The 4th plenum of the Xth Party Central Committee, which was held in Hanoi from January 15-24, adopted resolutions on major policies for international economic integration, Vietnam’s marine strategy to 2020, reorganization of Party and state agencies, and the election of deputies to the XIIth National Assembly.

Addressing the closing session, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said: “International economic integration is a duty of the entire people, society and political system under the Party’s leadership.”

In order to successfully implement Vietnam’s WTO commitments, the Party General Secretary pointed to the necessity “to formulate systems and policies in line with development undertakings and orientations; promote regional and international as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation; associate development with quality and efficiency and economic growth rate with social progress and equity; protect and improve the environment; preserve and promote national cultural identities; and maintain political, economic and social stability.”

In international integration, the Party’s guiding principle is to firmly maintain national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and socialist orientations; pursue integration in the nation’s interest for the objective of a prosperous people, a strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilized society, said a communique released by the Party Central Committee after the plenum.

For successful international integration, ideological work should be promoted to raise the awareness of all Party members and the entire people with a view to obtaining high social consensus. The legal system and economic institutions must be urgently adjusted and perfected to quickly establish a market economy system while promoting and effectively utilizing every resource, accelerating administrative reform, raising the competitive edge of the economy, businesses and products, strengthening and promoting agricultural and rural development, and effectively settling social problems.

The Party Central Committee also laid emphasis on environmental protection and improvement; preservation and promotion of national cultural identities; maintenance of national defense and security; enhancement of the Party’s leadership and state administration; and improvement of democratic institutions and promotion of the people’s mastery.

It adopted a resolution on a number of major undertakings and policies for rapid and sustainable economic development when Vietnam becomes a member of the WTO.

Building the marine economy

At its fourth plenum, the Party Central Committee gave opinions on the scheme of the Vietnam Marine Strategy to 2020. The strategy stressed that the country should strive to become a strong marine economy, firmly maintaining sovereignty and national sovereignty on the sea, contributing to maintaining stability and development of the country, closely combining socio-economic development with national defense, security and environmental protection.

New policies need to be adopted to tap all resources for development of the marine economy. Large economic centers should be built in coastal regions in connection with sea-based economic activities, making them important driving forces for national development.

The marine economy was forecast by 2020 to represent 53-55% of the country’s GDP and 55-60% of national export turnover, helping properly resolve social problems and markedly improve the living conditions of people in coastal regions.

To successfully implement the Marine Strategy, it is necessary to increase the entire Party’s and people’s awareness of the position, role and benefit of the sea for the cause of national construction and defense and establish a legal foundation to ensure marine sovereignty and security.

The basic survey and development of marine science and technology should be accelerated and master plans on socio-economic development should be carried out, maintaining security and defense in the sea and coastal regions.

The Party Central Committee emphasized the creation of a uniform legal framework on the sea and coastal regions and the formulation of a system of mechanisms and policies to encourage investment in the domains relating to the sea and coastal regions.

It was also necessary to enhance external relations and international cooperation on marine issues, as well as develop human resources and some strong economic groups in the marine economy.

A resolution on Vietnam’s Maritime Strategy up to 2020 was also adopted.

Reorganization of the Party and State apparatuses

The Party Central Committee discussed and decided on the reform and consolidation of the Party and State agencies.

The reform and consolidation are required to be conducted in line with the characteristics of the country’s political system, led by a single party, with a socialist-oriented market economy in the process of integration into the world economy, and building of a socialist state governed by law.

The reform is expected to help eliminate bureaucracy, reduce overlapping functions and duties, and increase the quality of public employees. Accordingly, the number of current Commissions under the Party Central Committee will be reduced from 11 to six and the Party organizations of the centrally run agencies will be rearranged into two sectoral party organizations.

The National Assembly Committees and agencies will be reorganized to operate in a more regular, efficient and professional manner.

The Government and local administrative systems will be reformed to ensure thorough, scientific, effective and efficient operations.

Specific plans on the Government apparatus (XIIth tenure) will be discussed and decided at the Party Central Committee’s next plenum.

In this regard, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said: “It is necessary to reorganize the Government in the direction of administrative reform, ensuring simplicity and rationality, meeting the requirements for the Government’s performance of its state administrative functions and tasks in the new situation, in line with the management mechanism of the socialist-oriented market economy and international economic integration.”

The organs of the Supreme People’s Procuracy and the Supreme People’s Court at all levels will be strengthened toward uniformity, continuity and efficiency. The Fatherland Front and other socio-political organizations will be consolidated so as to increase the efficiency of their operation and the quality of cadres at both central and local levels.

The meeting was unanimous on transferring from 2007 the businesses under Party agencies, the armed forces, the Fatherland Front and mass organizations to state agencies for management.

Election of deputies to the XIIth National Assembly

The issue of personnel is of paramount importance in preparation for the election of deputies to the XIIth National Assembly so that future deputies will actually represent the will and aspirations of the people, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said.

He said the quality of deputies should be improved, the number of full-time deputies should be increased and the percentages of female deputies, ethnic minority deputies, deputies of mass organizations, the party and state agencies should be adjusted appropriately.

The National Assembly deputies must be exemplary in observing the law, incorrupt and resolute in the fight against bureaucracy, corruption, waste and violations of law, Mr. Manh said. He also pointed to the need to select qualified and capable deputies who can perform the tasks of the National Assembly on the one hand and decide on important issues of the country on the other.-