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PM's answers at NA's interpellation

VGP - After delivering an accountability report at the 4th session of the 13th National Assembly, PM Nguyen Tan Dung continued to directly answer deputies' questions.

December 04, 2012 6:22 AM GMT+7

The following are his full answers:

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the 4th session of the 13th National Assembly, Ha Noi, November 14, 2012 - Photo: VGP

NA deputies,

I would like to thank NA deputies and explain more about your questions.

- Regarding the question of deputy Dang Thi My Huong:

1. Your question on major solutions to assist enterprises to overcome difficulties, especially small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) (deputy Thich Thanh Quyet also has the same question). I would like to explain as follows:

The global financial crisis and economic downturn have adversely affected our country’s economy. In such challenging circumstance, the Government has always kept close watch on, understood, deeply worried about the difficulties faced by the business circle. The Government has tossed and turned in order to find any possible solution to help enterprises unbind difficulties, maintain production and business. This is the interest of not only enterprises but also the whole economy.

The Government has adopted and implemented many mechanisms, policies and measures with certain results. As what you have said, our business community, particularly SMEs, are still facing numerous difficulties, thus joint efforts are needed.

In the report delivered at the opening of the 4th session and in the accountability report which has just been presented, on behalf of the Government, I have mentioned both short- and long-term solutions to help enterprises overcome challenges and maintain production and business. I would like to summarize as follows:

The first group of solutions is on consolidating macro-economy. Macro-economic stabilization contains many contents, particularly the task of inflation curbing to avoid the resurgence of inflation. With high inflation and interest rates, Viet Nam Dong will be devalued, exchange rate varies, etc, and enterprises’ costs will rise. High inflation will hinder enterprise’s operations, thus it is difficult to maintain production and business.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to maintain a reasonable growth rate. Without maintaining economic growth pace, enterprises will certainly face difficulties. In order to maintain growth, it is necessary to push up total demand and purchasing power, including the proper increase of outstanding loans, public investment and total social investment.

It is necessary to find out every measure to attract foreign investment and expand export markets, encourage export-oriented products and speed up export in order to ensure the balance of payment, create favorable conditions for enterprises to maintain production and business, and contribute to macro-economic stability.

The second group of solutions is on economic restructuring, growth model renovation in combination with synchronous and effective implementation of the three breakthroughs, creating favorable conditions for enterprises in both short- and long-term. We have focused on restructuring public investment; restructuring State-owned enterprises, especially economic corporations and groups; restructuring the financial system, especially commercial banks. At the same time, three breakthroughs on improving market-economy institution, speeding up the training of the workforce particularly high-quality workforce, and accelerating infrastructure development have been implemented.

The third group of solutions is on quickly handling inventories and bad debts, unfreezing the real estate market. They are both short and long-term solutions to help enterprises to overcome difficulties, maintain production and business. The Government considers it as a focal task which needs to be carried out comprehensively and quickly.

 The fourth group of solutions is on administrative reform which has been deployed but it needs to be implemented better and more practically. Administrative reform covers institutional and administrative procedure reform in order to have a full, equal and transparent market economy, creating favorable conditions for enterprises to operate effectively and conveniently. We have paid due care to reforming institutions that have direct relations with enterprises like mechanisms on tax, fee, capital access, land access; and procedures relevant to enterprises’ operation like business registration, conditions for the establishment of enterprises and bankruptcy, etc, which are still not clear.

In conclusion, to help enterprises overcome challenges, maintain production and business, it is essential to synchronously implement solutions adopted by the Party and the State, focusing on the aforesaid groups of solutions which need to be realized simultaneously with specific focuses on each peculiar field for highest efficiency.

But the Government’s effort is not enough. Business circle and each enterprise are also expected to join hands, creatively restructure production and administration, improve productivity and competitiveness to overcome difficulties with their own internal strength and capacity. The Government will always give prominence to its responsibility and travel with enterprises to share difficulties to facilitate production so as to achieve the overall target of stabilizing macro-economy, curbing inflation, maintaining reasonable growth, ensuring social security and welfare for every people.

2. Regarding the question on Prime Minister’s admission of mistakes before the National Assembly, the whole Party and people. What are the Prime Minister’s solutions to overcome shortcomings and mistakes of the Government (deputy Nguyen Ba Thuyen also questioned this issue). I would like to explain as follows:

As I had reported at the opening of the 4th session, the heavy responsibility assigned by the Party, State and people, as a member of the Political Bureau and the Prime Minister, I seriously admit my big political responsibility as the Government chief and I sincerely admit my mistakes for all the Government’s shortcomings and weaknesses in all fields, especially those relating to the supervision and inspection of economic corporations and groups’ operations. At the same time, on behalf of the Government, I affirm that the Government will try its best to amend these shortcomings and weaknesses, striving for fulfilling the mission assigned by the Party, State and people.

In such spirit, the Government and the Prime Minister have deployed a number of synchronous measures to quickly repair shortcomings and weaknesses, strengthen leadership and administration capacity, focusing on the following groups of solutions:

Firstly, to enhance capacity and the quality in formulating, perfecting and implementing institutions, mechanisms and laws. This is the field that still contains various shortcomings and weaknesses. Many mechanisms, institutions and laws submitted to the NA or promulgated by the Government still include a number of improper contents which need to be amended and supplemented right after coming into effect. Or institutions, mechanisms and laws lack of timely-promulgated guiding decrees and circulars, or even the guiding decrees are inappropriate to the adopted institutions and laws. Or effective institutions and laws have been poorly implemented. Some institutions and laws are no longer appropriate to the reality but they are slowly amended and supplemented. Or reality requires new institutions, mechanisms and laws but the formulation process is two slow.

Secondly, to heighten the capacity of forecasting, analysis, and assessment of the real situations to timely design effective mechanisms and policies in the context of dynamic market economy and increasingly international integration with many unexpected contingencies.

Thirdly, to focus on improving the capacity of formulation and implementation of planning schemes, development strategies and plans. This is also a weak field. The State exercises administration through strategies, planning schemes, plans but sometimes they are not appropriate to the real situations or their quality is low, leading to wasteful investment and impeding the country’s development process, economic restructuring and growth model renovation.

Fourthly, to enhance the capacity of leadership and administration, overcome shortcomings and weaknesses, it needs to consolidate disciplines, supervision, inspection and serious handling of violations. If this work is not well implemented, the Government’s efficiency will not be high. This is also a big mistake that we are trying to repair, firstly through supervision and inspection of economic corporations and groups.

Fifthly, to center on perfecting the structural organization of the Government and administrative apparatus at all level towards streamlinedness high effectiveness. Clarify functions and tasks of each organization. Each field must be put under the management of certain State agency. For example, yesterday, a NA deputy asked me about which body I entrust to exercise the State management over maintaining the purity of Vietnamese language. I have checked and saw that the Government had assigned the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences and the Institute of Linguistics was established to care for preserving and promoting the purity of Vietnamese language. Although it is the Governmental body, the institute does not have the function of State management. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an agency exercising State management over this field.

I mean that it is necessary to improve the structural organization of the Government and authorities at all levels to ensure united central-to-local management as stipulated by the Constitution. Each and every field must be put under State management. Simultaneously, the Government will review and properly adjust power decentralization in a bid to heighten the responsibility and creativeness of inferior levels and ensure unified central leadership and management. This work has been deployed with numerous shortcomings. We will continue to improve.

Sixthly, the Government is directing the implementation of solutions to dignify the responsibility and improve the morality, virtue and capacity of cadres, civil servants and public employees, especially leaders at all levels, in implementing assignments. The 4th Resolution of the 11th Party Central Committee on Party building must be well observed in combination with the learning of President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example to have competent, responsible and devoted administrative apparatus.

Seventhly, to fruitfully implement the principle of centralized democracy, bring into play the collective responsibility while dignifying personal responsibility of leaders in implementing assignments. Seriously listen to, improve absorptive capacity from people, Party members, experts in formulating and organizing the implementation of policies. In which, it is necessary to focus on upholding democracy, enhancing transparency, actively disseminating information and improving the accountability capacity of leaders at all levels, thus people can oversee.

In such spirit, the Government will focus on overcoming shortcomings and weaknesses, expanding the efficiency of management, inspection and supervision over operations of economic corporations and groups, while simultaneously restructuring the economic corporations and groups to increase their efficiency as enshrined by the Guiding Conclusion approved at the 6th Plenary session of the 11th Party Central Committee.

NA deputies,

Beside achievements, the Government still has many shortcomings and weaknesses. To overcome these shortcomings and weaknesses, improve the efficiency of its leadership and administration, the Government will spare no effort to synchronously implement solutions, focusing on the aforesaid ones. But it is difficult to complete in a short period of time. NA deputies are expected to supervise and support the Government to fulfill the tasks for 2012, 2013 and five-year socio-economic development plan mapped out by the 11th National Party Congress and the NA.

3. Regarding the question on the most decisive and basic solution and overall driving force for economic restructuring, growth model renovation, industrialization and modernization, comprehensive and successful renovation of the country. This question is big. I would like to explain as follows:

In my opinion, there is no other way except for consolidating the Party’s leadership and State’s management, thoroughly grasping and fully implementing the guideline of the Party and State. In which, it is necessary to thoroughly grasp and effectively realize viewpoints, targets, norms development orientations, especially the three strategic breakthroughs outlined by the 11th National Party Congress.

The most basic and decisive solution and impetus are the practice of democracy, upholding of the people’s mastery right, guarantee and care for people’s legitimate interests, and people’s consensus. As affirmed by Uncle Ho and the Party, all power, all forces and all interests come from people and for people, and democracy is both the target and driving force of national development. This is the overall decisive solution and driving force for us to successfully implement the cause of economic restructuring, growth model renovation, modernization, industrialization and comprehensive national renovation.

Without real democracy, equality and transparency in economic activities, a full market economy will not be achieved, every potential and every resource, including materials and humans will not be effectively mobilized and used, the effectiveness of the economy will not be improved, integration will not be fruitful, economic restructuring and growth model renovation will not be conducted successfully.

Without full and real democracy, people’s legitimate freedom right stipulated in the Constitution and laws will not be ensured and upheld and social consensus and people’s aggregate strength will not be created, and there will be no solidarity in the national construction and protection of the Fatherland.

Without democracy, equality and transparency, the building of the our strong and clean Party, State and political system will not be conducted and the wrongdoings, corruption and wastefulness will not be prevented and controlled. Without real democracy, good and competent cadres will not be selected to shoulder national affairs. Without democracy, it is difficult to map out guideline, orientations and policies appropriate to the real situations.

But our democracy is the socialist democracy. Democracy must go side by side with disciplines and laws. Democracy can not be made corrupt use of to harm the national interests and people’s legitimate interests.

- For deputy Duong Trung Quoc’s question:

4. Your question is quite long and I tried to listen attentively. I am not sure whether I fully understand or not but I think you mean that the Prime Minister should resign, etc. For this question, I would like to explain as follows:

For me, in three days I will have been working under the direct leadership and management of the Party for 51 years. During the past 51 years, I did not ask for, nor refuse, any assignments given by the Party.

As a Party member, I have always seriously and fully reported about myself to the Party, Political Bureau, and the Party Central Committee. The Political Bureau and the Party Central Committee have been deeply aware of my strong and weak points, virtuous character, competence, health, and aspiration.

Our Party-the Communist Party of Viet Nam- is the Party in power. The Party leads the State and the whole society and directly manage me, thus the Party clearly understands me. The Party assigned me to continue to be the Prime Minister and the NA elected me to continue to be the Prime Minister. I am ready to execute all decisions by the Party Central Committee and the NA-the highest organ of State power – for me.

In short, almost my whole life, I have devoted myself for people worked under the direct leadership of the Party. I did not lobby, nor asked for, nor refused any assignments given by the Party and State. I would like to affirm that I will continue to follow such lifestyle.

- For deputy Nguyen Ba Thuyen’s question:

5. Regarding the question on what is the biggest difficulty and barrier in the fight against corruption and what are the Prime Minister’s solutions to prevent and control corruption more effectively in the coming time. I would like to explain as follows:

Combating corruption is the common responsibility of the whole political system, Party committees, and leaders at all levels, under the leadership of the Party and management of the State. In implementing the Resolution of the 3rd Plenary session of the Party Central Committee, corruption fight has gained certain results but failed to meet the requirement of pushing it back. The Central Steering Committee for corruption prenvetion and fight has conducted a preliminary review five-year implementation of the Resolution adopted at the 3rd Plenary session of the Party Central Committee and the Law on Corruption Prevention and Fight. The Government’s Party Committee has also reported the outcomes to the Political Bureau. At the 5th Plenary session of the 11th Party Central Committee, a Conclusion on corruption prevention and fight was approved. It points out the results as well as shortcomings, weaknesses, reasons, lessons, targets, tasks and solutions for anti-corrution in the time to come. Based on the Conclusion, the Government has reported and submitted the Law on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Anti-corruption.

I will not repeat again.

- For deputy Thich Thanh Quyet’s question:

6. Regarding the question on the Government’s basic solutions to overcome shortcomings and weaknesses of hydro-power dams that cause public concern.

During this session, the Government has reported on investment for hydro-power development. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung have also explained. I would like to add some more information:

Hydro-power is the renewal energy and the country’s great potential. The consistent policy of our Party and State is to explore, use and promote this potential to meet the demand of production, daily life, and industrialization and modernization. We have obtained a number of important achievements. Hydro-power contributes 41% to the electricity output and accounts for 47% of the country’s total power generation capacity. Over the past years, we power supply has been assured, in which hydro-power took an important role. However, shortcomings and weaknesses in some projects caused public concern.

The Government mapped out key requirements for the construction of hydro-power projects as follows:

Firstly, safety must be assured for the dams and people. This is the highest principle, without meeting this principle, the construction will not be allowed despite high efficiency.

Secondly, the construction of hydroelectric plants must ensure the Party and State’s policy that residents should be moved and resettled in locations with better conditions. Thirdly, special attention should be paid to environment so that the construction of hydroelectric plants should not cause great negative impacts on the habitat. Fourthly, it is necessary to secure the overall effectiveness of hydroelectric plants in terms of economy, society and environment. Fifthly, all legal regulations on setting up and approving projects as well as on building and operating works should be strictly observed.

To meet the above mentioned requirements and to handle mistakes found in some hydroelectric projects, the Government has directed the realization of the following measures:

(1)   To promptly review the overall planning of hydroelectric plants throughout the country. On the basis of the aforesaid requirements and existing regulations, 107 projects have been rejected out the planning scheme after two rounds of review (This was reported to the National Assembly yesterday by the Minister of Industry and Trade). The Prime Minister has ordered relevant agencies to further review, readjust and supplement the planning scheme of hydroelectric plants all over the country in 2013.

(2)   To strictly manage the construction of new hydroelectric plants. The hydroelectric projects listed in the planning scheme must be seriously assessed before their investment decisions are made. The Hydroelectric Projects Dong Nai 6 and 6A have a relatively high capacity and both were included in the planning scheme. However, they must be strictly evaluated in line with legal stipulations. In case they fail to meet the above requirements, no investment decision will be made. (At present, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is evaluating their impacts on environment). Evaluation agencies must be responsible for their assessment. Agencies in charge of permitting investment must observe legal stipulations and requirements put by the Government and must be responsible for their permission.

(3)   To review all existing hydroelectric plants, focusing on the following criteria: First, safety of the reservoirs. All shortcomings must be corrected. No project is permitted to operate if its safety is not secured. Second, resettlement and livelihood of people. If the Party and State’s requirements are not satisfied, new policies and mechanisms, including very specific ones, should be proposed in order to help people have a better life. Third, reforestation pledged by investors as required, even through collecting money in order to replant the cleared forest area in other places. Fourth, the process to operate the reservoirs for hydroelectric plants. If there are several hydroelectric dams in the same rivers, it is necessary to apply the process of inter-reservoir operation. All requirements should be realized, especially those on preventing floods and saltwater infiltration, on regulating water for production and daily use. If the process to operate a reservoir is improper, it should be revised.

National Assembly deputies,

At this meeting session, the National Assembly Committee for Science, Technology and Environment is monitoring the hydroelectric project Song Tranh II and has made reports to some deputies. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Ministers Vu Huy Hoang and Trinh Dinh Dung have also explained and answered questions from deputies.

To this day, domestic specialists and leading counselors from Japan and Switzerland have reported that Hydroelectric Plant Song Tranh II meets all requirements on safety. Such relevant ministries and agencies like the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Science and Technology, Council for Checking and Accepting State Works, and the Institute of Geophysics (Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences) all have reported that the hydroelectric dam of Song Tranh II is safe. I have received such reports from relevant agencies. However, to secure top-level safety for people, the Prime Minister has asked relevant agencies to take the following measures:

First, water accumulation for power generation is not permitted because more studies on seism should be conducted. This has been strictly observed. Second, the Council for Checking and Accepting State Works and related ministries are assigned to establish working teams who will garrison right at the Project Song Tranh II to keep watch all seismic happenings and timely take responsive measures in order to secure top-level safety. Third, apart from our specialists, it is necessary to hire leading international advisors and experts from Russia, Japan and India (some of them have been to the site) for surveying and assessing earthquake excitations relating to the dam’s safety. Fourth, full information must be publicized and provided to people, so that they can be instructed properly in response to earthquake excitations. Fifth, compensations for households suffering earthquake-induced damages should be reviewed and supplemented. (Additional policies proposed by deputies from Quang Nam will be further considered). Sixth, the Council for Checking and Accepting State Works will be the main player, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Institute of Geophysics, in opening more seminars in order to collect experts and professionals’ opinions in a constructive and responsible spirit for the sake of people’s safety and national interests.

The Government pledges to spare no efforts to fulfill the set targets. I would like to ask National Assembly deputies to join supervision.

National Assembly deputies

My interpellation is about to run out of time. I would like to finish my report and interpellation here. Two remaining questions from Deputy Thich Thanh Quyet will be answered and published on the Government’s website. Questions from other deputies will be answered in written. On behalf of the Government, I would like to thank National Assembly deputies, fellow-citizens and voters throughout the country for monitoring and questioning the operations and activities of the Government, the Prime Minister and all Government members. We are glad to continue receiving support, assistance and supervision from National Assembly deputies and fellow-citizens. I wish National Assembly deputies, fellow-citizens and comrades good health, happiness and success. Thank you very much.

As promised to the National Assembly, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had in-written answers to two remaining questions from Deputy Thich Thanh Quyet. The VGP would like to fully publish these answers:

National Assembly deputies,

I would like to answer the two remaining questions of Deputy Thich Thanh Quyet:

7. Regarding the question about the Government’s measures to prevent and handle many websites’ publication of incorrect, fabricated and distorted information about Party and State leaders as well as the dissemination of debauchery which is opposite to our nation’s good habits and customs, and how to punish those engaging in the diffusion of incorrect information on the Internet, I would like to answer as follows:

 Information technology in general and the Internet in particular have brought about great changes in the world. Our Party and State’s policy is to boost the development of information technology and Internet in order to serve the cause of national construction and protection, speed up industrialization and modernization, and to meet various demands in people’s production and life. Over the past years, Viet Nam has gained significant progresses in these fields, which are practical contributions to the country’s development.

Information on the Internet is borderless and has instant influence. Apart from its positive effects, the Internet has been misused by some wrongdoers to diffuse debauchery which is opposite to our nation’s good habits and customs, disseminate incorrect, fabricated and distorted information about our Party and State leaders as mentioned by the Deputy.

The Government has focused on enhancing effective management in this field. On the one hand, it is necessary to complete institutions and laws, review and supplement strategies and planning schemes in order to facilitate the stronger development of information, communications and Internet, better serve socio-economic development, meet various and practical demands in production, business and daily life of people while minimizing and preventing negative effects on national construction and protection. On the other hand, it is essential to take synchronous measures to satisfy demands for healthy information, especially the timely provision of official information to people.

Recently, while executing criticism and self-criticism under the Resolution of the Party Central Committee’s 4th Plenum (Tenure XI) on Party building, some people mentioned the rumors, including fabricated and distorted information disseminated on the Internet, against our Party and State leaders. All leaders who got the rumors had made reports clarifying information relating to them and their families. The Politburo had assigned competent agencies to investigate, verify and conclude each and every case, and had reported to the Party Central Committee. Investigation and verification all led to the conclusion that such information was incorrect.

We should be vigilant over and handle bad information from the Internet and rumors against our comrades in an objective, calm, and careful manner. It is not unprejudiced to have deductions and conclusions on the basis of rumors and information from the Internet. Such conclusions are what the disseminators of bad information want. Such information should be handled in line with the Party’s stipulations and the State’s laws. We have a system of competent agencies to supervise, check, inspect and even investigate all kinds of wrong information and punish violations.

On the other hand, the dissemination of debauchery and incorrect, fabricated and distorted information must be tackled in line with laws.

8. Regarding the national defense and security in 2012 and our State’s diplomatic policies, especially those on big powers and neighbor countries, in the time to come, I would like to answer as follows:

In 2012, our posture of all-people national defense and security has been further consolidated. People’s armed forces have been made more revolutionary, regular, seasoned and modern (modernized fast in some fields). Our national defense potentials and industries have been improved. Socio-economic development has been more closely attached to national defense and security. Many positive results have been gained in diplomatic work. Thanks to our aggregate strengths, we have guaranteed national defense and security, national independence and sovereignty, political security, social order and safety, facilitating socio-economic development and improving people’s life. The entire Party, army and people should continue this work in 2013.

In the coming time, we will continue consistently realizing the diplomatic policy of independence, self-control, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, with multilateral and diversified relations for proactive international integration, becoming a friend, a reliable partner for mutual benefits, and a responsible member of the international community, for the sake of national interests and sovereignty, for a socialist Viet Nam of rich people, powerful country, democracy, equality and civilization, and for peace, friendship, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Friendship and cooperation with neighbor countries should be strengthened. Unsolved issues relating to border, territory, sea and continental shelf should be settled with related countries through peaceful solutions in conformity with international laws, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, codes of conducts and agreements gained in the region. Borderlines of peace, friendship, cooperation and development should be established.

We should make active and responsible contributions to the construction of the ASEAN Community; deepen relations with our partners and make them more practical and effective; and proactively take part in multilateral, regional and international forums for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the regions and the world.

Thank you very much./.