Nearly 500 deputies took part in the ninth and last session of the 12th National Assembly which opened yesterday in Ha Noi.

In his opening speech, Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said that the final session was taking place after the 11th National Party Congress and the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the first National Assembly General Election.

He said under the Party’s leadership, the National Assembly’s supervision and the Government’s guidance, the political system, business and people’s efforts; the country’s economy had still achieved a fair growth rate; social security had been ensured; and national defence, security, and social order had been maintained; with the country’s position in the regional and international arena continuously improved.

However, huge difficulties and challenges still existed, requiring greater and more drastic determination in the management and implementation of the NA’s resolution for 2011.

Trong stressed the importance of the final session of the 12th NA, saying that it was a chance for the NA, its agencies and the Government to consider what had been achieved and what remained, as well as difficulties and shortcomings.

Lessons and experiences would be drawn, with proposals drafted to improve the efficiency of key State institutions, the leader said.

While delivering his speech, Trong sent the deep sympathy of the Vietnamese National Assembly to the Japanese Emperor, Parliament, Government and people over the severe loss and damage caused by earthquakes and tsunami.

He expressed his belief that through the Japanese people’s efforts and the international communities’ support, the country would overcome its current difficulties to stabilise production and daily life and continue developing.

Following the opening, NA deputies heard a supplementary report on the country’s socio-economic performances in 2010 and implementation of the 2011 socio-economic development plan, which was presented by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung.

According to the report, the nation’s economy reached a growth rate of 6.78 per cent last year; export turnover totalled US$72.2 billion, four times higher than the target approved by the NA; and State budget collection was 21.2 per cent higher than predicted.

However, the report also pointed to the sharp increase in consumer price index (CPI) in the fourth quarter of 2010, recording an annual CPI rate much higher than expected.

Hung added environmental pollution was still a serious problem, especially in urban areas, industrial and processing zones, and handicraft villages.

He also reported on the progress in the restructuring of the Viet Nam National Shipbuilding Industry Group to the NA deputies and the failure of individuals to monitor the group’s poor performance.

Deputy PM Hung affirmed that curbing inflation, stabilising the macro economy and ensuring social security and progress towards sustainable development would continue to be major tasks in implementing the 2011 socio-economic development plan.

Measurements would be applied to fulfil the tasks were to tighten the monetary and fiscal policies such as limiting money supply, controlling credit growth, reducing public investment, prioritising capital for key urgent projects, saving 10 per cent of regular State spending and reducing the State budget deficit to 5 per cent of GDP; boost production and exports; curb the trade deficit; and save energy.

The NA also heard reports reviewing and assessing the accomplishments registered during the 2007-2011 term of the 12th NA, the State President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court, and the Head of the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

Regarding legislation, the eight-day session is expected to consider and pass four bills, including the Law on Independent Auditing, the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention, the Law on the Capital City, and amendments to the Civil Litigation Code.

PM reports business

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said in his report yesterday that during the past five years, the number of businesses in Viet Nam had more than doubled and their combined registered capital had increased almost six times.

From 2007-2011, important socio-economic achievements had been made under Party leadership and State management. The report added that the efforts of the people nationally had made a big contribution.

Dung said that about 4,000 new co-operatives had been established. At the end of 2010, 544,000 businesses were registered compared with a target of 500,000.

He added that in the 2006-2010 period, the private sector had contributed 34.8 per cent of social investment, generated 49 per cent of non-agricultural jobs in rural areas and contributed 45 per cent of the country’s GDP.

Dung said the Government had kept its own debt and public and national debt within safety limits and ensured the stable operation of the banking system. This was reflected in the reduction of bad debts in the commercial banking system.

He said that now the Government was calling for synchronised measures to develop trade and gradually overcome payment imbalances.

Dung admitted that there were shortcomings in the management and leadership of the legal system, that there had been unstable economic development, low competitiveness, an infrastructure that failed to meet development requirements - and slow action in training human resources and scientific and technological development.

President Triet said he had implemented tasks relating to legislative and judiciary activities, and law execution, defence and security.

He said he had made suggestions to the NA Standing Committee on ordinance building programmes and the content of a number of laws and ordinances. He said he was involved in building an increasingly synchronous legal system which met State and social management requirements and those for international integration standards.

The President said he had closely collaborated with the Presidium of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee in contributing to the national unity bloc and bringing democracy into play in social life, encouraging the people to give opinions on building Party policy and State laws.

Source: VNS