Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addressing the working session ( Image: dangcongsan.vn ) Vietnam’s socio-economic performance in 2012 and during the first four months of this year was high on the agenda at the National Assembly (NA) fifth session that opened in Hanoi on May 20.
Addressing the opening session, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that although the national socio-economic situation is moving in the right direction, it is still fragile and progressing slowly. Forecasters say that Vietnam will continue to face socio-economic challenges while the global economic climate remains uncertain.
In the coming months, the Government set the goals to enhance macro-economic stability, curb inflation, and record higher growth than in 2012. It will also tackle production and trade difficulties, deal with bad debts and develop the coutry’s markets.
At the same time, it will effectively restructure the economy, ensure social security and welfare and boost the prevention of natural disasters. Environmental protection and coping with climate change are also top priorities, as well as speeding up administrative reforms, improving the efficiency of State management and external relations, strengthening the fight against corruption and wastefulness, and ensuring national defence and security, the Deputy PM said.
He added that the Government is urging the NA, Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), mass organisations and the public across the country to enhance their supervision and collaboration to promote positive, synchronous progress in various sectors to achieve this year’s socio-economic development goals and contribute to the success of the 2011 – 2015 national development plan.
Head of the NA Committee for Economic Affairs, Nguyen Van Giau, delivered a report reviewing the Government’s account of the State budget and socio-economic development for 2012 and early 2013.
While it generally agreed with the Government’s account, the report also showed that the domestic economy is facing more serious challenges than last year. Annual economic growth was actually 5.03%, which is lower than the 5.2% reported at the legislative body’s previous session and the 6-6.5% set in the NA’s Resolution.
Credit growth was only 8.91%, down from 31% in 2010 and 14.41% in 2011. Bad debts and inventories in the property market and the processing and engineering sectors have increased, and more than 54,000 firms were dissolved or went bankrupt last year, which was more than in 2011.
In the first four months of this year, the gross domestic product grew 4.89%, up from 4.75% recorded in the same period last year.
The committee described the tasks for the remaining months of this year as tough, especially ensuring economic growth and curbing inflation in an economy with implicit uncertainties.
Also at the session, VFF Central Committee Chairman Huynh Dam delivered a report on collecting voters’ opinions.
Of the 1,724 comments the NA received from voters and people nationwide, most said that they believe inflation is initially under control, thanks to efforts made by the Party, people and armed forces.
Interest rates are dropping, the economy is recovering, and social welfare, security and order have been maintained. People in all social strata actively contributed their ideas on the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution.
However, they also expressed concerns about unsteady economic development, particularly the rising prices of electricity, oil, gas, and other key commodities.
It is also the public opinion that a number of State-owned enterprises generated losses and mismanaged State assets. Many people feel that diversified public investment has led to low efficiency and corruption and wastefulness are rampant, while local people continue to face many difficulties in their daily lives, the wealth gap is getting wider, and environmental pollution, unhygienic food, road accidents, crime and social evils are on the rise.
In the afternoon, the NA deputies heard reports on gathering public opinions on draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution, a proposal asking for NA approval of the State budget balance for 2011 and some other issues.
In presenting the report on the collection of people’s opinions on the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution and the adjustment of the draft accordingly, Director of the NA Committee on Law Phan Trung Ly said that so far nearly 26.1 million opinions have been collected and more than 28,000 conferences, seminars and discussions have been held on the issue.
In general, the majority of the opinions agreed to the main content of the draft amendments, he said, stressing that many opinions are zealous, intellectual and responsible.
He reported that almost all opinions agreed with the need to amend the 1992 Constitution, saying that this will make the constitution suitable to the new circumstances.
The director noted that regarding the name of the country, there are two opinions. The first is to maintain the name “The Socialist Republic of Vietnam”, saying that the name clarifies the Party, State and people’s chosen way and purpose of building the socialist regime in Vietnam.
The second opinion is to change the name to “The Democratic Republic of Vietnam”, explaining that the name is closely connected with the birth of the first republican regime in Vietnam and that it was officially stated in the Declaration of Independence read by President Ho Chi Minh on September 2, 1945. The name also reflects the reality that the political regime in Vietnam is republican, and the nature of the State in Vietnam is democratic.
Also according to the report, most opinions valued the draft amendments for including almost all essential civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in line with international treaties to which Vietnam is a member. In addition, the public basically approved the addition of a new chapter on independent constitutional institutions.
Also at the sitting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh presented a report proposing the NA adopts the Government’s balance-sheet for the 2011 State budget.
Budget revenue and expenditure reached and exceeded the estimates set by the NA, the report said.
The budget revenue totalled VND721,804 billion, 21.3% over the VND595,000 billion estimate. Meanwhile, budget expenditure was VND787,554 billion, 8.5% higher than the estimated expenditure of VND725,600 billion.
Budget deficit for 2011 was VND112,034 billion, or 4.4% of GDP , lower than the level permitted by the NA at VND120,600 billion, or 5.3% of GDP.
(VNA)
Đăng ký: VietNam News