National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan: This is a very successful Government term.

On February 23, the National Assembly Standing Committee discussed and gave opinions on the Government's 2016-2021 term work report. Attending and chairing the meeting were National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Vice Chairwomen of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, and leaders of central ministries and branches.

Twice as hard, three times as hard

Authorized by the Prime Minister, Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung presented the Government's Work Report for the 2016-2021 term.GovernmentAccordingly, thoroughly implementing the motto from the beginning of the term of "Building a creative, honest, active, and people-serving Government", inheriting management and operation experience from previous terms, the Government has promptly issued programs and plans, synchronously and effectively implemented resolutions of the Party, the National Assembly, and the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan 2011-2020. Every year, the Government sets out action mottos, management viewpoints, and specific tasks and solutions in line with practical requirements. Constantly innovating, strongly reforming, steadfastly and determinedly implementing the goals, targets, and tasks set by the Party and the National Assembly.

In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government and the Prime Minister have directed a unified management viewpoint with the spirit of "When the difficulty is double, we must make three times more efforts", determined to achieve the "dual goal" of both preventing the epidemic and developing the socio-economy, ensuring people's lives, striving to achieve the highest goals, targets and plans set out in the "new normal" conditions.

According to Minister Mai Tien Dung, the Government always strictly complies with the leadership of the Party and the supervision of the National Assembly, upholds the spirit of solidarity and responsibility before the People and the country, and fully performs its tasks and powers as prescribed by the Constitution and laws. The Government is proactive, flexible, creative, and resolute in managing and operating all fields, both effectively performing key tasks and promptly handling sudden and arising issues.

Notably, policy making, building and perfecting laws associated with law enforcement in the spirit of the rule of law; promoting administrative procedure reform, improving the investment and business environment, enhancing national competitiveness, innovating the working methods of state administrative agencies associated with building e-Government; promoting the development of a socialist-oriented market economy, creating momentum for socio-economic development.

In particular, the Government is always steadfast in its goal of stabilizing the macro-economy, controlling inflation, creating a favorable environment to promote economic growth; promoting exports, controlling imports, focusing on stimulating domestic consumption; promoting economic restructuring associated with innovation of the growth model, improving productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy; exploiting and promoting the potential advantages of each industry, arousing the spirit of entrepreneurship, attracting resources for development; innovating and improving the quality of planning work, coordination mechanisms, developing regional economy, marine economy, urban areas and building new rural areas; focusing on implementing strategic breakthroughs; paying attention to comprehensive development of cultural and social fields, making progress, social justice, improving people's lives; proactively and resolutely responding promptly, preventing and controlling the Covid-19 pandemic well, strengthening resource management, protecting the environment, adapting to climate change and preventing natural disasters; Strengthening the work of preventing corruption, waste and resolving complaints and denunciations; strengthening national defense and security, firmly protecting the country's independence and sovereignty; perfecting the state apparatus, administrative discipline, effectiveness and efficiency of state management...

The review report of the Law Committee presented by Chairman Hoang Thanh Tung stated: The Standing Committee of the Law Committee agreed with many contents in the Government's Report and recognized that, in the 2016-2021 term, although the world and regional situation had many complicated and unpredictable developments; the country had to face many difficulties and challenges due to natural disasters and epidemics, under the leadership of the Party, the Government and the Prime Minister, they have constantly innovated, been flexible, creative, closely followed in direction, administration, strongly reformed and resolutely acted according to the motto of a creative and active Government; as a result, the goals, targets and tasks set out in the resolutions of the Party and the National Assembly have been successfully implemented, making important contributions to the overall socio-economic development achievements of the country.

The summary report has been carefully and meticulously prepared by the Government with many specific figures, comprehensive and in-depth basic assessments of all aspects of work during the entire term, clearly demonstrating the Government's guiding and operating principles and viewpoints, highlighting the results achieved, pointing out the limitations, shortcomings and causes, summarizing some lessons learned and determining the direction and tasks of the Government in the coming term. However, regarding the structure of the Report, it is recommended that it be further improved to ensure a better balance between the assessment of the results achieved and the assessment of the shortcomings and limitations in each field; clearly analyzing the causes of the results achieved; at the same time, reviewing to avoid duplication, some contents need to be presented more concisely and generally; specific data and information, especially in the economic field, should be compiled into tables, diagrams and appendices so that the Report has a higher synthesis and generalization; At the same time, update information and data to the reporting time to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

The Government is proactive, dynamic and creative in its direction and administration.

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized: The Government's report summarizing the term was prepared very seriously, elaborately and clearly. This is a very successful term of the Government in a context and conditions with many difficulties, but the Government still firmly steered the country's economy, achieving very meaningful achievements.

Basically agreeing with the results achieved in the report stated by the Government, the National Assembly Chairman pointed out the strong marks in the Government's term that we clearly see: "The Government is very dynamic, creative, and proactive in its direction and administration. The Government strictly implements the provisions of the Constitution and laws and the Government highly respects the National Assembly in its work. The Prime Minister and members of the Government all listen and are serious in reporting and explaining the opinions of National Assembly deputies," the National Assembly Chairman emphasized.

In addition, the National Assembly Chairman also highlighted other milestones such as the Government's harmonious handling of all areas, not favoring one side or the other, with the motto of "leaving no one behind in the development process" of the country. We also maintain national defense and security in all situations.

Another notable success is Vietnam's success in foreign affairs and international integration during the last Government term, successfully organizing the APEC Summit, performing well the role of ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

In particular, when the country faced natural disasters and epidemics, the Government handled the situation very quickly and controlled it, which was highly appreciated by the international community and received the people's sympathy and support.

“I am very impressed with the direction and management of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and members of the Government in the operation of the national administration, especially the activities before the National Assembly and voters nationwide. This shows that the members of the Government are very brave, confident and have a firm grasp of the issues when standing before the National Assembly and voters' forums, not confused or not having a deep understanding of the issues in their respective fields,” said the National Assembly Chairman.

Commenting on the Government's term work report, Vice President Do Ba Ty found the Government's report to be very elaborate, specifically assessing the country's socio-economic development situation comprehensively. He agreed with the review report and suggested further assessment of the results and directions for ensuring national defense and security in the past time and orientations for the future.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Nguyen Van Giau expressed some deep impressions of the Government over the past 5 years, that is, we have performed Vietnam's international role very well through the role of APEC 2017 host and ASEAN Chair 2020. We have also completed many FTAs, expanded the market, which is a measure to evaluate the country's role, the capacity of enterprises and the quality of goods when entering other countries. In particular, the macro economy is stable, the major balances of the economy are maintained, and the trade surplus has achieved great results.

Mr. Giau also suggested that it is necessary to properly assess the “health” of the economy if the Covid-19 pandemic continues to last in order to have synchronous and comprehensive policies and solutions for the economy. There should be a strategy to exploit and take advantage of opportunities brought about by integration, especially for localities. Pay more attention to developing the agricultural sector and improving the lives of ethnic minorities in mountainous and remote areas.

Achievements in the past term are valuable experience for the coming time.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his gratitude and accepted the comments of the National Assembly Standing Committee, completing the report to be officially presented to the National Assembly at the next session. In particular, the Government will clarify a number of issues raised in the Law Committee's review report.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, the Government for the 2016-2021 term has successfully completed its assigned tasks with positive results. We are in the top 40 largest economies in the world, labor productivity has clearly improved and exceeded the set target, growth from breadth to depth on the basis of stronger application of science and technology factors, budget deficit within the set scope, during the term, more than 8 million new jobs were created, people's income increased, the role of the private economy was increasingly affirmed as an important driving force of the country's economy, many products have joined the global value chain, food security is ensured, the development of high-tech agriculture and organic green agriculture is promoted...

The work of improving the business investment environment and administrative reform has received attention and achieved impressive results. This has increased the competitiveness of the economy, the work of building and perfecting institutions has continued to be strongly innovated, minimizing administrative procedures, simplifying business conditions, reducing overlaps, inadequacies and obstacles in legal regulations to serve the people and businesses.

The above results were achieved thanks to the leadership of the Party, the supervision of the National Assembly, the consensus and support of the people, and the promotion of the combined strength of the entire political system and people of the whole country. “These are valuable experiences that the Government will learn and implement better in the coming time,” Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh stated.