Twenty-one out of 23 targets set for this year including 8.5 percent GDP growth rate have been achieved. The achievements have paved the way for the country to reach socio-economic targets in the coming years.

However, NA deputies also noted difficulties, obstacles and tasks which have not been achieved, forcing the Government to apply strong measures. High economic growth rate, together with high consumer price index (CPI), has not brought much benefit for most people. Therefore, the Government was asked to set a clear and precise CPI rather than setting it below GDP growth rate.

NA deputies also expressed concern over the fact that dozens of billions of Vietnam dong have not been disbursed over the past nine months and were given back to the State budget. Why was the disbursement rate so low? The question was raised from the previous NA session, but despite much progress being made, the list of low disbursed projects seems to be longer.

NA deputies shared the opinion that procedures of capital construction investment are cumbersome, overlapping and constantly changing, causing a lot of difficulties for implementation and management of State-funded projects. They suggested a reduction of investment in capital construction such as transport to invest in other fields such as irrigation and rural transport in remote areas. Traffic safety is also an issue of great concern which has not been solved.

Deputies proposed to comprehensively implement measures to minimise traffic accidents by strictly fining traffic violators, regulating the flow of traffic to prevent traffic jams in urban areas and further investing in infrastructure in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. One of the reasons is that responsibilities of State management agencies did not meet the requirements of the society. Deputies also pointed out many other issues that they collected through consultation with voters to help the National Assembly find effective measures in boosting socio-economic development. The country focuses on economic growth but ensures sustainable development and better implementation of social policies, pays much attention to agriculture and rural development and people in remote and mountainous areas. Training programmes must be combined with human development, administrative reform and corruption prevention.

On the sidelines of the NA session, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung answered reporters’ questions on issues of NA concern. The Government strives to boost economic develop as well as pay more attention to sustainable development and the balance of economic indexes. PM highlighted that during the process of the international economic integration and transition from a centralised economy to a market economy, the country gained both success and suffered from failure. Most importantly, the Government must continue to examine the core of problems to remove snags. Nine Government members will be questioned at the NA session.