The Party Central Committee (the XIth tenure) closed its 12th plenum on October 11 in Hanoi after a week-long meeting, putting forth major socio-economic development targets for 2016.
The Committee’s members agreed that the country’s socio-economic situation has improved this year and seen significant changes in most areas. With a stable macro-economy and inflation under control at 2 percent, the lowest over the past 15 years, economic growth is expected to stand at about 6.5 percent, higher than the set target, they said.
The rate of low-income households dropped to below 4.5 percent, the members noted, adding that progress had also been made in reforming administrative procedures and improving the business environment.
Strides had been made in the fight against corruption and waste. Citizen reception work had improved, with due attention paid to the settlement of complaints and denunciations.
Apart from maintaining national defense, security, social order and safety and national sovereignty, foreign relations and international integration also advanced, helping raise the country’s position in the global arena.
However, the Committee pointed out challenges facing the economy, such as low productivity and competitiveness, overspending, public debts, non-performing loans and trade deficit.
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| The closing session of the 12th plenum of the Party Central Committee (the XIth Congress) on October 11 __Photo: Tri Dung/VNA |
Slow restructuring of sectors and equalization of state-owned enterprises, unsustainable poverty reduction, newly emerging challenges in protecting national sovereignty over seas and islands, and bottlenecks in preparations for deeper trade integration also remained major difficulties.
Despite that, the Committee aimed to keep the macro-economy stable in 2016, increase the economic growth rate and accelerate the realization of strategic breakthroughs.
The gross domestic product is projected to rise 6.7 percent, with export turnover up about 10 percent and trade deficit at below 5 percent. State budget overspending to the GDP and consumer price index are both expected to remain at below 5 percent.
Other issues regarding administrative reform, national defense, international integration, employment, poverty reduction, living standards, social welfare and environmental protection will continue to receive due attention, the Committee affirmed.
To realize those goals, the Party Central Committee came up with several main measures, one of which is to ensure the stability of macro- economy by removing difficulties for production and business, especially in the domestic economic sector, thus promoting growth.
Additionally, measures should be taken to hasten realization of strategic breakthroughs, restructure the national economy and continue reforming the growth model.
The Committee also urged improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness, while promoting the implementation of the master plan on economic restructuring.
The Committee’s members also underlined the need to accelerate the restructuring of state-owned enterprises as well as agro-forestry companies.
Regarding state budget estimates for 2016, the Party Central Committee said it is necessary to concentrate on strictly and effectively implementing legal regulations on the state budget; intensifying measures to prevent revenue loss; restructuring budget collection and increasing the rate of mobilization for the state budget from GDP.
Another measure is to focus financial resources on major national programs and projects and those of urgent needs.
Foreign relation activities should be promoted to deepen ties between Vietnam and partners. Other activities that enhance multilateral foreign relations and people-to-people diplomacy will continue.
The national legal system will be fine-tuned, while measures will be taken to effectively implement commitments to international integration, especially within the ASEAN Community, free trade agreements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and the Action Plan to realize 17 goals and 169 targets recently approved at the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Emphasis will be also placed on enhancing the state management of information and communications and on ensuring citizens’ right of access to information as well as information safety and security.
During this plenum, the Party Central Committee adopted a number of policies in preparation for the election of deputies to the XIVth National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-21 tenure, including guidance on the National Election Council, time of elections, as well as criteria for and number and proportions of deputies.
The Committee stressed that in order to elect capable deputies to represent the will, aspirations and masterhood of the people, it is necessary to uphold the leading, directing and organizing role of Party Committees and local administrations at all levels and the entire political system from the central to local level, and mobilize the involvement of citizens and voters nationwide while fully promoting their rights and obligations.
Related agencies should strictly implement the Party’s policies on assignment of officials in state agencies at central and local levels and base on personnel elected at congresses of Party Committees at all levels and staff planning to prepare candidates for the election of deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels.
The Committee discussed and agreed with the Politburo’s statement on the results of personnel preparation for the Party Central Committee of the XIIth tenure and its report on personnel in the Politburo, the Secretariat and key leading positions from the 12th to the 14th plenums of the Party Central Committee (the XIth tenure).
The Party Central Committee voted on the first round the lists of candidates to its members for the XIIth tenure, including a list of qualified members of the Party Central Committee (the XIth tenure) for reelection, and a list of qualified members for the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee of the XIIth tenure.- (VLLF)
