Hanoi (VNA) – The NationalAssembly appreciated the Government’s leadership and the drastic implementationof the NA’s resolutions on socio-economic development and State budget whenexamining the reports on socio-economic performance in 2018 and early months of2019 on May 31 morning.

The discussion of the reports wasbroadcast live on national television and radio.

During the discussion, Ministerof Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Minister of Educationand Training Phung Xuan Nha, Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung, and Ministerof Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung were called up to give explanationson issues raised by lawmakers.

Concluding the discussion, ViceNA Chairman Phung Quoc Hien said NA deputies agreed that 2018 saw manyremarkable achievements, but required the Government to make fuller and morecomprehensive assessment on several issues, including the renewal of growth model;enhancement of the economy’s competitiveness; difficulties and shortcomings inagriculture and rural development; FDI enterprises’ contribution to theeconomy; disbursement of public investment capital and equitisation; improvementof the business environment and development of SMEs; among others. Lawmakersalso urged increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the governance of theGovernment and administrations at all levels.

NA deputies also expressedconcerns about problems related to degrading ethics and culture such as seriouscrimes; the reform of education; development of human resources; spiritual andcultural life of ethnic groups; environmental protection and the building ofspecific targets; poverty reduction in remote and isolated areas; and treatmentof waste.

The NA generally endorced thetasks and solutions for the time ahead as specified in the Government’s report,but asked the Government to pay more attention to the completion of institutionsand enforcement of laws.

Regarding the 2017 State budgetbalance, the NA noted that there were improvements in budget management andoverspending had reduced. However, lawmakers urged tightening financial disciplineand refining the legal system to better manage public assets and finance.  

In the afternoon, the NA debatedthe draft law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Lawson Insurance Business and on Intellectual Property.

Minister of Industry and TradeTran Tuan Anh clarified a number of issues raised by NA deputies during thediscussion.

The NA will have two days off onthe weekend and will resume working on June 3. The working agenda for the dayinclude the draft supervision programme of the legislature in 2020, theallocation of backup resources of the mid-term public investment plan, thedraft programme on law building in 2020 and adjustments to the law buildingprogramme in 2019.-VNA