Proposing solutions for socio-economic development in 2014

Continuing the program of the 6th session of the 13th National Assembly, on the morning of October 31, National Assembly deputies discussed in the hall the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in 2013, the socio-economic development plan in 2014; the results of the implementation of the overall project on economic restructuring; the implementation of the 5-year socio-economic development plan (2011-2015): the results from 2011 to present and the directions and solutions to achieve socio-economic goals until the end of 2015.

This important session was broadcast live on radio and television for voters nationwide to follow.

National Assembly delegate of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province Pham Quang Khai speaks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

Continue to stabilize the macro economy and control inflation

Through discussion, many National Assembly deputies agreed with the assessment in the Government's Report as well as the Verification Report of the National Assembly's Economic Committee. In the context of difficult economic conditions in the world and in the country, with the timely guidance and policies of the Party and the efforts of the entire political system, the socio-economic situation has had positive changes, in the right direction and basically achieved the general goal of 2013 which is "strengthening macroeconomic stability, lower inflation, higher growth than in 2012" and "ensuring social security and social welfare."

In the context of global economic downturn, domestic economy facing many difficulties and having to focus on curbing inflation, stabilizing the macro economy, ensuring social security and national defense and security, achieving the above results is a great effort of the entire political system, the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army.

In addition to emphasizing the results achieved, many National Assembly deputies have analyzed in depth the remaining limitations and weaknesses. That is, the macro economy is basically stable, inflation is controlled but not yet stable. Production and business still face many difficulties. Bad debt is still high; the number of dissolved and inactive enterprises is still large; GDP growth has not reached the plan (5.4% compared to the plan of 5.5%). Economic restructuring and growth model transformation are still slow compared to requirements. Implementation of the 3 strategic breakthroughs is still slow. Institutional reform is not synchronous, there are no breakthrough policies and mechanisms to promote development.

Many opinions also assessed that the cultural and social fields still have many limitations and weaknesses. Employment has not met the plan. The rate of poor and near-poor households is still high, especially in ethnic minority areas. The gap between rich and poor is still large. Care and protection of people's health in many aspects is still limited, some incidents have caused outrage in society. The solution to the problem of hospital overload is still slow...

The basic opinions agreed with the objectives, tasks and solutions for socio-economic development in 2014-2015, including continuing to stabilize the macro-economy, control inflation; restore growth and improve the quality and efficiency of competitiveness; promote the implementation of 3 strategic breakthroughs, restructure the economy in conjunction with growth model innovation. Ensure social security and social welfare, improve people's lives...

Clarifying State management responsibilities in performing socio-economic development tasks

Delegate Tran Du Lich (Ho Chi Minh City) assessed that the most outstanding success of 2013 was that the economy was showing signs of recovery, inflation was controlled... However, the delegate also expressed concern because although the economy was recovering slowly and the macro economy was more stable, market confidence had not yet recovered. Specifically, many businesses were not interested in borrowing capital to invest in production and business, with a wait-and-see mentality; budget deficits and debts were accumulated due to medium-term loans in recent years...

Expressing his high approval of the direction and tasks set by the Government in 2014, especially the two important indicators: GDP growth of about 6% and target inflation of about 7%, delegate Tran Du Lich emphasized his agreement with the shift from curbing inflation to controlling target inflation.

Agreeing with the viewpoint of not rushing to promote growth to cause unnecessary inflation, delegate Tran Du Lich said that it is necessary to implement two groups of monetary policy issues, trying to handle flexible policies, credit growth at around 14%, 18% in 2014, 2015 and continue to raise priority areas as the bank has done.

Delegates proposed creating conditions for businesses with debts but with conditions to repay their debts to borrow capital to continue production. Regarding fiscal policy, on the basis of agreeing with the policies currently being applied, delegates emphasized the effective use of capital...

On the basis of agreement with the goals and solutions for 2014-2015, delegate Pham Quang Khai (Ba Ria-Vung Tau) said that the Government and the National Assembly need to have stronger and more drastic solutions in the direction and management. Agreeing with the 2013 budget deficit of 5.3%, the delegate however emphasized finding solutions to overcome the deficit in the following years.

According to the delegate, investment in key projects needs to be submitted to the National Assembly and the implementation process must be supervised by the National Assembly Standing Committee to ensure that investment is truly for the right purpose and to prevent scattered investment.

To properly assess the current situation, according to delegate Truong Van Vo (Dong Nai), the Government needs to pay attention to clarifying the State management responsibilities of ministries, central branches and local authorities in organizing the implementation of socio-economic development goals and tasks in the recent period.

Delegates believe that in order to create a strong change in the implementation of the goals and solutions in the coming time, it is necessary to improve the quality and effectiveness of state management in the work of planning and implementing plans. The Government must direct decisively, consistently, with a clear, reasonable and feasible roadmap in organizing the planning and management of the three key economic regions to serve the requirements of restructuring the sector in each locality; attach importance to planning economic development infrastructure in conjunction with sector planning in each locality and each locality in regional linkages.

Focus on investing in agriculture, farmers and rural areas

Delegate Hoang Dang Quang (Quang Binh) said that the situation of agriculture, farmers and rural areas in Vietnam is facing great challenges, affecting agricultural security. The growth rate decreased from 3.3% in 2010 to 2.8% in 2013. In reality, farmers' ability to reproduce is decreasing, agricultural product prices are high, purchasing power is low, and farmers are abandoning their cultivated land frequently...

Delegates suggested that the Government and the National Assembly pay attention to increasing investment in agriculture and rural areas; have policies to encourage farmers to be devoted to their fields, at the same time promote agricultural restructuring, focus on policies and mechanisms for agricultural product consumption, stimulate production, ensure reasonable price policies...

Sharing the same view, delegate Nguyen Thanh Hung (Dong Thap) emphasized that the Party and State pay special attention to agriculture, farmers and rural areas, promptly propose policies and support, provide close guidance and have achieved many encouraging results in this field. However, in the past two years, especially in 2013, the agricultural and rural areas have faced many difficulties, such as the growth rate gradually decreasing and reaching low levels; prices of key agricultural products decreasing, consumption decreasing, selling prices lower than production costs... leading to increasingly difficult lives for farmers.

Based on the analysis of the current situation, delegates said that agricultural restructuring is an urgent requirement because it not only helps Vietnamese agriculture develop sustainably but also acts as a driving force to improve farmers' income and living standards.

To restructure agriculture to achieve the set goals, delegates said that the Government needs to review, adjust, supplement, and perfect the policy mechanism for agriculture, farmers, and rural areas. In particular, it is necessary to focus on removing current bottlenecks such as the quality of agricultural cooperatives and policies to attract business investment in agriculture.

According to the delegate, agricultural restructuring needs to rely on cooperatives and agricultural product consumption units. Therefore, the State should gradually shift from supporting farmers to supporting cooperatives to improve cooperative production efficiency and diversify agricultural services.

Regarding cooperatives, delegates recommended that the Government should issue a separate Decree on agricultural cooperatives to guide the implementation of the 2012 revised Law on Cooperatives, emphasizing incentives for agricultural cooperatives; the Government should soon have policies to support production associated with consumption through the construction of large-scale fields; have policies to support the conversion of crops to develop supporting industries to gradually replace imports...

In the afternoon, National Assembly delegates continued to discuss this content in the hall./.

According to VNA