National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on July 20 called on deputies of the 15th NA to uphold their sense of responsibility and raise initiatives to help the legislature improve its operational quality and efficiency.
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Newly elected NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue takes the oath of office on July 26. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA |
| Newly elected NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue takes the oath of office on July 26. |
Delivering his opening remarks at the first session of the 15th NA in Hanoi, which lasted until July 28, the NA leader emphasized that the election and ratification of senior personnel at the meeting would directly determine the quality and performance of the state apparatus for the entire term.
Hue said the COVID-19 pandemic had changed the economic structure, governance methods and global economic and social life, forcing many countries to change their development orientations and strategies toward self-reliance as well as focus on investment and development of the domestic market.
He suggested NA deputies strive to bring real-life experiences to the parliament, and help the legislature make correct, timely and effective decisions.
Speaking at the event, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stated that in the future, the NA should continue to innovate itself to best meet the country’s political requirements and tasks in the new period and promote its role and position in creating a legal framework for the country’s activities.
“The NA needs to continue promoting democracy, increasing debates and in-depth analysis, clarifying achievements, advantages as well as shortcomings to find out causes, draw lessons and propose appropriate, feasible solutions,” the Party chief said.
He asked the NA to focus on monitoring the implementation of conclusions and recommendations; improve the quality of decisions on important national issues; and promote external activities as well as proactive and active international integration and cooperation.
According to the General Secretary, in the immediate future, the NA needs to focus on the institutionalization and concretization of important decisions affirmed at the 13th National Party Congress.
Holders of top positions elected
During the session, NA deputies elected Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the 14th NA, to hold the position of Chairman of the 15th NA. They also elected four Vice Chairpersons of the NA, 13 members of the NA Standing Committee, NA Secretary General, Chairperson of the NA’s Ethnic Council, heads of NA Committees, and State Auditor General.
The newly elected NA Chairman vowed to continue to strengthen question-and-answer activities at the NA Standing Committee, and encourage greater involvement from the Ethnic Council and the Committees of the NA.
He said the NA would also pay attention to overseeing law enforcement and monitoring the implementation of recommendations. This includes ensuring the accountability of relevant organizations and individuals, particularly the responsibilities of heads of agencies and units. The legislative body will also intensify supervision of the handling of petitions, complaints and denunciations of citizens and petitions of voters, according to Hue.
He said the new-tenure NA would constantly improve the quality of the legislative work and lawmaking process, building a synchronous, unified, stable and feasible legal system, ensuring the constitutionality and legitimacy of the legal system in accordance with treaties.
At the session, the legislature elected Nguyen Xuan Phuc as President of the 2021-26 term. Delivering a speech after taking the oath of office, the new President affirmed his commitment to work with the Parliament and the Government to realize the vision of comprehensive development, in which no one is left behind, especially in remote and difficulty-hit areas.
Phuc said he would listen to opinions and aspirations of people from all walks of life, including intellectuals at home and abroad, and pledged to continue to reform the judiciary sector, build a law-ruled socialist state, strengthen national defense and security capacity, and pay attention to the building of modern and professional People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces that help maintain peaceful life for the people and stand ready to resolutely defend the peace, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Fatherland.
Also at the session, Pham Minh Chinh was reelected as Prime Minister of the 2021-26 tenure. In his inauguration speech, the Government leader stressed the current priority goal of containing the coronavirus through national unity and a sense of civic responsibility and implementing the vaccine strategy.
He reiterated the pursuit of the double goals of pandemic control and socio-economic development, and pledged to continue to put forward mechanisms and policies to support the people and businesses affected by the pandemic.
The cabinet’s head said the Government would focus on the first and foremost tasks of eradicating policy and institution “bottlenecks” and “barriers” that hamper economic activities, followed by restructuring the economy, enhancing resilience on the basis of self-reliance and internal strength, as well as improving the investment and business environment toward openness, convenience, transparency, and fairness for players from all economic sectors.
“The people will be at the front and center, concurrently the subject and ultimate goal and driving force of development. We will not sacrifice progress and social justice or cultural values or environmental protection in pursuit of raw economic growth,” Chinh said, adding that there would be ample attention on poverty reduction, and raising social welfare and social security for the people.
He is also committed to implementing the foreign policy of independence, diversification, multilateralization of international relations and deepening of international integration, reaffirming Vietnam as a trusted partner and a responsible member of the international community.
During the session, the NA also elected Vo Thi Anh Xuan as Vice President, Nguyen Hoa Binh as Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, and Le Minh Tri as Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy.
The legislature adopted the Resolution on the organizational structure of the Government with 14 ministries and four ministerial-level agencies, which is kept unchanged as compared to the Government of the 14th tenure.
The NA also ratified the appointment of Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers and other cabinet members, along with the list of Vice Chairperson and members of the Council of National Defense and Security, and the appointment of judges of the Supreme People’s Court.
Socio-economic development plan for 2021-25 approved
During the session, the NA approved the 2021-25 socio-economic development plan with general objectives and specific targets.
Accordingly, the plan’s general objectives are to ensure fast and sustainable economic growth on the basis of stabilizing the macroeconomy, developing science, technology and innovation, and promoting to the utmost potential and advantages of the country.
The plan says that the economic growth rate of the 2021-25 period will be higher the average growth rate of the 2016-20 period and that by 2025 Vietnam will become a developing country with a modernity-oriented industry and an income surpassing the low middle income level.
It also sets out the objectives of raising productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy and synchronously taking measures to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic for fast economic recovery and development.
Under the plan, the annual GDP growth rate is expected to reach 6.5-7 percent on average; per-capita GDP will be USD 4,700-5,000 by 2025; the life expectancy will be around 74.5 years; the rate of trained workers will be 70 percent; the rate of poor households according to multidimensional poverty standards will be reduced by 1-1.5 percent per year; and at least 80 percent of communes nationwide will satisfy new-countryside criteria.
At the session, legislators adopted the Resolution on the 2022 law- and ordinance-making program, and adjustments to the 2021 law- and ordinance-making program. The legislature also passed the Resolution on formation of the NA’s thematic oversight delegations for 2022, including a delegation for oversight of the implementation of planning policies and laws since the effective date of the Planning Law, and another delegation for oversight of the implementation of policies and laws on thrift practice and waste combat for the 2016-21 period.- (VLLF)
