Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered an opening speech at the 8^th meeting of the 12^th Party Central Committee on October 2, suggesting issues regarding socio-economic development, the Vietnam Maritime Strategy and the Party building that participants should focus on.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong addresses the opening session of the 8th meeting of the 12^th Party Central Committee on October 2. (Photo: VNA)

He said 2018 is in the middle of the Party’s 12^th tenure, so it plays a decisive role in the realisation of the Resolution of the 12^th National Party Congress and is the first year for making preparations for the 13^th National Congress.

The Party leader noted that this meeting’s agenda covers many important issues directly relating to the steering of the implementation of socio-economic development targets and the building of a pure and strong Party.

At the event, Politburo member and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a report of the Government’s Party Committee on the socio-economic and state budget situation in 2018, along with the socio-economic development plan and state budget estimates for 2019.

Pointing out certain problems and shortcomings, the report said there remain many difficulties in carrying out the three strategic breakthroughs and restructuring the economy. The investment in construction of key national projects and the disbursement of public investment capital remain slow. While exports growth still relies on the foreign invested sector, the independence and self-reliance of the economy remain modest, and the macro-economy has yet to be steady.

Resources for implementing social and cultural policies are limited, some policies haven’t been issued in a timely manner or implemented well, and the wealth gap among regions and strata of people is big and tends to widen. Additionally, there are still many social problems in such fields as healthcare, education, natural resources management and environment.

In his speech, General Secretary Trong asked members of the Party Central Committee to have objective and comprehensive assessment of local and national socio-economic situation, point out achievements as well as flaws to seek solutions, as well as analyse and predict different possibilities. He also requested them to specify targets, tasks, and breakthrough and feasible policies and solutions to fulfill the tasks set for 2019 as well as the whole 12^th tenure.

The Political Bureau delivered a report reviewing the 10-year implementation of the resolution of the 10th Party Central Committee’s 4^th meeting on the Vietnam Maritime Strategy towards 2020.

Seas and islands are not only a component part of the nation’s sacred sovereignty and sovereign right, but also where generations of Vietnamese people have existed and grown. Vietnamese waters hold important geo-political, geo-military and geo-economic positions in the region and the world.

At the meeting, based on the report and the analyses and forecasts of new situations in the country, the region and the world, the Party Committee of the Government proposed the Party Central Committee issue a new resolution on the Vietnam Maritime Strategy until 2030 with a vision to 2045.

The promulgation of the resolution will help to orient the building of strategies, plans, policies and laws, as well as programmes and projects of the Government, localities and agencies involved, especially in the mobilisation of resources for the medium-term investment plan for maritime and coastal economic development, in conformity with the national socio-economic development plan and strategy for the 2021-2030 period.

Suggesting several issues for discussion, the Party chief asked for the clarification of reasons why several maritime and coastal economic development targets are difficult to be reached in 2020, the sea-based economy develops slowly, and the investment in developing coastal infrastructure, especially the seaport system, remains ineffective.

It is also necessary to clarify shortcomings in the planning of coastal areas and several sectors, sea pollution, complicated developments of climate change and sea level rise and their negative impacts, and inefficient State management on seas and islands, General Secretary Trong stated.

Regarding the Party building, the Politburo proposed the Party Central Committee decide on some important issues such as the issuance of regulations on responsibility of officials and Party members, firstly members of the Politburo, the Secretariat and the Party Central Committee, for setting examples.

The Politburo also suggested the establishment of sub-committees in preparation for the 13^th National Party Congress and the introduction of personnel for the post of President to the National Assembly, the election of additional members of the 12^th Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission, and taking disciplinary measures against officials in line with Party regulations.

In his remarks, Party General Secretary Trong said the Party Central Committee, Politburo and Secretariat have issued many guidelines and regulations on the responsibility of officials and Party members for setting examples.

The implementation of Party guidelines and regulations has intensified the Party’s disciplines, helped improve the leadership and combat capacity of Party organisations and members, contributing to preventing degradation, corruption and other bad deeds, and consolidating confidence of officials, Party members and people in the leadership of the Party, he said.

However, the Party leader pointed out that the outcomes have failed to meet the set targets, explaining that many officials and Party members, including those holding key positions at all levels, have yet to be aware of the responsibility.

Some high-ranking officials, both retired and incumbent, have seriously violated Party disciplines and State laws, sparking concerns among officials, Party members and people, he said.

Given this, the Politburo has agreed with the proposal of the Party Central Committee to issue a new regulation on the responsibility for setting examples of officials and Party members.

The draft regulation requires Politburo, Secretariat and Party Central Committee members to set examples, align themselves with rules and resolutely combat bad deeds, the Party leader said.

During the session, the Politburo proposed the establishment of five sub-committees on documents, socio-economic affairs, Party regulations, personnel and organisation to serve the 13^th National Party Congress.

The sub-committees will prepare a report on the ten-year implementation of the supplemented 2011 Party Political Platform, political report, report reviewing the 10-year realisation of socio-economic development strategy, five-year socio-economic report, and others on five-year Party building, implementation of Party regulations and supplements and amendments to the Party regulations (if any), and personnel affairs./.

VNF/VNA