13 major policy groups just passed by the National Assembly

Specific policies for Ho Chi Minh City, building expressways, clearing land for Long Thanh airport... are decisions recently approved by the National Assembly.

After 26 working days, the 4th session of the 14th National Assembly passed 6 draft laws and many important resolutions on the budget and socio-economic development.

National Assembly delegates press the button to approve special mechanisms and policies for Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: QH

In 2018, economic growth was 6.7%

On November 10, the National Assembly passed the 2018 Socio-Economic Resolution. Accordingly, the main targets for next year include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increases by 6.5% - 6.7%; total export turnover increases by 7% - 8%; the ratio of trade deficit to total export turnover is under 3%; the average consumer price index growth rate is about 4%; the unemployment rate in urban areas is under 4%...

According to the Resolution, the Government is responsible for reviewing all road traffic BOT stations to ensure publicity, transparency and legitimate rights of businesses and people; strictly handling violations of legal regulations that cause disorder and social insecurity.

The National Assembly also assigned the Government to have policies to encourage the development of high-tech agriculture and clean agriculture, deep processing and refined processing industries, and to increase the added value and competitiveness of agricultural products.

Borrow 363,280 billion VND to cover deficit and pay debt

With 86.56% of delegates in favor, on November 13, the National Assembly passed the Resolution on the State budget estimate for 2018. Accordingly, the total budget revenue in 2018 is more than 1.3 million billion VND, the total budget expenditure is 1.52 million billion VND.

Thus, in 2018, the State budget deficit was 204,000 billion VND, equivalent to 3.7% of GDP, 0.2% higher than in 2017.

Total state budget borrowing (borrowing to cover deficit and borrowing to repay principal) is over 363,280 billion VND.

Central budget allocation in 2018

On November 14, 88.39% of delegates approved the Resolution on the allocation of the central budget in 2018. Accordingly, the total central budget revenue is 753,404 billion VND, the total local budget revenue is 565,796 billion VND.

Total central budget expenditure is 948,404 billion VND, of which 321,151 billion VND is estimated to supplement the budget balance and targeted supplement to local budgets.

The Government is responsible for assigning the tasks of State budget collection and expenditure and the allocation of the central budget to each ministry, province and city in accordance with the provisions of law.

Empowering people who directly plant forests

On November 15, the National Assembly passed the Forestry Law (the new name of the revised Law on Forest Protection and Development).

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan, this Law is different from previous Laws in that it not only focuses on forest formation (previously focusing on forest management, protection and development) but also extends to trade. In particular, the strategy for forest economic development is institutionalized, and large-scale forest production is also considered in many ways, including land accumulation.

In the Forestry Law, each type of forest owner is clearly defined and in the direction of increasing the rights of those who directly put effort into planting and protecting forests.

The law comes into effect from January 1, 2019.

After 26 working days, the 4th session of the 14th National Assembly passed 6 draft laws.

Weak banks will be bankrupt

On November 20, with 88.8% of delegates in favor, the National Assembly passed the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Credit Institutions.

This law supplements the restructuring plan for specially controlled credit institutions, including recovery plans; mergers, consolidations, transfer of all shares, capital contributions, compulsory transfers..., banks that are too weak will be allowed to go bankrupt.

In addition, the Chairman of the Board of Directors (BOD), Chairman of the Board of Members, General Director (Director) of a credit institution must not concurrently be the Chairman of the Board of Directors, member of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of Members, member of the Board of Members, Chairman of the company, General Director or equivalent positions of another enterprise.

The amended law takes effect from January 15, 2018. However, banks that have been under special control and are implementing a resolution plan, and banks that were previously acquired at zero dong, will continue to follow the approved plan.

Establishment of Fund for protection and development of aquatic resources

On November 21, the National Assembly passed the Law on Fisheries (amended), consisting of 9 chapters and 105 articles, regulating the protection and development of aquatic resources; management of fishing vessels, public fisheries vessels, fishing ports, storm shelters for fishing vessels; fisheries inspection...

Funds for protection and development of aquatic resources will be established at central and provincial levels.

This Law comes into force from January 1, 2019.

Ambassador standards from Deputy Director level and above

On November 21, the National Assembly voted to pass the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Representative Agencies of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad.

The Law stipulates the standards of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary as the basis for introducing and recommending qualified officials and civil servants to be Ambassadors, not only those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also from other ministries, branches and agencies.

The Ambassador's qualifications from the level of Deputy Director of Department or equivalent or higher are suitable for foreign affairs requirements and the practice of appointing Ambassadors; the Ambassador's term of office is 36 months.

The law comes into effect from July 1, 2018.

Adjusting the implementation roadmap of programs and textbooks

On November 21, the National Assembly voted to pass a resolution adjusting the roadmap for implementing general education programs and textbooks.

The deadline for applying the new curriculum and textbooks in a rolling manner will be implemented no later than the 2020-2021 school year for primary schools, from the 2021-2022 school year for secondary schools, and from the 2022-2023 school year for high schools.

Thus, instead of studying new textbooks from next year according to the old resolution, students will have access to the new curriculum and textbooks within the next two years at the latest.

Construction of some expressway sections on the North-South Eastern route

On November 22, the National Assembly passed a resolution on the investment policy for the project to build a number of expressway sections on the Eastern North-South route in the 2017-2020 period.

Accordingly, the expressway sections on the North-South Eastern route in the 2017-2020 period include: from Cao Bo (Nam Dinh) to Bai Vot (Ha Tinh); from Cam Lo (Quang Tri) to La Son (Thua Thien - Hue); from Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) to Dau Giay (Dong Nai) and the construction of My Thuan 2 bridge (Tien Giang and Vinh Long).

In the period of 2017 - 2020, it is expected to invest 654 km, divided into independently operated component projects, with investment forms and scales suitable for each component project. The total preliminary investment of the project is more than 118,700 billion VND, including: 55,000 billion VND of state capital under the medium-term investment plan for the period of 2016 - 2020 and more than 63,700 billion VND of capital mobilized outside the budget.

Unified public debt management focal point

On November 23, with 85.74% of delegates in favor, the National Assembly passed the Law on Public Debt Management (amended).

The law stipulates that the Ministry of Finance will be the focal agency to help the Government unify State management of public debt, instead of three focal agencies (including the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the State Bank) as before.

The National Assembly assigned the Government to specifically assign tasks and coordination mechanisms to relevant ministries and branches in state management of public debt.

Abolish industry and product planning

On November 24, the National Assembly voted to pass the Planning Law with 88.19% of delegates in favor.

The law stipulates the development of a national master plan in a positive direction and the abolition of industry and product plans, instead allowing the market to self-regulate.

The Law on Planning consists of 6 chapters and 72 articles regulating the establishment, appraisal, decision or approval, announcement, implementation, adjustment, supervision, assessment, inspection and examination of the national planning system; rights, obligations and responsibilities of agencies, organizations and individuals in planning activities.

Spending 23,000 billion to clear land for Long Thanh airport

On the afternoon of November 24, the National Assembly voted to pass a Resolution on the feasibility study report for the land acquisition, compensation, support, and resettlement project of Long Thanh International Airport, with 94.3% of delegates in favor.

According to the Resolution, the recovered land area is nearly 5,400 hectares, of which 5,000 hectares are reserved for Long Thanh airport; more than 282 hectares belong to the Loc An - Binh Son resettlement area; 97 hectares belong to the Binh Son resettlement area; the cemetery land area is 20 hectares.

Land acquisition, compensation, support and resettlement will be carried out once and completed before 2021.

With a total project investment of VND 22,938 billion, the National Assembly assigned the Government to specify the level of support for households whose income is affected on the basis of ensuring harmony with projects implemented in the area.

Special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City

On the afternoon of November 24, the National Assembly voted to pass a Resolution on special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

Accordingly, 4 groups of specific mechanisms will be piloted for Ho Chi Minh City, including land management, investment, finance - budget and income mechanism for civil servants and public employees under the city's management.

The resolution passed this time does not allow Ho Chi Minh City to pilot a property tax. The National Assembly Standing Committee proposed that the Government continue to study and submit to the National Assembly the Law on Property Tax to be applied uniformly nationwide in accordance with the orientation of reforming the national tax system in the 2016-2020 period.

In addition to the above resolutions, at the closing session on the afternoon of November 24, the National Assembly passed a resolution on continuing to reform the organization of the state administrative apparatus to be streamlined, operate effectively and efficiently, and conduct questioning activities.

According to VNE