Central Committee sets goals for next two years
February 5, 2004 - VN News
HA NOI — Seven objectives have been set by the Viet Nam Communist Party Central Committee following its mid-term review of resolutions carried at the Ninth Congress three years ago.
The targets – ranging from striving for economic growth of more than 8 per cent during the next two years to strengthening national defence and security – were announced in Ha Noi last Tuesday.
The review says that complicated and rapidly changing world politics, the tardy global and regional economies and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have all had an adverse impact on Viet Nam.
But the efforts of the Party, the people and the armed forces in implementing the congress’s resolutions have ensured increased yearly growth, changes in economic restructuring and an acceleration of the trend to industrialisation and modernisation.
The review also emphasises the positives and says these include:
Social progress, including job creation, the improvement of people’s income and living conditions, implementation of poverty reduction programmes, development of culture, education and healthcare and the building of socio-economic infrastructure for the isolated areas;
Improving the judicial system and promoting democracy;
Initial success in building and rectifying faults with the Party thus making the political system more healthy; and
Maintaining national security; expanding external relations and raising the country’s international status.
Nevertheless the economy has neither properly utilised investment or matched its potential.
Other shortcomings are:
The failure to tap all human resources and economic advantages for socio-economic development.
The quality of development is not yet sustainable.
Still wasteful economic management, especially in infrastructure projects and State-owned enterprises while State spending remains very high.
A proportion of the population, especially those in remote mountain communities and minorities, still living in difficulties while the poor still cannot afford medical treatment and the standard of education remains low.
Social evils, especially drug addiction, prostitution, HIV/AIDS transmission, crime and rampant traffic accidents.
The worries of the people about rampant corruption, too much bureaucracy, wastefulness and the degeneration of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle among Party members and officials.
Public worries about ignorance of the law and inappropriate penalties.
The objectives set by the Central Committee are:
An economic growth rate higher than 8 per cent during the next two years together with significant improvement in quality, cost-efficiency and the competitive strength of products, enterprises and the entire economy.
The effort should include focusing on the importance of science, technology, and education and training for fast and sustainable development of the country.
Accelerate the comprehensive development of socialist-oriented market economic institutions; resolutely remove barriers to further liberate production forces; promote restructuring and, in particularly, equitisation of State-owned enterprises to increase efficiency of the State economy while encouraging vigorous development without restricting the size of other economic sectors; simultaneously establishing capital, real estate, labour, scientific and technological markets.
Quicken international economic integration and fully realise multilateral and bilateral international commitments that our Viet Nam has signed and prepare for early entry into the World Trade Organisation.
Create a highly-competitive, open, stable, transparent and fair investment and business environment; boost exports, and attract more foreign investment.
Ensure socio-cultural development matches economic growth and focus on solving urgent social issues such as unemployment and poverty; improve education, health care and cultural quality; prevent and repel social vices, crime and traffic accidents.
Ensure comprehensive and drastic improvement in Party building and rectification of the political system while quickening financial reform and repelling bureaucracy, corruption, wastefulness and the harassment of people.
Continue to renew the Party’s methods of leadership, build a law-governed socialist state, promote democracy, tighten the maintenance of order and consolidate national solidarity; and
Strengthen national defence and security while maintaining a peaceful and stable socio-political environment and broadening foreign relations to facilitate national construction and defence.
"We can and must facilitate and maintain a peaceful and stable environment in order to focus on national construction and development," it says. — VNS
