The Ministry of Planning and Investment has said that it is coordinating with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to build a national economic restructuring plan for the 2021-2025 period, with an aim to creating a breakthrough change in the growth model towards higher productivity, quality and competitiveness.

Vietnam aims to aim to create a breakthrough change in the growth model towards higher productivity, quality and competitiveness

The objectives of the draft plan include improving the efficiency of resources, the self-reliance and adapting capacity of the economy, heading to the formation of a science-technology and innovation-based economy, ensuring fast and sustainable growth.

It also aims to enhance the internal strength of the economy and domestic businesses, forming suitable economic structure and upgrading the value chains of sectors, while drastically implement digital transformation and the building of digital economy, digital government and digital society.

Specific goals set by the plan for the 2021-2025 period include 6.5 percent rise in labour productivity each year; 3.7 percent of State budget over-expenditure each year averagely; less than 60 percent of annual public and Government debts hitting ceiling rate; keeping the safe public debt level at about 55 percent of the GDP and Government debt ceiling at less than 50 percent of the GDP.

The ratio of social investment is expected to reach 32-34 percent of the GDP, while public investment management institution is raised to international standards. Meanwhile, bed debts are subjected to be kept at under 3 percent.

In 2025, the scale of stock market capitalisation is expected to reach about 120 percent of the GDP, while the outstanding balance of the bond market is hoped to stand at 55 percent of the GDP.

Vietnam targets the acceleration of 10-15 positions in the quality of land administration index in the Global Competitiveness Index by the World Economic Forum in 2025 compared to that in 2019.

The country hopes to have about 1.5 million businesses in 2025, including 60,000-70,000 medium and large-scaled firms.

In 2025, at least 10-25 national products are expected to have trademark in the international market, contributing to improving the position of the country in the global value chain.

Meanwhile, digital economy is hoped to account for 20 percent of the GDP.

In 2025, the State-owned enterprises are expected to be restructured, basically settling ineffective firms and improve State-owned businesses’ efficiency.

In the draft plan, the ministry also gave five major solution groups to complete the goals.

 The National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, which was born into the revolutionary struggle, is the fruit, noble symbol of national independence and unification. It is also the convergence of our people’s will, belief, and power of the great national solidarity. Over the past 75 years’ foundation and development, after each stage of the revolution and term, the National Assembly has become increasingly stronger and developed, been organisationally strengthened, enhanced quality and efficiency of operations, successfully accomplished its historic missions and revolutionary tasks assigned by the Party, people, and voters, cemented its role as the supreme representative body of the people and the supreme state power organ of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

75 years’ foundation, reform, innovation, and development of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam – the convergence of our people’s will and belief

Right after independence, at the first meeting of the Provisional Revolutionary Government held on 3 September 1945, President Ho Chi Minh proposed holding a general election. In response to President Ho Chi Minh’s call for people to go to the polls, it was the first time all citizens, who were eighteen years of age or older, despite men or women, rich or poor, and different religions, enthusiastically participated in the general election for the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam on 6 January 1946. Victory of the election marked Viet Nam National Assembly’s birth, which is a democratic, crucial institution of a state of the people, by the people, and for the people. This event marked an important milestone in the development of a democracy, manifested people’s will, belief, and power in a grave situation, and laid a vital foundation for the building of the State and new regime.

Over the past 75 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Viet Nam National Assembly has become increasingly stronger, improved both organisationally and operationally, and better performed its function as the supreme representative body of the people, representing people in exercising constitutional and legislative powers, conducting the supreme oversight over the activities of the State, and deciding on important issues for the country.

As far as constitution-making is concerned, since its inception, the National Assembly has drawn up and promulgated five Constitutions in 1946, 1959, 1980, 1992, and 2013 respectively. These are the most basic laws, which have crystallised our people’s will, aspiration, intelligence, and creativity under the leadership of the Party. With the stipulation of important matters concerning political regime, economy, society, culture, education, science, technology, environment, national defence, security, external relations, organisation and operation of the State apparatus, the fundamental rights and obligations of citizens, etc., the Constitutions have formed a political, legal foundation for stable and sustainable development of the country throughout historical periods.

As for legislative activity, this has been one of the key missions in the past terms. The National Assembly puts endless effort into enhancing quality of legislative activity, timely institutionalises guidelines of the Party, materialises the Constitution, follows practical requirements closely, and truly depicts the voice and aspiration of the voters and people. Accordingly, in each term, the National Assembly has promulgated large volumes of legal documents and adhered fully to legislative principles, making vital contribution to perfecting the legal system, which basically covers a wide range of aspects of the social life, including building and perfecting the law-governed socialist State of the people, by the people, and for the people; improving the socialist-oriented market economy; respecting and safeguarding human rights, fundamental rights and obligations of citizens; making up a sufficient legal framework in the fields of culture, society, health, education, training, science, technology, environment, security, national defence, external relations, etc., timely meeting national development requirements in the context of deep and wide international integration.

Regarding supervisory activity, the National Assembly ceaselessly reforms and perfects supervisory content, methodology, and form. In each term, the National Assembly always carefully considers and selects important supervisory content, ranging from macroeconomic issues to burning social issues, by means of copious forms, closely following and aiming to address demands of socio-economic life. Supervisory resolutions, conclusions, and recommendations increasingly tackle the problem straight away.

In recent terms, attention has been paid to supervisory activity with a focus on overseeing the implementation of the National Assembly’s resolutions on planned supervision and interpellation at midterm and last meetings, actively contributing to making and improving law as well as vigorously spurring operations of state agencies from the central to local levels. This further affirms that supervision is one of the most effective means for the National Assembly to control the executive and judicial powers in the exercise of state power.

In respect of deciding on important issues for the country, vital matters about the organisation of the State apparatus, high-ranking personnel, and socio-economic development, strengthening of national defence, security, and external relations are all discussed carefully by the National Assembly. Resolutions of the National Assembly on 5-year and annual,  socio-economic development task, national financial and monetary policy, ethnic policy, national defence, security, external relations, approval of treaties, etc., are all in accordance with the Party’s guidelines, people’s will and aspiration and are operationalised by relevant agencies, organisations, individuals, and the whole people, actively contributing to great achievements in socio-economic development, strengthening of national defence, security, and international integration.

In terms of external relations and international integration, at each stage of history, the National Assembly always grasps and strictly implements principles, mottoes, guiding perspectives on external relations of the Party and State. In the spirit of proactiveness and activeness, external relations of the National Assembly have been synchronously and effectively coordinated with those of the Party, State diplomacy, and people’s external relations, which contributes to firm preservation of a peaceful, stable environment for national development and protection of national interests, independence, sovereignty, unification, and territorial integrity. During the reform period, external relations of the National Assembly are further promoted and broadened both bilaterally and multilaterally, which brings parliamentary diplomacy into depth, fosters a better understanding of Vietnamese nation, people, and culture among international friends, and contributes to improving the role and position of Viet Nam in general, Viet Nam National Assembly in particular, in the international arena.

Regarding organisational structure, the National Assembly ceaselessly strengthens and vigorously reforms itself to bring into full play intelligence, position, role, function, duty, right, and obligation of agencies of the National Assembly, the National Assembly deputies associations, and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly. Over the terms, the structure of the National Assembly deputies has increasingly become more suitable regarding ratio and composition, shown succeedingness, and ensured broad representation of people from all walks of life. The proportion of women, ethnic minorities, and young people has been on the rise. The quality of the National Assembly deputies has been promoted step by step, increasingly affirming their role as the key force in undertaking activities of the National Assembly. Notably, a gradual rise in the number of full-time deputies over the terms has made vital contribution to the increase of quality and professionalism of legislative activity.

Reform and development of the National Assembly always leave prominent hallmarks in each stage of development of the country and are undertaken within the overall reform of the political system and organisation of the State apparatus in line with socio-economic development of the country. “Over the past 75 years and 14 terms, the National Assembly of our country has always had a strong attachment to and accompanied the nation, ceaselessly brought into play its role as the supreme representative body of the people and the supreme state power organ of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, effectively carried out its functions, missions, and rights in accordance with the Constitution and law, and made significant contribution to the struggle for national liberation, unification, building, and defence.”

Further reforming and strengthening organisation, improving effectiveness and efficiency of parliamentary activities in the new development period

The opening of the 1st session of the 15th National Assemply

On the basis of functions, missions, and rights as prescribed by the Constitution and law, leveraging tradition in 75 years’ building and development, drawing on experience, achievements gained in preceding terms, the National Assembly is deeply aware of voters’ belief and aspiration, clearly cognisant of difficulties, advantages, and opportunities, especially in the context of our country facing unprecedented challenges, thoroughly perceives guiding opinions of the General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and continues to bring into full play its sense of responsibility, keep in close touch with the people, respect the people, and be open-minded about opinions of the people. It is necessary to make the most of capability, spirit, and intelligence, determination to conduct reform, creativity and stay in touch with reality to further reform, enhance quality and effectiveness of parliamentary activities, and make correct, timely decisions that suit people’s hearts and minds, contributing to successful implementation of the resolution of the 13^th Party Congress.

Regarding legislative activity, to deeply grasp and timely institutionalise the resolution of the 13^th Party Congress requires the National Assembly to ceaselessly raise the quality of legislative activity, enforce discipline and law in legislative process, and develop a complete, timely, synchronous, uniform, feasible, public, transparent, stable legal system that spurs reform and innovation and meets the requirement of rapid and sustainable development of the country.

It is an urgent need to push ahead with building and perfecting a law-governed socialist State of the people, by the people, for the people, and under the leadership of the Party. Positions, functions, missions, and rights of state agencies in the exercise of legislative, executive, judicial powers must be specified more clearly on the basis of rule of law, ensuring that the state power is unified, delegated, coordinated, and strictly controlled. It is necessary to well perform State functions and properly address the relationship between the Party leads, the State manages, and the people master, the relationship between the State, the market, and the society. Organisation and operation of the National Assembly must be reformed to ensure that it is truly the supreme representative body of the people and the supreme state power organ. There is need to promote quality, operational effectiveness, democracy, rule of law, and professionalism in the organisation and operation of the National Assembly. The mechanism to oversee and evaluate persons holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly and People’s Council must be perfected. It is necessary to synchronously establish and align oversight mechanisms of the National Assembly and People’s Council with inspection, supervision of the Party and social supervision and criticism of the Fatherland Front, sociopolitical organisations, and people. There is need to renew organisation and operation of the Government and local authorities at all levels; set up the state administration system, which is aimed to serve the people, democratic, ruled by law, professional, modern, pure, strong, ensuring openness, transparency, and consistent, continual, efficient, effective management. It is important to renew organisation and operation of the judicial body, promote judicial reform, prevent and combat corruption and wrongdoings, practise thrift, respond to wastefulness, and strengthen social order and law.

There is need to further perfect the legal system to recognise, respect, guarantee, and protect human rights and citizens’ rights; perfect the legal basis to correctly, effectively exercise direct democracy, representative democracy, especially grassroots democracy. Legal mechanisms must be developed to successfully, effectively realise new content supplemented at the 13 the Party Congress “The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people oversee, the people enjoy.”

It is an urgent need to further perfect the socialist-oriented market economy, improve the legal basis to speed up industrialisation, modernisation on grounds of science, technology, and achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Law making is to tap into reform and innovation, make the most of advantages, and minimise risks with a focus on effectively dealing with problems arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is necessary to continue to perfect the regional development planning system and allocate resources for leveraging regional advantages, especially in dynamic economic regions. The legal system is to be perfected to mobilise, distribute, and effectively use resources for development, especially land and natural resources, ensuring openness, transparency, and settlement of disputes, complaints, corruption, and wastefulness. There is need to speed up perfecting the legal system, mechanisms, and policies, ensuring synchronicity and openness of market factors in order to achieve capitalisation, properly distribute and use natural resources. The relationships between economic development, guarantee of social justice, cultural development, development of people, and environmental protection must be properly settled. Laws on culture, education, health, social welfare, social security, science, technology, environment, etc., are to be improved. To perfect the legal system aims to strengthen national defence, security, external relations, and international integration, firmly safeguarding independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. There is need to legalise international treaties and commitments adequately, properly to which Viet Nam is a contracting party; participate in drafting international treaties in an active and responsible manner; proactively shift from participation in existing institutions to proactive participation in drafting new international institutions.

It is necessary to continue to renew legislative process and promote democracy in law making to guarantee that what is prescribed by law is feasible, suitable to reality, and science-based; publicly and transparently receive and respond to the opinions and petitions of individuals, agencies, and organisations during the process of drafting and verifying laws; garner intelligence and encourage the participation of experts, scientists, persons under direct influence of the draft laws, and people in law making. Law making must closely associate with law enforcement. Coordination mechanisms among agencies responsible for the promulgation of law, law enforcement, and protection of law are to be improved. Resources and conditions must be mobilised for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement, inspection, and settlement of law violations; reforming administrative procedures; streamlining and strengthening organisations to omit intermediary levels in law enforcement.

As for supervisory activity, the National Assembly needs to make further reform and step up supervisory activity, regarding this as one of the key measures to contribute to enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of the National Assembly’s operations; apply information technology vigorously to renew forms of supervision in accordance with new requirements. It must also continually renew methods of holding question and answer sessions, promote question and answer activity at the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, response to opinions at the Nationality Council and Commissions of the National Assembly, as well as supervisory activity of National Assembly deputies and the National Assembly deputies’ associations. Attention is paid to overseeing law observance and implementation of post-supervision recommendations in connection with concerned organisations’ and individuals’ responsibility for responding to opinions, especially that of the heads. There is need to step up supervising the settlement of citizens’ complaints and denunciations as well as voters’ proposals; continue to perfect and well organise the procedure for conducting votes of confidence on persons elected or approved by the National Assembly as guided by the Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress.

In terms of deciding on important issues of the country, the National Assembly is to ceaselessly reform its methods of operation and promote the quality of deciding on issues concerning fundamental goals, targets, policies, and tasks of socio-economic development; investment in national programmes, goals, projects, and so on. More effort should be put into improving the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of deciding on national financial, monetary policies, ensuring discipline and law observance in the fields of finance and budget. It is necessary to enhance quality of deciding on the fundamental foreign policy; further promote the National Assembly’s external relations in close connection with those of the Party, State diplomacy, and people’s external relations, further improve prestige of the National Assembly and position of the country in the international arena. Other countries’ experience in the parliamentary organisation and operation should be selectively acquired with a view to raising the National Assembly’s operational effectiveness and efficiency. Digital transformation in the organisation and operation of the National Assembly needs to be strengthened. More effort should be devoted to renewing and promoting contact with voters, listening to and establishing a strong attachment to voters, reforming and enhancing quality and effectiveness of advisory, assisting work to serve the operation of the National Assembly.

Over the course of 75 years, together with development and improvement in the political system and organisation of the State apparatus, the National Assembly in various terms has become increasingly stronger, innovative, and perfect in terms of organisation and mode of operation; enhanced its operational efficiency and effectiveness, that of its agencies, as well as competency of each deputy. “Achievements recorded by our National Assembly over the past 75 years emanates from correct leadership of the Party, which is key to the National Assembly’s successful fulfilment of its great responsibility assigned by the people,” said General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the first session of the  15th National Assembly. The National Assembly, which is the convergence of our people’s will and belief, has been carrying on writing glorious pages in our history, become increasingly stronger, left significant milestones, occupied a firm position in people’s hearts and minds, increasingly affirmed its position and role as the supreme representative body of the people and the supreme state power organ of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Given the spirits of solidarity, determination to conduct reform and innovation, exploitation of opportunities, leverage of strength, and resolve to overcome difficulty, we believe that the 15^th National Assembly will continue to successfully accomplish the revolutionary mission assigned by the Party, people, and voters nationwide; fulfil the functions, tasks, and powers prescribed by the 2013 Constitution, making vital contribution to successful implementation of the resolution of the 13^th Party Congress, being truly the National Assembly of the people and for the people, deserving the confidence and aspiration of people and voters nationwide.

  Major newspapers of Laos as well as the Lao National Television and Radio have posted an interview granted by Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung to local media on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2, 1945-2021).

In the interview, Ambassador Hung highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in national construction and defence over the past 76 years under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam as well as positive contributions to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

From a colonial country, Vietnam has become a developing country with a population of nearly 100 million and GDP growth of about 7 percent per year, defence and security ensured, stable socio-political situation, he said, adding the country's position has been rising in the international arena.

The diplomat underscored that despite complicated and unprecedented developments recently, especially those brought by COVID-19, the Party, State and people of Vietnam have shown strong mettle, creativity to overcome challenges, optimising opportunities and flexibly adapting to the new situation with comprehensive solutions, thus gaining important achievements in controlling the pandemic and boosting economic development.

Last year, Vietnam enjoyed GDP growth of 2.91 percent, becoming the fourth largest economy in ASEAN, he noted.

Vietnam has so far set up ties with more than 500 international organisations and diplomatic relations with 189 out of 193 members of the United Nations, said the ambassador, adding that Vietnam has also established ties with 30 strategic and comprehensive partners.

Ambassador Hung affirmed that in the special occasion, Vietnamese people are commemorating great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong who laid firm foundation for the Vietnam-Laos ties. Throughout ups and downs of the history, the relationship between the two countries has overcome all challenges and thrived, becoming a great, exemplary, loyal and rare friendship in the world.

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith still visited Vietnam in June, while President Nguyen Xuan Phuc also paid a visit to Laos in early August. The two historical visits have proved the great friendship, special solidarity between the two nations that cannot be hindered by any hardship, he stated, stressing that despite any difficult situation, the two nations still give each other warm embrace of brotherhood and comradeship as well as encouragement and support, strengthening collaboration and reinforcing their trust.

Hung said 2022 will be the "Year of Solidarity and Friendship between Vietnam and Laos", during which various activities will be held to mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Amity. This will be a chance for people of both sides, especially young people, to work together to reinforce and accelerate bilateral ties to a new height in all fields, he added.
 
On behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, Ambassador Hung expressed sincere and deep gratitude to the Party, State and people of Laos for offering Vietnam support, sentiments as well as creating optimal conditions for Vietnamese businesses and community to work and live stably in Laos./.

 

Vietnam has reiterated the consistent policy in favour of non-proliferation and disarmament regimes, as well as the country’s support for the role of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in ridding the world of chemical weapons.

Speaking at a discussion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the implementation of Resolution 2118 (2013) regarding the settlement of chemical weapons in Syria, Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN voiced concern over the use of chemical weapons in Syria and the current impasse.

He called on the two sides to deepen their technical cooperation in a constructive and non-politicised manner, with the aim of finally settling remaining outstanding issues related to Syria’s initial declaration.

He looked forward to the upcoming meeting between the Foreign Minister and head of the National Authority of Syria and the OPCW Director-General — which should serve as a confidence-building measure - and called for the international community to lend its support to that engagement.

Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, briefed the 15-member Council on her Office’s recent engagement with its OPCW counterparts. 

Noting that their work remains subject to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and conditions on the ground, she reported that the Syrian authorities requested talks with the organisation’s Declarations Assessment Team to be pushed back to October from the initially requested date in September.

UNSC members showed their concern over the accusation of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, underlining the need to strengthen cooperation between the Syrian Government and OPCW as well as members of the Chemical Weapon Convention to deal with issues related to chemical weapons in the country./.

 Since the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in 1930, the reality has proved that the correct and clear-sighted leadership of the Party is the decisive factor in every victory and miracle of the Vietnamese revolution.

The Party’s coming into being on February 3, 1930, is a great turning point in the history of the country’s revolution.

Only 15 years later, the Party made the first miracle with the success of the August Revolution in 1945, and subsequently the resistance wars to liberate and defend the nation.


The decisive role of the CPV in the victory came from the development and completion of viewpoints on national liberation revolution and the selection of the revolutionary methods and forms suitable to the reality.

Another factor contributing to the success of the August Revolution was the art of analyzing and forecasting the situation and opportunities, and the preparation of forces.

On August 16, 1945, the National Congress was held and it issued a resolution on wresting back the administration in the whole country. Only in two weeks from August 14-28, people across the country successfully finished the August Revolution.

On September 2 in the Ba Dinh Square of Hanoi, President Ho Chi Minh delivered the Declaration of Independence to establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the first administration of the farmer and worker class in Southeast Asia.

The all-sided growth of the Party was shown in the leadership over great victories of two resistant wars in 30 years from 1945-1975. Notably, the Dien Bien Phu Victory shook the whole world, while the historical Ho Chi Minh Campaign led to the complete liberation of the south and the national reunification.

In parallel with the leadership over the anti-US war, the Party also led the north in overcoming war aftermaths and recover socio-economic development, bringing the north to socialism.

It can be seen that the Party had its hallmarks in the whole path to national independence and freedom, and this is also a reason why the Party is closely attaching to the people.

Following the national reunification, the Party leadership focused to the economic recovery and the war against invaders in two parts of the country’s border, safeguarding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In 1986, the Party launched “Doi Moi” (Renewal) policy, opening up an important era in socialism building in Vietnam, helping the country get out of an economic crisis into a developing country with orientations to industrialization and modernization, deeply integrating into the world and raising the country’s position in the region and the world.

To date, Vietnam has become a country with a population of nearly 100 million and a yearly per capita income of 2,800 USD, joining almost all of the international organizations, becoming an active and responsible member of the international community. On the basis of the great achievements, it is no exaggeration to say that Vietnam has never before enjoyed such a stature, potential, position and prestige as it is today.

The reality has proved that the Party has shown strong performance in completing its mission in the revolution leadership, deserving trust and expectation of people.
 
It can be said that in Vietnam, no other political force has such mettle, wisdom, experience, prestige and capacity as the CPV to lead the country through all the difficulties and challenges, bringing the Vietnamese revolution from one victory to another.

The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) launched a programme named “One million welfare bags” and a special emulation campaign to encourage Vietnamese youths to stand united and join hands in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the launching ceremony, the committee symbolically received 94,000 "welfare bags" and "welfare medicine bags" worth 23.3 billion VND (1 million USD) in total donated by businesses, organisations and individuals.

The Secretariat of the HCYU Central Committee also handed over the token of 20,000 "welfare bags" worth 5 billion VND to disadvantaged people in Ho Chi Minh City, which is the current largest pandemic hotspot. Another 61,400 "welfare bags" worth 15.35 billion VND were presented to needy people in southern Dong Nai province.

The programme has been carried out since August 20 in cities and provinces applying social distancing measures to support people in disadvantaged circumstances.

Accordingly, 1 million "welfare bags" will be handed over to residents until the pandemic is pushed back. Each includes food such as rice, cooking oil, eggs, dried fish, canned meat and vegetables worth 250,000 VND which could be used for one week.

The "welfare medicine bag" worth 150,000 VND comprises basic medicines for COVID-19 prevention and control as guided by the Health Ministry.

As many as 11,400 "welfare bags" valued at over 2.8 billion VND were already presented to 11,400 poor households in Hanoi and eight southern cities and provinces.

On the occasion, the programme debuted its portal www.trieutuiansinh.doanthanhnien.vn, making it easier for organisations and inviduals to grant donations.

Meanwhile, the emulation campaign, which started on August 26, will last till the pandemic is basically under control nationwide./.

                                                        Prisoners listen to amnesty policy

Amnesty is a major policy of the Party and State, manifesting the fine tradition of the nation in strictly handling of those who violate the law while giving clemency and humanitarian treatment to prisoners who really rehabilitate themselves and wish to return to society as an useful citizen, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, head of the Advisory Council on Amnesty 2021 wrote in his recent article on the occasion of the President signing a decision to grant amnesty to 3,035 prisoners.

Between 2009 and 2016, under the Amnesty Law 2007, the State carried out seven amnesties on the occasion of major and important events of the country, which benefited more than 87,000 people, noted Deputy FM Minh.

He underlined that this year’s amnesty is not only the first one implemented in conformity with the Amnesty Law 2018, but also the first after the 13th National Party Congress and the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils in the 2021-2026 tenure, reflecting the consistent policy of the Party and State in promoting and protecting human rights.

This year’s amnesty is implemented amid complicated COVID-19 developments, which have caused difficulties in the verification of prisoners’ documents in localities as well as the preparations for both released prisoners and the localities receiving them in line with pandemic prevention and control regulations. However, the work has been carried out in a prompt and scientific manner as scheduled, demonstrating the high determination of the whole political system in implementing this important mission.
According to Deputy PM Minh, immediately after the President signed Decision 1161/2021/QD-CTN on amnesty in 2021 on June 30, relevant agencies have quickly rolled out the implementation process. The Advisory Council on Amnesty has held many meetings to consider each case submitted for amnesty in an impartial manner, to ensure that all the cases submitted to the President for amnesty meet all requirements and legal regulations. The motto of the work is to prevent leaving out eligible prisoners and ensure fairness for all prisoners, including those with foreign nationalities.

“The consistent policy of our Party and State is to protect and promote human rights in a fair and equal manner for all citizens, including those who are undertaking imprisonment sentences. The general policy is to create optimal conditions for prisoners in the rehabilitating process, and amnesty would be the highest encouragement for them to improve themselves and repent,” stressed the Deputy PM.

Reality has proved that legal regulations of Vietnam always ensure all rights of all people regardless of their nationality, he underlined, adding that this is strong evidence to refute the untrue arguments and distorted information given by individuals and organisations with bad intentions to deliberately spread groundless information on the human rights situation in Vietnam.

The consideration of granting amnesty to foreigners on the basis of fairness and transparency has also helped the international community better understand the policies of the Vietnamese Party and State, Deputy PM Minh stated.

With the President’s decision, thousands of prisoners will enjoy the happiness of returning to their family and having another chance to rebuild their life.

“This is the strongest hallmark of humanity of the amnesty policy, manifesting the priority of ensuring and promoting human rights in all guidelines and policies of our Party and State,” concluded the Deputy PM./.

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Vietnam always considers its people as the centre, the subject, the main resource and the goal of development, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed at a grand ceremony on September 1 to mark the 76th National Day (September 2). The ceremony was held online in Hanoi and 194 places around the world.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Chinh affirmed that in the past 76 years, the Vietnamese Party, State and people have constantly struggled to safeguard  independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity as well as the right to self-determination of the nation and the right to freedom and happiness of its people, in the spirit of “Nothing more precious than independence and freedom”.

Especially, after more than 35 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), with the valuable and effective support of international friends, Vietnam has gained great achievements in all fields.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and with the engagement of the whole political system and the will and unyielding spirit of the people, Vietnam has exerted efforts to accomplish key tasks of pandemic prevention and control, economic development and recovery, and safety for everyone, including foreigners working, studying and living in the country.
The Government leader took the occasion to thank countries, friends and international organisations for their close cooperation and active and effective support for Vietnam, especially in the fight against the pandemic, as well as their creation of favourable conditions for the overseas Vietnamese community.

Chinh suggested countries and international organisations continue promoting cooperation; sharing and transferring technology, experience, finance, medical equipment, and vaccines for Vietnam; and at the same time facilitating investment, international trade, and collaboration in the transportation of people and goods between countries.

According to him, Vietnam’s stability and development is always associated with an environment of peace, cooperation and development of the region and the world. The Government always implements the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification, and active international integration, and being a good friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community.
Vietnam will persistently address disputes on territorial sovereignty, sea and islands by peaceful means on the basis of international law; and maintain a peaceful and stable environment for rapid and sustainable development of the country. In addition, it wishes to join hands in solving traditional and non-traditional security issues; and promoting globalisation and international integration and linkage, for a green, clean, sustainably developing, and more humane world, Chinh added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Saadi Salama, Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Vietnam, said that the Declaration of Independence delivered by President Ho Chi Minh at Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1945, has strongly confirmed the national sovereignty of the Vietnamese people with the whole world, opening a new era on the path of development.

He pledged to maintain efforts to further strengthen, promote and expand the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and other countries and international organisations towards a common goal for a world of peace, equality, prosperity, cooperation and development./.