Delegates on January 13 worked in groups to discuss the draft documents submitted to the congress.

The documents include the draft Platform on National Construction in the Transitional Period toward Socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011), the Socio-economic Development Strategy for the 2011-2020 period, the Political Report and a report on amendments and supplements to the Party Statute and the draft Party Statute (supplemented and revised).

Most delegates agreed that the report of the 10th National Party Congress presented by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh at the opening ceremony reflected overall achievements of the country in the past term, especially those in the renewal process.

From a poor country, which lacked basic foodstuff, Vietnam became an average income country. The people’s living conditions were improved, politics and society stabilised, national defence and security reinforced, and national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity maintained. The country’s external relations and international integration have been expanded, and its prestige and position in the international arena has been heightened. This demonstrates the important leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and people’s trust in Party and the 11^th Party Congress’s policies.

Nguyen Van Son, Secretary of the Son Duong district’s Party Committee in Tuyen Quang province says he hopes that the congress will devise measures to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich as stipulated in the draft document, because if the gap expands this is likely to lead to social instability. In addition, more investment capital should be allocated for mountainous areas.

Regarding the plan to turn Vietnam into an industrialised country by 2020, many delegates say that the Party and State should introduce policies to improve and complete current infrastructure and mobilise domestic and foreign capital for development. They should pay more attention to human resources and invest in disadvantaged areas, especially in the central region which has great potential but remains underdeveloped.

Nguyen Van Thien, Secretary of the Binh Dinh provincial Party Committee expressed his hope that after the congress the country will make more progress, especially in economics, society, and security and defence. Ministries and departments will turn congress’s policies into concrete actions and help the central region develop as strongly as other regions.

Delegates agree that the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 7 on agriculture, rural development and farmers is right and it is supported by all people. It has achieved significant results after a short time of implementation.

Tran Dinh Huong, Secretary of the Nam Dan district’s Party Committee in Nghe An province, says that he hopes the congress will discuss how to promote traditional craft villages and services to increase the agricultural products’ value and farmers’ income, and how to accelerate the building of new rural areas.