The XIIth National Assembly was expected to pass eight laws and discuss six other bills at its 4th session, which opened in Hanoi on October 16.
The eight bills to be adopted are on Excise Tax (amended); Cadres and Public Employees; Vietnamese Citizenship (amended); Enforcement of Civil Judgments (amended); Health Insurance; Hi-Technology; Road Traffic (amended); and Biodiversity while the draft laws slated for discussion covered Management of Public Debts; Judicial Records; Amendments and Supplements to the Penal Code; State Compensation; Urban Planning; and Overseas Representative Agencies of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In addition, a resolution on the 2009 law-making program was expected to be passed.
The meeting was scheduled to discuss and pass a resolution not to organize district- and commune-level People’s Councils and election of presidents of commune-level People’s Committees on a trial basis.
Reporting to the National Assembly on this year’s socio-economic development, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the primary tasks of curbing inflation and stabilizing the macro economy had initial successes.
The GDP growth rate for the whole year was forecast to increase by 6.5-7%, of which agriculture was expected to provide 3.5-3.9%; industry and construction, 7.3-7.5% and the service sector, 7.2-7.8%, the Prime Minister said, adding that this year, the per capita GDP would be over USD 1,000.
He reported that in 2008, it was the first time Viet Nam’s rice output increased by 2.6 million tons.
In the reviewed period, the country’s export value stood at USD 48.6 billion, up 39% year-on-year, he said, adding the country was expected to earn more than USD 65 billion from exports, an increase of 33.9% - the highest over the last decade (the growth rate was 21.9% in 2007).
The Prime Minister highlighted achievements in the fields of social security, education and training, health care, culture, information and environ-mental protection, reporting that in 2008 the Government spent VND 19.8 trillion (USD 1.2 billion), VND 14.7 trillion (USD 885 million) more than the figure of 2007, to support needy people.
He noted the Government’s weak-nesses and limitations in its performance, pointing out that in 2008 both the inflation rate and trade deficit remained high and the balance of the economy was untable.
The efficiency and competitiveness of the economy remained low, while production was facing many difficulties and challenges. People’s living conditions were difficult, particularly low income earners, poor people including those living in mountainous and remote areas and victims of natural disasters, the Prime Minister acknowledged.
Administrative reform has not achieved its targets and the fight against corruption and the thrift practice and waste combat had not reached expectations, he said.
The Prime Minister listed six key tasks to be performed in 2009.
First, to strictly implement the Government’s monetary and financial policies, including import-export activities, to curb the inflation rate to a one-digit figure by 2010.
Second, to strictly implement the Government’s policies to ensure a better social security system and success in the national program of poverty reduction and environmental protection.
Third, to enhance the country’s potential and extend international co-operation and integration.
Fourth, to have better and high quality planning activities and investment efficiency.
Fifth, to focus on agricultural and rural development and improve the farmers’ living conditions in line with the Resolution of the seventh plenum of the 10th Party Central Committee.
Finally, to facilitate production development and attract more investment while improving human resource development.
In a debate on achievements of the 2008 socio-economic and budgetary plan, NA deputies agreed that the Government’s eight groups of comprehensive measures had helped respond timely to the economic crisis.
The biggest successes were to win back the trust of people and the business community, especially foreign investors, and in stabilizing the economy.
However, the deputies were concerned about many shortcomings that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. Pham Thi Loan, who represents Hanoi, said the Government’s report had not exposed all the problems and difficulties facing the country. Credit tightening was a sound policy, but its inflexible implementation has unexpectedly put pressure on local businesses seeking further capital, she said.
The lawmakers also brought forward a number of other emerging issues such as job creation and training for ethnic minority people, inflation and ineffective investment projects.
Nevertheless, they reached a consensus on the budget spending plan for 2009 even though state spending in 2008 did not live up to their expectations in terms of effectiveness.
Reporting to the National Assembly on voters’ concerns and opinions, President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Huynh Dam, quoted the voters as saying that although Viet Nam faced difficulties and challenges due to the global recession, natural disasters and disease, inflation had been controlled, economic growth maintained, and social security ensured. These were favorable factors that helped attract investment and improve people’s lives.
However, he said, there were still worries about problems such as environ-mental pollution, investment from the state budget, administrative reform and corruption.
Some laws overlapped, such as land law, environment protection law, bidding law and anti-corruption law.
Voters were also worried over still high commodity prices, which affected production of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the lives of laborers in industrial zones.
People also complained about Government predictions, and prices of farm produce, especially for rice in the Mekong and Red River deltas, Mr. Dam said, adding the results of administrative reform and fighting corruption and waste had not met voters’ expectations. (VLLF)-