Consulting people’s opinions must build the just and cultural relationship based on the democratic and responsible spirit, said National Assembly Deputy Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien.

NA Deputy Chairman Kien made the statement at a conference in Hanoi on Feb. 28 to review the consultation of public opinion and enhance contact between people-elected deputies and voters in 2010.

This conference was part of the cooperation commitment between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the NA Office within the framework of a project on strengthening capacities of representative bodies in Vietnam.

Based on results and experiences in carrying out pilot consultation activities, the conference mentioned the selection of typical delegates matching with voters’ desire and practical requirements during the national development in the upcoming election of the 13th NA and for the People's Council at all levels.

National Director of the UNDP in Vietnam Setsuko Yamazaki said the relationship between people and authorities had been consolidated through the consultations of people’s opinions and the contacts between elective delegates and voters.

As a result, the efficiency of the administration apparatus has been improved and people have a chance to become involved in authorities’ policy issuance, which, she said, reflected people’s wishes.

The consultations of people’s opinions and enhancing the contact between people-elected deputies and voters have become more practical and created positive changes in the awareness of elective bodies agencies and delegates, a section of people and the policy system in all levels on the importance of combining people and the policy-making process, as well as the demand to renovate activities to maintain contact with voters, the conference was told.

Permanent member of the People’s Council for the southern province of Binh Phuoc Nguyen Tien Dung said the selection of issues for consultation was important and decided the quality and the feasibility of the Resolution of the People’s Council.

Issues selected for consultation must be popular and have an impact on many people and sectors and be of public concern or need to be settled immediately, he said.

The project, which has been carried out by the NA Office since 2008, had collected people’s opinions at the People’s Councils of Lao Cai and Nghe An provinces and Ho Chi Minh City. The opinions were focused on serving supervision and the issuance of policies. Since then, consultations were carried out in an additional seven cities and provinces in 2009 and another five provinces in 2010./.