Agriculture discussed at 11th Congress

Delegates at the ongoing 11th National Party Congress have discussed agriculture, farmers and rural areas in Vietnam’s socioeconomic development strategies for the 2011-2020 period because agriculture is playing an important role in the country’s development process.

About two-thirds of the country’s population is currently farmers or people working in the agricultural sector.

Delegates have agreed that developing agriculture in the industrialization and modernization period means improving many technical skills, competencies and the education of farmers.

Farming has become a major factor of the country’s agricultural development process. Therefore, building new rural areas means developing and improving agriculture in those areas.

Delegates have stressed that farmers have to become a major factor of the country’s agricultural development process.

Building new rural areas means that developing agriculture in those areas, more and more improving farmers’ lives and ensuring social welfare for them in the industrialization and modernization course.

Nguyen Quoc Cuong, chairman of the Vietnam Farmers’ Association, said the planning of rural and production areas has to be the main focus, as it is the basis of the development of modern rural infrastructure.

Mr. Cuong said planning will help develop production areas specializing in certain produce that have a large volume and high quality, in that they need to meet high cooking hygiene regulations and export standards.

In addition, Mr. Cuong said proper planning is necessary as it helps establish new-model cooperatives, encourage farmers to invest more in machinery and apply cultivation techniques into their farming, link production with the market, and improve the profitability of goods for export.

Mr. Cuong said if farmers’ living standards are not enhanced, their role in agricultural development and the building of new rural areas will be deferred.

Strengthening farmers’ role

Although the agricultural sector contributes only 20 percent of the national GDP and 23 percent of the national export growth, its investment efficiency has been much higher than other sectors.

It is one of very few economic sectors that have seen an excess of exports over imports.

At present, Vietnam is one of the world’s leading exporters of pepper and cashew nuts, ranks second in the export of rice and coffee and third in the export of rubber.

Vietnamese farmers’ agricultural products have made a signicant contribution in enhancing the country’s position in the world economy.

In the context of globalization, Vietnamese farmers have competed fiercely with their counterparts from the developed world.

Mr. Cuong said farmers have been aware that the only way for them to stand firm in the market mechanism and enrich their country is to implement modern and industrial agricultural techniques.

According to Mr. Cuong, Vietnamese farmers in the new period will need to become a progressive labor force with high labor productivity, quality and efficiency, a strong political and social force under the Party’s leadership, and a force that will preserve and enhance the cultural and national character in rural areas.

High quality human resources play a decisive role in every success

For the country to make a breakthrough in socio-economic development, its human resources need its people’s brainpower, strength and virtues.

In the socio-economic development strategy submitted to the 11th National Party Congress, the development of human resources, especially high quality professionals is one of the three strategic factors decisive for the country’s fast growth and sustainable development.

In the country’s socio-economic strategy for the 2011-2015 period, Vietnam continues to give priority to the Human Development Index (HDI) as part of the vision for 2020. Vietnam’s HDI is at the level of the world’s average.

Sharing the view, Pham Xuan Bac, director of Thai Binh province’s Department of Education and Training said that concrete policies are needed to improve the quality of human resources.

Apart from improving qualifications, it is important to offer policies to attract talents and create new human resources.

In addition, a consensus needs to be reached in the state management between education and vocational training. If there is not sufficient investment in the education and training sector, it will be impossible to improve the quality of education.

In the context of the world’s economic integration, workers should actively get involved in the process. However, it is important to preserve cultural values and national identity and safeguard the national independence.

In this context, apart from firm political will, patriotic spirit and national pride, workers should be knowledgeable. To achieve the goal, it is necessary to build a labour force with a strong contingent of talents, including skilled workers who are capable of manufacturing high quality goods and provide services for both international and domestic consumers. Therefore, these workers should acquire high qualifications to absorb and master advanced technologies and adapt to new working conditions.

Huynh Van Toi, Head of the Dong Nai province’s Information and Education Commission said that high quality human resources meet the job requirements and can adapt to new working conditions.

Nguyen The De, Head of the Thai Nguyen province’s Inspection Committee said that health care is an indispensable factor to create a high quality human resource. In this sense, good health depends on not only physical but also spiritual perfection. Every worker needs health to maintain and develop their brainpower and turn knowledge into physical capability. Moreover, with faith and firm will, workers should be able to overcome hardships and challenges.

Late President Ho Chi Minh taught that people who have moral virtues and firm political stance but lack knowledge, cannot do anything useful for society.

Knowledge and brainpower are essential factors for every person. Lack of brainpower will become a hindrance that lead to the failure of human activities.

The 11th National Party Congress reiterates that investment in high quality human resource is a decisive factor for every success.

Party committees urged to well prepare for NA elections

Party committees and organisations have been asked to have specific leading and directing plans and prepare necessary conditions to successfully organise the elections of the 13th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2011-2016 term.

The Politburo made the request in its recent directive on the elections of 13th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2011-2016 term.

Under the Directive No. 50-CT/TW, the elections will take place on the same day in 2011, after the conclusion of the 11th National Party Congress, and in the context of the whole Party, people and army making every effort to implement tasks set out in the Political Platform and Resolution of the 11th Congress.

The elections will be a chance for Vietnam to continue building, consolidating and perfecting the socialist law-governed state of the people, by the people and for the people.

Therefore, the selection of virtuous and talented people who are worthy of representing the people’s will, aspiration and right to be the master in the NA and People’s Councils at all levels in the new tenure will be a key task of the entire Party, people and army in 2011, the directive stressed.

It also urged Party committees and organisations to try their utmost to ensure that the elections will take place in a democratic, fair, legitimate, safe and economical manner and really become a festive day of the entire people.

They should well implement personnel work, ensuring the democracy and united leadership of the Party in the work. People who are nominated to the list of candidates for NA and People’s Councils must have ability and conditions to implement obligations of a NA deputy and a member of the People’s Council, keep regular and close contact with the people, listen to and respect the people’s ideas, say “no” to corruption and determinedly fight corruption, protect the legitimate interests of the people and win their love and confidence.

Party committees and organisations should direct well consultations on the nomination of candidates for deputies of the NA and members of People’s Councils at all levels, promote the people’s right to be the master in selecting and nominating candidates for NA and People’s Councils as well as ensure favourable conditions for all citizens to fully implement their candidacy and election rights under the law.

They should do well information and dissemination work, informing the entire Party, people and army about the significance and importance of the elections; regulations on the laws on the election of NA deputies and members of People’s Councils; the position and role of people’s representatives; rights, duties and responsibilities of citizens in building a pure, strong, efficient and effective State apparatus.

Party Congress hears presentations on essential matters

On January 14, the 11th National Party Congress listened to deputies’ speeches pertaining to the documents of the congress and to the measures for Party building and national construction.

The President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), Dang Ngoc Tung, began the session with his presentation on building a strong working class as a leading force in the process of industrialization and modernization.

In his speech, Tung affirmed the qualitative and quantitative strength of the Vietnamese working class as well the country’s trade unions in the past 20 years of renovation.

However, he pointed out that the Vietnamese workers are also facing enormous challenges, many of which have not been dealt with properly such as low incomes, poor housing, limited access to cultural services, poor knowledge, low self-discipline and shortage of industrial working styles.

Since 2006, the number of workers party members has never exceeded 10 percent of the total newly admitted members, Tung said, citing a popular fact that quite a few workers had violated labour law. He added that due attention has not been given to the training of workers.

In addition, Tung suggested the State quickly institutionalize the Party’s policies regarding urgent issues of workers so as to improve their living standards and spiritual lives.

Tung highlighted the need to effectively and gradually intellectualize workers with a view to improving productivity and business efficiency.

General Le Hong Anh, Minister of Public Security, outlined eight specific tasks for the next five years in building the people’s police force under new circumstances.

Anh said the Central Public Security Party Committee agreed with the defence-security mission covered in the Political Report of the Party’s 10th Central Committee: to defend the Fatherland’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, to protect the Party, State and people and the socialist regime, to maintain peace, national security, and social order, and to proactively foil sabotage plots and acts by forces hostile to the country’s revolutionary cause.

One of the issues attracting much attention of the Party and people is the struggle against corruption. In his report about the problem, Vu Tien Chien, Chief Office of the National Anti-corruption Campaign Steering Committee (NACCSC), emphasised that with great efforts, Vietnam won great achievements in combating corruption. However, shortcomings still remain as corruption is still complex and serious in different fields and levels.

Chien said that for the next five years, the Party set a target to prevent and push back corruption to make the Party transparent and strong and bolster people’s confidence, contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development.

He also proposed measures to improve the effectiveness of the combat, especially by introducing policies and mechanism on socio-economic management.

The Party should focus more on sensitive areas such as land and natural resources management, capital construction, budget revenue and expenditure, management of public property, and state-owned business equitization.

Le Huu Nghia, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, clarified the eight characteristics of socialism mentioned in the draft political platform for the transitional period to socialism (supplemented and revised in 2011).

While talking about “rich people, strong country, democratic, equal, and civilised society” characteristics, Nghia focused on the importance of democracy which is the objective as well as motivation of socialism and quoted President Ho Chi Minh’s saying that “democracy is the master key to success”.

Regarding the economic characteristic, he expressed his agreement with the draft platform that Vietnam is making effort to build a highly developed economy based on modern forces of production.

On behalf of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of Central State owned enterprise sector, Vu Duc Huy emphasized the role of State-owned corporations, especially in controlling inflation rate, maintaining macro-economy stability, and ensuring food and energy security, which helped the country overcome the economic crisis in 2008.

He asked the Party to objectively assess the State-owned corporations as they are the main forces in the country’s economy.

Le Phuoc Thanh of Quang Nam delegation made a presentation on promoting marine economy while ensuring national security. Another delegate, Trinh Long Bien, made one on strengthening Party’s supervision and inspection to contribute to building of a strong and transparent Party.

More congratulations flow in for Party Congress

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) continued to receive congratulatory messages from worldwide parties, organisations and friends on the occasion of the 11th National Party Congress, which opened in Hanoi on January 12.

Messages were received from:

- The Party for Democracy and Progress of Burkina Faso

- The Secretary General of the Tunisian Constitutional Democratic Rally

- The Labour Party of Mexico

- The Socialist Party of Chile

- The Equality Institute of Chile

- The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with foreign countries

These new congratulations have raised the total sent to the CPV to 164 by the end of Jan. 14, according to the External Relations Commission of the CPV Central Committee.

Expatriates closely follow Party Congress

Overseas Vietnamese from all walks of life in Russia and Germany have expressed confidence in greater success on the path towards a modern industrial nation after the new Party leadership is voted into office.

Doan Thi Kim Hoa, Director of the Indochina Tourist Company, which has been operating in Russia for 20 years, told Vietnam News Agency that she believed the ongoing National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam would conclude in success and bring out sound policies to encourage overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the development of their native land.

She said the Party Politburo resolution No. 36 on overseas Vietnamese has met home-sick expatriates’ demands and aspirations. However, she recommended the Party and State consider and work out better policies to put into full use the huge potential of the overseas Vietnamese community in service of the national development.

Nguyen Cao Cuong, President of the over 2,000-strong Association of Vietnamese Students in Russia and a young Party member, said the Party and State should create better conditions for students to study abroad and return home to contribute to national construction.

Talented students should be given chances to go abroad for higher education and improve their knowledge so that they will better contribute to the national development after coming back, said the student leader in Russia.

Le Thi Nha, from a remote rural village in the midland province of Phu Tho, who has worked as a housemaid in Russia since 2007, spoke of her gratitude to the Party and State for doing a good job in poverty alleviation.

“I expect that the Party will continue with such a great effort to improve the living conditions for the poor, people in remote areas and natural disaster victims,” said the guest worker.

Nguyen The Sang, who runs a business in Germany and is also President of the Poetry Lovers Club and Vice Chairman of the Vietnamfoto Club, said every day after work, he tried to access the internet and watch the central TV station (VTV4) to follow the situation at home. The habit has become stronger since January 12 when the Party Congress opened, Sang said.

The Party will certainly elect a talented and ethical leadership to work out sound and long-term policies in order to speed up renewal and advance the nation, said the businessman.

He said his poetry club will hold a gala night in February to celebrate the Lunar New Year Festival and the success of the Party Congress.

Chu Van Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam People’s Army Veterans’ Association in Berlin, Germany, said the Party Politburo resolution No. 36 on overseas Vietnamese has worked in meeting expatriates’ aspirations since it considers the overseas Vietnamese community as an integral part of the nation.

“The Vietnamese community in Berlin closely follows the Party Congress and strongly believes that it will be wrapped up with success and the new leadership will work out sound strategies and policies to help the nation overcome challenges and difficulties to meet the target of democracy and prosperity,” said the army veteran.

Party Congress attracts foreign media interest

The ongoing 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) continues to attract interest from foreign media.

In Beijing, Xinhua News Agency, Beijing Radio and many Chinese newspapers have carried reports over the past few days on the 11th National Party Congress of Vietnam, highlighting the country’s achievements in 25 years of implementing the national renewal process.

The newspapers interviewed many Vietnamese people, who said they watched news on the Party Congress and believed the renewal process brought great achievements to the country. The people wished that the Congress would elect new leaders with morality and talent to play a key role in the country’s development.

In Havana, the Granma daily of the Communist Party of Cuba on January 13 carried news and photos of the Congress’s opening ceremony, citing a speech by the event’s chair Nguyen Minh Triet, Party Politburo member and State President.

The speech affirmed that despite the challenges and impacts of the global financial crisis, the Vietnamese Party and people were determined to exert efforts to develop Vietnam into an industrialised country by 2020. State President Triet also stated that Marxism - Leninism have been the firm foundation of the renewal process in Vietnam over the past 25 years.

Meanwhile, “the Age” daily of Australia on Jan. 13 said that the Communist Party of Vietnam committed to carefully consider the model for national economic growth to build Vietnam into an industrialised country by 2020, while accelerating democracy in the Party.

An article by Roberto Tofani on the World Politics Review of Australia wrote since implementing the renewal process in 1986, Vietnam had posted rapid economic growth. In 2010, Vietnam obtained an economic growth rate of 6.7 percent despite impacts of the global financial crisis. The country also succeeded in poverty reduction and has exerted efforts to fulfill the UN’s millennium development goals (MDGs).

Answering Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Poldi Sosa Schmidt, President of the Argentina-Vietnam Culture Institute, said members of the institute and many Argentinean people who have sentiments with Vietnam, watched the news on the 11th National Party Congress, an important event to decide the development of Vietnam in the coming years.

She said that 25 years of the renewal process proved the capacity of the Communist Party of Vietnam in timely, suitably and bravely summing up historical experiences and implementing changes but keeping initial basic principles.

She expressed her belief that the 11th National Party Congress of Vietnam would work out suitable development orientations for Vietnam in the next decade, especially in maintaining national characteristics and guiding young generations to preserve the revolutionary tradition.

The Pravda daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Russia ran an article in its Jan. 14 issue, affirming that the 11th National Congress of the CPV is a milestone on Vietnam’s path to socialism.

Sergey Aphonin, a former reporter of Russian news agency TASS, expressed his hope that the 11th National Party Congress would open a new page for Vietnamese revolution, summarise the theory and reality of building a socialist regime and put forward specific tasks for Vietnam’s socio-economic development in the coming years.

Under the dynamic, clear-sighted and experienced leadership of the CPV, Vietnam is sure to become a democratic and prosperous country, he said.

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