Weeds of national significance

The Hanoitimes – The two sides consider inter-parliamentary cooperation an important component of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The first Vietnam-Russia inter-parliament meeting has opened up new areas of cooperation that are poised to foster the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav V. Volodin. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav V. Volodin co-chaired the meeting in Moscow last week.

“It would be right for us to work more intensively in the economic sphere, developing both foreign economic relations and goods circulation. It is clearly insufficient for the level of our relations. […] For our part, we must do everything to develop cooperation more effectively than today,” the State Duma quoted Viacheslav Volodin.

“When we talk about the work of our inter-parliament commission, it should do everything to ensure more dynamical development of foreign economic relations,” he said at the meeting.

Viacheslav Volodin supported the idea of creating working groups and said that the adoption of legislative decisions would entail a more active development of relations.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said “We will do our best to develop cooperation between our countries, trade and economic relations better. To ensure that these results correspond to good political relations between our countries.”

Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav V. Volodin at the first inter-parliament meeting in Moscow. Photo: Duma.org.ru

Economic in focus, oil and gas remain among key pillars

Both sides agreed to focus on economic ties.

Ngan said that it is necessary to discuss issues of cooperation in the oil and gas sector, agriculture, and tourism. She proposed having separate working groups for each field.

Vietnam expected to continue cooperation with Russia in power projects, especially one in the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology.

Viacheslav Volodin said the two countries need to do everything to develop more actively foreign economic relations and goods circulation so that Russian companies can more actively participate in the development of these relations, implementing investment projects.

He noted “It is extremely important to create all conditions for business development and implementation of investment projects both in Russia and Vietnam on the principles of developing bilateral cooperation.”

“If we reach US$10 billion (turnover), this will give an additional impetus to our countries. This will develop the economies of our countries and increase their prosperity,” said the chairman of the State Duma.

The leaders stressed the importance of more than 70 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years since the signing of the treaty on the principles of friendly relations between Vietnam and Russia, and the two parties.

They affirmed the parliament’s significant role in strengthening the legal basis for the bilateral relations and close coordination between the two sides at international parliamentary organizations, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, meetings with dialogue partners at the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments, and the International Forum “Development of Parliamentarism”.

Assessing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in the first two months of the year, the PM said outcomes have surpassed the figures reported earlier to the National Assembly, most notably those regarding public debt, budget overspending and collection, reserves, and major economic balances.

Vietnam has successfully fulfilled the dual goals of containing the COVID-19 pandemic and boosting production and business and ensuring normal social activities in the new context, he said.

The PM attributed the results to the engagement of the entire political system and the outstanding efforts of the business community and people nationwide, with significant contributions from the Government and its members, ministries, agencies, and localities.

Regarding key tasks in the time ahead, he stressed the need to optimise the opportunities and stay resolved to complete the tasks set for the first half of this year and the year as a whole, saying the first job is to realise the resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress.

More effort is needed to fight the pandemic and carry forward the “5K” principle – Khau trang (Facemasks) – Khu khuan (Disinfecting) – Khoang cach (Keeping distance) – Khong tap trung dong nguoi (No gatherings) – Khai bao y te (Medical declarations), and maintaining vigilance during the fight, he said.

He ordered the acceleration of vaccine provision for priority groups, including the poor, social policy beneficiaries, and at-risk people.

Given the difficulties facing businesses, Phuc urged ministries and agencies to further remove obstacles, promote production and business, and speed up socio-economic recovery, targeting growth of 6.5 percent.

He noted the need to select quality FDI sources amid the trend of inflow investment.

The PM also asked ministries and agencies to review and adjust current support packages and soon propose new packages to assist businesses and people in difficult circumstances.

The Minister of Planning and Investment presented a supplementary report to the meeting assessing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in 2020.

Exports grew 7 percent; 1 percent higher than the previously reported figure. The urban unemployment rate stood at 3.88 percent; lower than the reported figure of 4.39 percent.

National GDP growth was 2.91 percent and per capita income 2,779 USD; both higher than the figures reported earlier.

Source: VNA

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that in principle, the urban administration models in HCM City and Da Nang should meet the demands of each locality and ensure the unity and synchronicity of the State administrative apparatus from the central to local levels.

From the pilot application of the new models, the two cities should reform the method of leadership and direction of the Party committees and administrations, while ensuring the concentrated and united management of the municipal People’s Committee and its head to suit the renovations in the operation of wards and districts towards higher dynamism and efficiency, thus meeting the demands of enterprises and locals, he said.

He asked the two cities to speed up the building of e-government and the reform of administrative procedures as well as policies for public servants.

The PM asked the administrative agencies at ward and district levels to improve efficiency and focus more on the people, while officials, Party members and public servants should enhance the responsibilities to the Party and people.

Over the contents of draft decrees, the Government leader asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to gather opinions, especially on the role of the Chair of the People’s Committee of wards and districts when there is no People’s Council as well as the authority and duties of the Chair of the People’s Committee as the highest leader of State administration in wards and districts.

He underlined the need to implement the principle of concentration and democracy in the work as well as the design of mechanism of supervising and discussion on important issues of wards and districts. He highlighted the significant role of the city People’s Council, the National Assembly delegation, the Vietnam Fatherland Front committees and Party Committees at all levels in the field.

He reminded the ministry of adjusting regulations on the organisation of the People’s Committee at ward and district levels to suit regulations of relevant laws and resolutions of the NA with the collection of feedback from ministries and sectors on including representatives of police and military forces in the People’s Committee.

Source: VNA