Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The National Council for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement should pay attention to issues related to culture and people like waste treatment and environmental hygiene, which is one of many criteria to assess the development level of a country.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam made the request in Hanoi on June 12 while chairing the council’s meeting after its consolidation.
Regarding the education, Dam said in terms of sustainable development, apart from providing knowledge, attention should be paid to teaching how to be a human being.
The council should focus on the issue, thus giving policy advice to the Government, he added.
To take advantage of the fourth Industrial Revolution, aside from common tasks such as building e-government and publicity and transparency of all-level administrative agencies’ activities, the council may choose some areas that have many opportunities for development like textile and logistics, according to Dam.
The Deputy PM also gave specific opinions on the organisation and operation of committees under the council, emphasising the council’s role of gathering core expert groups with professional qualifications and prestige to integrate science into the council’s operation.
At the meeting, the council’s members focused their discussion on the coordination and working mechanism of the council, especially in issues of public concern.
Ministers of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha suggested the council take practical activities on monthly, quarterly and yearly bases to give advice to the Prime Minister.
Vice President of the Vietnam National Academy of Social Sciences Nguyen Quang Thuan stressed sustainable development is only achieved if the growth is rapid and the environment is protected, while the social problems are well resolved.
He said that it is necessary to take advantage of new scientific and technological achievements and the process of labour restructuring, towards reducing the proportion of agricultural labour and increasing the number of labourers working in industry and service sectors.
Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (VINASME) To Hoai Nam asked the council to pay attention to promoting untapped strengths, saying that Vietnam is lacking leading businesses that are capable of leading SMEs to create value chains, and building linkages among enterprises.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai underlined the need to enhance efforts to preserve and uphold cultural heritages, and build a healthy living environment.-VNA
VNA
