On the occasion of Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day 2022, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue granted Nhan Dan an interview on the Party and State’s policies in economic development and building an army of Vietnamese enterprises and entrepreneurs capable of reaching out to the world.
Q: The 15th National Assembly began its tenure at a time when Vietnam was facing the severe impacts of COVID-19 with unprecedented difficulties and challenges. How did the National Assembly work side by side with the Government and support the people and businesses?
A: At the start of the 15th National Assembly, Vietnam was facing unprecedented socio-economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the strict social distancing measures put in place nationwide, especially in major economic centres, production and business activities were stalled and severely affected, supply chains were disrupted, jobs were cut, and people’s lives were hit hard. In addition, the GDP in the third quarter shrank the most since Vietnam officially began to announce its GDP data, at minus 6.02%, resulting in a full-year growth rate of 2.58%, the lowest in years.
However, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the proactive and active participation of the National Assembly and the aggressive actions of the Government, as well as the solidarity and support of the people and the business community, Vietnam managed to achieve the dual targets of protecting public health and reviving socio-economic development.
In line with the Party’s guidelines and resolutions, the National Assembly has always placed the people and enterprises at the central position in all of its decisions, from law building and supreme supervision to decisions on important national matters and foreign affairs.
At its first plenary session, the 15th National Assembly promptly institutionalised the Party’s resolutions, by adopting medium-term plans for the 2021-2025 period and notably a resolution allowing the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government, the Prime Minister and local authorities to implement special measures, which might be different from current regulations or have not been regulated, to control the pandemic, support enterprises and the people, ensure political security, public order and social security, enhance the resilience of the people, enterprises and the economy.
Thanks to that resolution, the National Assembly Standing Committee and the Government immediately implemented several specific policies, supporting the people and enterprises to overcome the most difficult period during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the start of 2022, the National Assembly convened the first extraordinary session in history and adopted a resolution on fiscal and monetary measures to support the socio-economic recovery and development programme, with a focus on policies supporting enterprises and the people worth up to 347 trillion VND (14.5 billion USD), raising the total spending on fighting COVID-19 and reviving socio-economic development to over 8% of GDP, much higher than countries with the same socio-economic conditions as Vietnam throughout the region and around the world.
Since the start of the 15th tenure, the National Assembly also passed resolutions on six important national transportation projects, namely the eastern section of the north-south expressway during the 2021-2025 period, the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway, the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang Expressway, the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, Hanoi’s Ring Road 4, Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3 and many other important resolutions to accelerate socio-economic recovery and development.
For foreign affairs activities, the National Assembly Chairman, National Assembly Vice Chairmen, and agencies of the National Assembly have actively and very effectively implemented the "Vaccine diplomacy strategy", exchanging and sharing experiences of the legislative body in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, the socio-economic recovery and development programme after the pandemic, thus strengthening the promotion of foreign investment attraction.
Thanks to synchronous and drastic solutions, from the end of 2021, the domestic economy will recover, regaining growth momentum in 2022. Especially, Vietnam's GDP grew by 13.67% in the third quarter of 2022. With upbeat signs reported in almost all aspects between January and September, the GDP was estimated to rise 8.83% for the period. It is expected that the whole year could reach 8%. The macro economy is stable, the inflation is controlled and the major balances are ensured. The import and export turnover grew strongly. The number of newly established enterprises returning to operation reached a record level. The material and spiritual life of the people has improved. It is forecast that the yearly socio-economic development targets will be completed and exceeded.
Q: Synchronously building and perfecting institutions is one of the three strategic breakthroughs for sustainable national development, proposed by our Party from the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and is continuing to be identified as a key breakthrough stage of top priority in the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and for the 2021-2030 period. Can you tell me about the National Assembly's major orientations in perfecting institutions and solutions to ensure legislative quality in the coming time?
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue: Perfecting the development institutions, especially the socialist-oriented market economy institution, is a task that has always been directed by our Party, being one of the strategic breakthroughs of our country. The Resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress emphasised, that one of the key tasks of building and perfecting a rule-of-law socialist state is "building a complete, timely, uniform, feasible, public, transparent and stable legal system, that centres on the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of the people and businesses". Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, in his speech at the first session of the 15th National Assembly, also directed the National Assembly to give "priority to building new and supplementing laws in key areas of significance, with high feasibility, creating a breakthrough in socio-economic development".
In my inauguration speech as Chairman of the 15th-tenure National Assembly, I also affirmed the task of comprehensively and synchronously completing the country's development institutions, especially the socialist-oriented market economy, creating a favourable, healthy and equal investment and business environment for all economic sectors, as a key task of the 15th National Assembly.
Therefore, right at the beginning of its term, the Party Delegation of the National Assembly presided over the formulation and submitted to the Politburo for the promulgation of Conclusion No. 19-KL/TW, dated October 14, 2021, on the orientation of the law-making programme for the 15th National Assembly term. This is the first time the Politburo has concluded on the direction of law-making during the entire term of the National Assembly.
In particular, the goals were clearly defined, including synchronously perfecting the development institution, creating a legal framework for the successful implementation of socio-economic development tasks in the 2021-2025 period, associated with 12 national development orientations, six key tasks and three strategic breakthroughs set out in the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress. The goals also include focusing on institutionalising the guidelines identified in the documents of the 13th National Party Congress in a timely, complete and synchronous manner, to finalise a complete, timely, uniform, feasible, public, transparent and stable legal system, that centres on the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of the people and businesses; strengthening supervision and control over the exercise of state power; strongly promoting innovation to meet requirements on comprehensively and synchronously stepping up the renovation, industrialization and modernization process, ensuring national defence and security, and developing the country quickly and sustainably.
On that basis, the National Assembly Standing Committee issued Plan No. 81, to implement the Politburo's Conclusion No. 19 on identifying 137 legislative tasks for the 2021-2025 term, focusing on eight major orientations including:
First, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of comprehensively and synchronously perfecting the institutions for the development of a socialist-oriented market economy. Focusing on removing bottlenecks hindering development; creating a favourable, healthy and fair investment and business environment for all economic sectors.
Second, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of a fundamental and comprehensive reform of education and training; promoting innovation, applying for technology transfer, and development of science and technology, making the most of the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; building a legal policy framework on digital infrastructure development, to promote the national digital transformation process.
Third, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of sustainable social development management while ensuring social progress and justice, with a focus on the laws on social insurance, employment, and people's healthcare.
Fourth, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of effective management and use of land, natural resources, and environmental protection while proactively adapting to climate change, with a focus on the law on land management to tighten the management, mobilisation, allocation and effective use of land resources for national development.
Fifth, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of strengthening national defence and security, thus firmly defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland; the national sovereignty and borders, maintaining political security, social order and safety, and ensuring a peaceful and stable environment for national development.
Sixth, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of proactive and comprehensive international integration; fully and promptly realise commitments in international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, especially new-generation free trade agreements.
Seventh, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of promoting the strength of national unity, socialist democracy, and the people's right to mastery; and uphold the role and the central position of the people in all mechanisms, policies and laws. Further promoting the key political role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organisations while strengthening supervision and social criticism. Completing the law to fully concretise human rights and citizenship according to the provisions of the Constitution.
Eighth, perfecting the law to meet the requirements of building a rule-of-law socialist State, focusing on continuing to renovate the activities of the National Assembly; perfecting the legislative process, supervision and decision-making on important issues of the country; creating a legal framework for the operation of e-Government, targeting the building of a digital government, digital economy and digital society; renovating and perfecting the organisation of local governments in rural and urban areas, islands, and special administrative-economic zones; and perfecting the law on the organisation and operation of judicial agencies, the detection and handling of corruption and negative phenomena, and asset recovery from corruption cases.
 |
NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visits the control room of VRG Dongwha MDF Joint Stock Company in Chon Thanh District, Binh Phuoc Province. (Photo: DUY LINH) |
Recently, the National Assembly Standing Committee held a conference to review the implementation its Conclusion No. 19 and Plan No. 81. The results showed that after only 10-month implementation, the National Assembly, the Government and relevant agencies have fulfilled up to 49.6% of the total legislative tasks of the entire tenure.
In order to improve the quality of draft laws submitted to the National Assembly, the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee have adopted many practical and effective innovations. Accordingly, the National Assembly Standing Committee spends more time to carefully consider and give opinions on draft laws, ordinances, draft resolutions and draw specific conclusions on each project such that functional agencies and organisations can make prompt adjustments. The National Assembly also holds extraordinary meetings, even outside office hours, in order to review the Government's reports and resolve arising problems in a timely manner. Since August, the National Assembly Standing Committee has held legal symposiums which focus on reviewing and giving opinions on draft laws, ordinances and resolutions. The National Assembly has also paid special attention to preventing negative phenomenon during the law-making process in order to protect the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses, streamline administrative procedures, improve the investment and business environment while avoiding abuse of state power for individual's interests and “group interests”, and preventing the situation in which the amendment and supplement of the law is made just to benefit the management agencies rather than people and businesses.
The National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee have attentively listened to opinions on draft laws to ensure the best possible legitimate rights and interests of the people and business community.
The National Assembly-run agencies have closely coordinated with the agencies which submit the draft laws to discuss and make thorough examination of the documents. The government leaders and ministers are also more active and spend more time on the law and ordinance making programme.
In order to ensure the quality of legislation, we must continue to make good use of the early coordination mechanism soon and the responsible community. It is essential to truly “listen to the breath of life”, listen together, and listen to the people and business community. In this way, no matter how difficult the tasks are, we can complete them and reach a high consensus.
Q: In recent years, you have had many meetings, working sessions and dialogues with businesses and entrepreneurs both at home and abroad. How do you assess the “resilience” of the economy in general and the business community in particular in the current period?
A: Persevering in consolidating and strengthening the macro-economic foundation and the economy's resilience has been always a top priority for the country, especially in the context of the large openness of Vietnamese economy and the rapid, complicated and unpredictable global situation. In recent three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has left very heavy consequences while the Russia-Ukraine conflict has exacerbated the difficulties that the world economy is facing. Most countries have been experiencing economic stagnation and rising inflation. However, Vietnam is still recording a high growth rate (8.83% in the first nine months of 2022) and low inflation. The country ranks second in the world in terms of post-pandemic resilience according to a number of international organisations. The great difficulties and challenges ahead show that the resilience of Vietnam’s economy and business community is very strong.
Q: Could you please share about your expectations for the Vietnamese business community in the implementation of the country's development goals to 2025 with an orientation to 2030 and a vision until 2045?
A: In his letter to the Vietnamese industry and trade sector 77 years ago, on October 13, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed the role of entrepreneurs and put his faith in their mission. He wrote: “While other sectors in the nation worked hard to gain complete independence for the country, the Industry and Trade sector had to work to build a stable and prosperous economy and financing. The Government, the people and I will wholeheartedly help the Industry and Trade sector during the national construction process…”. Over the past 77 years, especially over the 35 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), the Vietnamese business force has always been a pioneering force in the cause of industrialisation and modernisation of the country. The force has increasingly affirmed its role and position as well as made important contributions to national construction and defence.
In the current period, the Party has implemented a series of important resolutions on the development of Vietnamese enterprises and entrepreneurs, such as Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW in 2011 on building and promoting the role of the business force during the period of accelerating industrialisation, modernisation and international integration, Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW on the development of private economy, and Resolution No. 12-NQ/TW on continuing to restructure, innovate and improve the efficiency of state-owned enterprises.
In order to successfully implement the country's development goals to 2025, with an orientation until 2030 and a vision towards 2045, I hope that the whole political system, the businesses community and entrepreneurs will thoroughly and effectively implement the above resolutions. The Party committees, authorities, business community and entrepreneurs will go hand in hand, as the adage says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”. If you want to go far in difficult and challenging conditions towards reaching the finish line and fulfilling major directional goals, you must stand side by side and unite within the country while strengthening cooperation and solidarity with other countries in the region and the world.
I deeply believe that, moving in the future, Vietnam will have an increasingly worthy position in the region and the world. This was thanks to a very important contribution from the business community and entrepreneurs. The Party and State have always upheld and valued the position of enterprises and entrepreneurs in all undertakings and policies. Therefore, I wish and expect that the business community and entrepreneurs will continue to unite, join hands and closely work with the Party and State to surpass the difficulties so that the country will achieve the goal of becoming a developed and high-income country by 2030, when the 100th anniversary of the Party is celebrated, and until 2045, on the occasion of the100th anniversary of the country’s establishment.
Thank you very much for your interview!
