Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung answered deputies’ questions during the National Assembly session on Nov. 25, focusing on macro-economic stability, removing difficulties for production and businesses, economic restructuring and rural and agricultural issues, among others.

In relation to macro-economic stability, PM Dung said that thanks to the implementation of drastic solutions, the consumer price index increase was held to 17.5 percent in 11 months.

It is likely that CPI will be around 18 percent this year, he said.

He went on to say that the Government has carried out its monetary policy in a careful and flexible manner to curb inflation and meet economic growth targets set by the NA.

Dung proposed the NA support the policy on price management of power, petrol and coal and essential goods and commodities in line with market mechanisms.
The Government will identify a logical schedule for implementation and businesses operating in the field must publicise business and production results and product cost, he stressed.

On removing difficulties and assisting business and production, PM Dung said the Government is focusing on curbing inflation to bring it to a single-digit growth rate next year in order to reduce interest rates, facilitating business access to capital, reduce input costs and prioritise credits for production, especially agriculture.

Regarding economic restructuring, the PM said the Government is focusing on overcoming scattered investment, reviewing planning and regulations on investment allocations and enhancing the examination, monitoring and assessment of the effectiveness of investment capital.

The Government will promptly finalise mechanisms to facilitate all economic sectors investing in infrastructure through build-transfer (BT), build-operate-transfer (BOT), build-transfer-operate (BTO) and public-private partnership forms, making breakthroughs in developing a number of large-scale infrastructure projects.

He emphasised the urgent need to restructure State-owned businesses with a focus on State-owned economic conglomerates and corporations to raise the efficiency of their operation.

The restructuring of investment and State-owned businesses should be carried out synchronously with sound and effective financial and monetary policies, he added.

The Government will submit a master plan on economic restructuring and improving the growth model at the next session of the 13 th NA, he said.

On agriculture and rural fields, the PM emphasised that the Government is instructing a review of developmental planning for the agriculture, aquaculture and forestry sectors, for stricter management and raising the efficiency of investment.

The Government will continue providing preferential credits, encouraging the provision of loans and attracting investment from all economic sectors to the agricultural field, he said.

The Government is also interested in building necessary infrastructure, mitigating the impact of natural disasters, and developing processing industry as well as in raising human resource quality and developing socio-culture in rural areas.

He also presented solutions to ensure traffic safety, poverty reduction and job generation.

Twenty-two opinions of NA deputies mentioned various domains but mainly focused on the Government’s solutions to ensure national territorial integrity and sovereignty, assistance to fishermen and policies to effectively manage and utilise the country’s natural resources.

While answering questions on national sovereignty from deputies Le Bo Linh from Mekong delta province of An Giang and Dang Ngoc Tung from southeastern province of Dong Nai , PM Dung stated Vietnam must settle and affirm its sovereignty over four issues on the East Sea . They include the demarcation of areas beyond the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf , sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes and sovereignty over 200 nautical miles belonging to Vietnam ’s economic exclusive zone and continental shelf.

Regarding the Tonkin Gulf, Vietnam and China reached agreement on demarcation of the area inside the Gulf in 2000, said the PM.

For the areas beyond the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf , the two sides have recently signed an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea issues under which territorial waters beyond the mouth of the Tonkin Gulf is the relationship between Vietnam and China . The two countries will negotiate and settle on the basis of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) agreements for a suitable solution acceptable to both sides.

At present, Vietnam is pushing negotiations to settle the issue, he said.

Vietnam strictly abides by and demands concerned parties comply with the 1982 UNCLOS and DOC, ensures maritime safety and freedom, peace and security on the East Sea, said the PM, adding that is also the desire of all concerned parties as cargo volume transported on the East Sea make up 50-60 percent of the total on the path from West to East.

Vietnam ’s stance has won support from the international community, he added.

Vietnam is also determined to affirm its sovereignty over 200 nautical miles belonging to Vietnam ’s economic exclusive zone and continental shelf under UNCLOS in a more effective manner, said the PM.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that 155 questions raised by 77 NA deputies at the hearing of the second session of the 13 th NA and were answered directly.

He said all questions dealt with issues of interest of the NA and desire of nationwide voters and the hearing took place in a frank atmosphere and a responsible manner.

He also said the NA recognised the determination of the Government and cabinet members to surmount difficulties and successfully fulfil socio-economic development targets and ensure defence and security in 2011./.