The 12th National Assembly convened its fifth session in Hanoi on May 20.
The opening session saw the presence of Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee (VFFCC) Huynh Dam.
In his opening speech, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said that the national economy has recorded many positive results thanks to the Party and State’s instructions as well as efforts of the business community and the entire population.
The pressures on production, jobs and people’s lives have been gradually eased, said NA Chairman Trong, adding that the rapid introduction of financial solutions and stimulus packages has had a positive effect.
“The gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.1 percent in the first quarter while the macro-economy was stable and inflation remained under control,” the NA leader said.
However, Trong noted that analysts have predicted that the global economy will remain complex until the end of the year while the national economy faces various difficulties and weaknesses inside the country.
“This requires the NA, the Government, local authorities, the business community and the public to act as one to deal with any problems with the top priority given to presenting the economy from declining any further,” the NA Chairman noted.
He used the occasion to outline the importance of the NA sessions by bringing into play the responsibility of the NA deputies along with raising the quality of work carried out by the NA committees and relevant agencies.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung presented a report that reviewed the country’s socio-economic performance in 2008 and the first five months of 2009. The government’s report also outlined tasks and solutions to hold the economic crisis at bay, stabilise the macro-economy and maintain an acceptable and sustainable economic growth while ensuring social welfare.
The Government asked the NA to adjust the target for GDP growth from around 6.5 percent to around 5 percent and the proportion of over-spending from 4.82 percent of the GDP to not more than 8 percent. They are also keen to issue additional government bonds worth 20 trillion VND.
The NA was also asked to amend and supplement a number of tax policies and amend mechanisms and policies on basic construction investment, bidding and several other important policies.
Deputy PM Hung confirmed the Government’s determination to enhance their management capacity and strive to implement the socio-economic development plan and the State budget for 2009 at its best.
The session also heard VFFCC President Dam’s summary of voters’ queries and opinions on the Government’s stimulus packages; labour issues; jobs; environmental hygiene; the exploitation of natural resources and food hygiene and safety; the quality of education and training; traffic safety and the effectiveness of the campaign to fight corruption and waste.
The 12th NA’s fifth session will discuss six bills and examine for approval 12 others as well as a law building plan for 2010.
The NA deputies will also hear reports on the implementation of policies and laws concerning food safety and quality control. A summary of voters’ petitions will be considered and question-and-answer sessions will be held with government cabinet members.
The session will examine a report on the resettlement of people displaced to make way for the Son La hydroelectric power project and other reports presented by the NA’s committees.
