s Committee and People’s Council but People’s Councils will no longer exist in districts and wards in the city.
Like Hanoi, Da Nang can collect some fees which are not on the list of fees and charges issued along with the Law on Fees and Charges and will be allowed to use the financial reserve fund to invest in socio-economic infrastructure projects.
On the same day, the NA also approved a resolution on the establishment of the National Election Council (NEC) with 94.41 percent of deputies in favor.
It had earlier passed a resolution on the election of the Chairperson of the NEC and another ratifying the list of Vice-Chairpersons and members of the council.
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan was elected Chairwoman of the NEC. The Vice-Chairpersons are NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man, and Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.
The ninth session of the 14th NA wrapped up on Friday after 19 working days.
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said this was the first time the NA held online meetings.
The 19 working days divided into two periods was shorter than previous sessions but the NA still completed the agenda which included urgent and important content in the context of the whole country taking COVID-19 prevention and control measures, she said.
The NA did not hold a Q&A session but lawmakers still sent documents to Government members and sector leaders to solicit questions, she said.
Lawmakers discussed and approved 10 laws, 21 resolutions and gave opinions on six other bills.
With very high approval rates, the NA ratified the Vietnam-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the International Labor Organization (ILO)’s Abolition of Forced Labor Convention (Convention 105).
The ratification of the international treaties was an important step in international economic integration, especially the participation in new-generation free trade agreements with higher standards. They also open up new development opportunities, affirming Vietnam’s determination to implement labor-related commitments in trade agreements, as well as fulfilling the obligations of being an ILO member, she said.- (VNS/VLLF)
