5.8% GDP growth rate set for 2014
(VOVworld)- The National Assembly on Monday approved a resolution on key development targets for 2014, setting GDP growth at 5.8% and Consumer Price Index at 7%. Under the resolution, Vietnam aims to continue stabilizing the macro economy, control inflation, ensure social security and social welfares and improve people’s lives. 2014 is set to be a year of accelerating administrative reforms, corruption prevention and ensuring national defense, political security, social order and safety. To this end, the National Assembly asked the Government to continue with flexible monetary policies, strict fiscal policies, tighten the control of public debts, and enhance transparency in electricity pricing and implement a market price mechanism for electricity, health care services and education.
Report on Deputy Prime Minister nomination
On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presented reports on increasing the number of Deputy Prime Ministers from 4 to 5 in the 13th tenure. One Deputy Prime Minister will also be the Foreign Minister. The Prime Minister says that the 5 Deputy Prime Ministers with one of them being the Foreign Minister are essential for Vietnam’s external activities.
Prime Minister Dung also read a report on removing Nguyen Thien Nhan from the Deputy Prime Minister post because since September this year, Mr. Nhan was elected the President of Vietnam Fatherland Front at the 6th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee. National Assembly deputies will vote on the removal of Mr. Nhan and approve the resolution on increasing the number of Deputy Prime Ministers on Tuesday. After that, the Prime Minister will propose the National Assembly approve the nomination of Vu Duc Dam, Minister- Head of the Government Office to the post of Deputy Prime Minister.
Group discussion on draft laws
National Assembly deputies on Monday discussed the draft revisions to the Law on Environmental Protection concerning policies, measures and resources to protect the environment, rights, responsibilities and obligations of individuals and organizations in environmental protection. Nguyen Quoc Binh is a deputy from Hanoi: “The regulations on the State management in environmental protection need to be changed. It is necessary to add regulations on the punishment of polluting gas emissions caused by transport vehicles. This is a global trend. We also need to add to the draft revisions on upstream forests, protective forests and environmental protection from waste from hospital and clinics”.
The deputies also discussed the revised Construction Law.