On the occasion, VOV interviewed some representatives of different social sections on their expectations from the Party Congress.

Consistent policies on religions

Monk Thich Thanh Cuong, Head of the Office of the provincial Hai Duong Buddhist Sangha, said he wants the Party to formulate consistent policies on religions and to pay more attention to religious believers and priests so that they can build on their creativeness and talent to boost national development.

Cuong also said ‘one rotten apple spoils the barrel’ – in life there are always those who disguise themselves under the cloak of religion just to earn money or to undermine the revolutionary achievements of the Party over the past 80 years.

Step up criticism and self-criticism

Doan Trong Ly, Chief Executive Officer of APROXIMEX corporation, said Vietnam has overcome a lot of obstacles and challenges to successfully implement the CPV’s 10^th National Congress’s Resolution.

However, he said, there remain many weaknesses and malpractices relating to the capacity and morality of party cadres and members. This needs a straight assessment of both accomplishments and shortcomings. Mr Ly wished this year’s Party Congress will draw essential lessons on criticism and personnel work. He suggested the Congress improve the sense of self-criticism and criticism within the Party and be willing to claim responsibility for the Party’s shortcomings and errors.

Greater priority given to agriculture and rural areas

Vu Trong Binh, from the Institute for Policies and Strategies on Agricultural and Rural Development, said he had carefully studied the Draft Political Report for the 11^th Congress. And he expects the Party to devise mechanisms that give priority to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers and have farmers and the community involved in management.

Mr Binh mentioned the fact that farmland in many localities remains scattered, which hinders large-scale production. Some have allowed businesses to rent and use large areas of farmland in a wasteful way.

In fact, many foreign economic groups have managed to control domestic agricultural markets, resulting in a massive exploitation of resources in rural areas. In some places agrarian land turns into non-agrarian, which exerts a negative impact on land accumulation among farmers.

Therefore, Mr Binh said, the state should invest in agricultural infrastructure, especially the traffic and transport system in rural areas. The state should also ensure social welfare and jobs for rural workers.

Practical action needed to attract talent

Do Thi Hong Nhung, second-year student of the Haiphong Medical College, wished the delegates to the Party’s National Congress give more attention to the lives of youths, including students and pupils. She said the Party should place more confidence on young people and assign them to take on more important and challenging tasks.

Nhung also suggested ‘streamlining’ curricula of science and technical schools so that students have more time to take part in social activities. In addition, she proposed syllabuses be made more practical to meet the demands of markets and recruiters. She also said wages offered by state-owned enterprises are too low; hence, many students have chosen to work for foreign companies instead.

Importance attached to human resources

Do Quang Hop, Headmaster of Cat Linh primary school in Dong Da district, Hanoi, said the country’s training has not met current demands even though many educational establishments nationwide have boosted the training of high-quality human resources. He expressed his earnest hope that after the 11^th National Congress of the Party, human resources will be considered the most important resources and training will be conducted in a comprehensive way. Mr Hop highlighted the need to form an army of knowledgeable, experienced experts in colleges and universities across the country.

Mr Hop suggested training should be focused on high-demand jobs. He also called for a close association between training, research and business./.