Lawmakers debate socio-economic development, State budget plans hinh anh 1Deputy Tran Trong Nhan from the southern province of Binh Duong speaks at the discussion (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Legislators discussed the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development and State budget plans for 2017, as well as the socio-economic development plan, state budget estimates for 2018 and a financial-budget plan for 2018-2020 during the plenary sitting on October 31.

Major issues debated at the sitting included the outcomes, shortcomings, advantages and challenges in the implementation of socio-economic development tasks in 2017, and the performances of the Government, National Assembly and other agencies in the field.

The deputies analysed the progress of State budget disbursement, collection and spending in 2017; the growth and sustainability of socio-economic development, the reform of the economy and State-owned enterprises as well as improvements of the investment environment.

They also focused discussions on policies to develop and restructure the agricultural sector and rural areas; the management and development of the market, the reform of education-, and science-technology- related policies.

Environmental pollution was also tabled, along with and solutions to develop the northern mountainous, Central Highlands and Southwestern regions, and the implementation of poverty reduction policies among ethnic minority communities.

They also spent time on discussing the building of a constructive State and the restructuring of the public administrative system.

The lawmakers agreed on overall and specific targets of socio-economic development, State budget estimates and central budget disbursement plans for 2018 as well as the State financial-budget plans for 2018-2020.

They mentioned major tasks and solutions to implement the plans, along with speeding up economic reform, transforming the growth model, and improving the business environment amidst the country’s international integration and the fourth industrial revolution.

Measures to ensure State budget collection estimates in 2018 was also debated, together with ways to settle tax debts, State budget spending in the year, and budget overspending for 2018.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung also clarified some issues raised by the deputies during the sitting on October 31.

As scheduled, the legislators will continue to discuss these matters during their plenary session on November 1.-VNA 
VNA