The Party Central Committee convened its 11th conference in Hanoi from October 5-10 to discuss a number of key issues in preparation for the 11th National Party Congress

Discussing the programme on national development, the delegates stressed the need to make clear the lessons of the Vietnamese revolution, the current international context, the socialist characteristics of Vietnam, the overall objectives when the transitional period is complete, economic sectors and their forms of ownership, and the promotion of democracy.

They agreed to the draft strategy for socio-economic development through 2020, which looks at the achievements and weaknesses in implementing the 2001-2010 strategy and outlines objectives for the next 10 years. They proposed that the compiling board shed further light on the development of economic sectors; the mobilisation and use of various resources; the implementation of the industrialisation and modernisation process; the relationship between the market economy and socialist orientation; and the re-organisation of the State apparatus and its management. They asked the board to work further on issues relating to the fight against corruption and waste, the management of information, culture and minerals, social welfare, and environmental protection.

They asked the board to make an in-depth analysis of the relationship between rapid and sustainable economic development; economic sectors and their ownership; the development of a socialist-oriented market economy; solutions to overcome the drawbacks of the market mechanism and how to increase the efficiency of State management, promote democracy and enhance discipline.

For the first time, Party members discussed in detail the draft political report to be presented at the 11^th National Congress, the theme of the congress and the organisational structure of the report. They assessed the implementation of the resolutions adopted at the 10^th Party Congress, the shortcomings and lessons of experience; objectives, orientations and tasks for national construction and defence; and the building of the Party and the political regime in the next 5 years of the 11^th tenure.

In his closing speech, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh described Party building as a particularly urgent and important task which is a decisive factor behind the development of the Vietnamese revolution and the existence of the Party and the people.

The Party Central Committee underlined the need to supplement and amend the Party Rules and assigned the Party’s Political Bureau to study, gather opinions from grassroots-level Party organisations and submit amendments to the 12^th Party conference.

The Party Central Committee agreed to a report on the implementation of socio-economic development and budgetary tasks in 2009. However, they asked the compiling board to further analyse the growth model and the quality of growth and investment; economic restructuring; weaknesses in finance and banking; the implementation of economic rescue plans; the budget deficit; a possible return of high inflation; poverty reduction; weaknesses in education-training, science-technology, natural resources, the environment, administrative reform and combating corruption and waste.

The elite approved major socio-economic tasks for 2010 and solutions to achieve the targets. They also proposed clarifying the economic growth rate, consumer price index, export growth, import surplus, budget deficit and rural planning and investment. They said the government should adopt specific solutions to improve the quality of education and vocational training, reduce poverty in a sustainable manner, protect the environment, practice frugality, combat corruption, reduce traffic accidents and ensure cooking hygiene and safety.

The Party Central Committee called on the entire Party, people and the army to join hands to overcome difficulties, successfully implement the resolutions of the 10^th Party Congress and actively prepare for the upcoming congress to move the country forward, towards the ultimate goal of building a wealthy people, a strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilized society.

VietNamNet/VOV