Additional report

ADDITIONAL REPORT
ON THE TARGETS OF THE YEAR 2011 AND IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2012, AND MAJOR SOLUTIONS IN THE LAST MONTHS OF 2012

(Report of the Government

presented by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
at the 3rd session, 13^th National Assembly)

 

Esteemed leaders of the Party, State and Viet Nam Fatherland Front,
Esteemed veteran revolutionaries, distinguished guests,

Honourable MPs,

Fellow Vietnamese and constituents,

According to the agenda, the Government has sent the MPs the additional report on socio-economic situation in 2011 and implementation of the socio-economic development plan in 2012, additional report on assessment of State budget in 2011 and implementation of State budget plan in 2012 and 12 thematic reports on other specific areas. These reports analyze the overall socio-economic situation, State budget and other issues to be addressed during implementation of the NA resolutions. In this report, on behalf of the Government and as authorized by Mr. Prime Minister, I would outline the main points and results in 2011 and the first four months of 2012, and major solutions that we should focus on to put in place the guidelines in the coming months to strive for the highest goals and tasks in the 2012 socio-economic development plan approved by the National Assembly.
 

I. ADDITIONAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  DUTIES IN 2011

A. The main results

At the 2nd session of the 13^th National Assembly, based on the first 9 months results and forecasts for the remaining months of the year, the government presented the initial outcomes of socio-economic development tasks in 2011. To date, the results of 2011 show that we have basically achieved the general objectives stated in the Resolution of the National Assembly. Among 22 key targets, 15 targets achieved or exceeded plan, including six indicators higher than the figures reported to the NA.

The main results in 2011 are as follows:

First, our economy continues to achieve a good growth rate. GDP rose by 5.89%, lower than the rate of 6.78% in 2010, but this is an enormous effort by the entire Party and people when facing many difficulties and challenges both within and outside country. Industry and construction grew by 5.53% (the figure reported to the National Assembly was 7%) and services increased by 7% (the number reported was 6.4%), agriculture, forestry and fishery rose by 4% (the number reported was 2.3%). Thanks to suitable solutions and creative efforts of the whole political system and people in maximizing potentials and advantages, agricultural sector has emerged as an important contributor to economic growth economic and social stability. Rice production reached a record high of 42.4 million tons, agriculture and fishery exports amounted to US$ 23 billion, of which rice export stood at 7 million tons of rice, worth about US$ 3.7 billion. Tourism and telecommunications have been thriving.

Second, inflation is controlled. Major balances of the economy are basically guaranteed; macro economy has witnessed positive changes. Thanks to strong guidance and solutions, inflation has been gradually controlled. CPI has been declining since the 3^rd quarter. Monetary situation, credit and balance of international payments are under control. Total liquidity increased by 12.37% (the plan is 15-16%). Outstanding credit of the economy rose by 14.41% (the plan is below 20%). Credit structure shifted positively with focus on agricultural and rural development, manufacturing sector and export. The overall balance of payment recorded a surplus of U.S. $ 2.65 billion, contributing to increase in foreign reserves of the country (in 2010, the deficit was $ 3.1 billion). 

State budget revenue increased by 18.4%. State budget expenditure upped by 13.8% against the estimate. Budget deficit remained at VND 111,500 billion, equivalent to 4% of the real GDP (reduced by 0.9% compared to the estimate). Outstanding government and national debts were under control and within the safety limit.

The total social investment capital accounted for 34% of GDP. In implementation of Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP of the Government, ministries and local authorities have reviewed and transferred VND 81.5 trillion of development investment to major and urgent projects, which can be completed and put into operation. ODA disbursement reached US$ 3.65 billion, a rise of 3% compared to 2010.

Annual export turnover totalled VND 96.9 billion, up 34.2% compared to 2010 (the number reported to the National Assembly was 31.6%). Trade deficit was US$ 9.84 billion, equivalent to 10.16% of total export (the reported number was 10.5%), the lowest level over the past years. In difficult market conditions, price fluctuations, these results reflected great efforts.

Third, social security and welfare systems have received due attention; social progress has been made. Given challenges facing the budget, the State and Party have still given priorities to allocating more resources to the implementation social policies and national target programs. The rate of poor households in 2011 declined to 2.44% (the reported number was 1.5%); the average rate in poor communes was 4.5% (the number reported was 4%). 1.54 million new jobs were created. The minimum wage increased for civil servants. The regional minimum wage in businesses also increased. Regulations on a uniformed minimum wage for both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises have been put in place.

Authorities at all levels have paid due attention to taking care of people's lives, especially those with meritorious contributions to the nation, the poor, ethnic minorities, people in remote areas, contributing to strengthening confidence of the people and maintaining social and political stability. Prevention of and recovery from consequences of natural disasters, epidemics have been bettered, helping people in disaster-ridden areas recover their normal life and production. Long-term and fundamental solutions have also been established.

By the end of 2011, 57/63 provinces and cities attained standards for universal primary education in terms of school age. 63/63 provinces and cities realized the goals of universal secondary school education. Number of national standardized schools increased at all levels. Vocational training has been promoted, recruited 1.86 million students (an increase of 6.4%).

Health care for the people has progressed; the rate of malnourished under-five children fell down to 16.8% (National Assembly target was 17.3%); reduction in birth rate reached the plan target of 0.2%; number of beds / people reached the plan target of 21.1. Disease prevention achieved some positive results.

Research and application of science and technology, development of information technology has been actively conducted, contributing to increased productivity, business efficiency and State’s management. Environmental protection and response to climate change have received timely guidelines. The Government has issued the National Strategy on response to climate change, built and undertaken the national target program on handling pollution and improving environment to combine control, prevention, recovery and protection of the eco-system.

Fourth, national security and defence has been maintained and social order and security ensured, external relations and international integration promoted.

We have been able to continue to maintain and develop a people’s national defence and security strategy; maintained peace, steadfastly protected national territories, both on land, in the air, and on the seas and archipelagos. We have been able to combine and promote very well the external relations activities of the Party with that of diplomacy of the State and people’s diplomacy; made use of external resources to create an international climate conducive to national development. The coordination between external relations and national defence and security activities has seen many positive results. Administrative reforms, prevention and control of corruption, and the address of complaints and denunciations have been given due attention from the Central to the local level and have continued to undergo positive changes.

2. Main limitations, weaknesses

Beside the many achievements, there remain many weaknesses in the socio-economic development process of 2011, namely:

The macro-economy has not truly been stable, there remain many potential risks, although inflation has been controlled in the last months of the year, however the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the whole year was high, at 18.13%; interest rates remain high; the tightening of fiscal and monetary policies have played an important role in reining in inflation and stabilizing the macro-economy, but have also left negative impacts on production and peoples’ livelihood. Since mid 2011, the Government has enacted many Resolutions to resolve obstacles for enterprises and to promote business and manufacturing. It has reported the situation to the National Assembly and the National Assembly has passed Resolution No. 08/2011/QH13 dated 06 of August, 2011 on additional solutions concerning tax to assist enterprises and individuals. However, as of end of 2011, there are still many difficulties; the number of enterprises’ closure, suspension or contraction of operation grew 24.7% year on year, leading to higher rates of unemployment; the stock and real estate market are on the decline and is being met with many difficulties.

The quality of growth and competitiveness has not been improved with low labour productivity, and slow transformation of the economic structure. State management of enterprises remains weak; the network of infrastructure lacks consistency and improvement are slow; investment efficiency is low, while human resources quality does not meet demands. Application of science and technology in many different fields remain limited. Recognizable brands on the international market are few, the domestic market has not been effectively exploited and developed, particularly the purchase and consumption of agricultural produce…

There are many limitations to the social aspects of life, many of which are slow to be remedied, particularly in terms of the quality of education and training, and medical check-up and treatment. Corruption is still severely rampant, with complex developments in many different fields, and wastefulness widespread; many issues such as accidents and traffic jams and congestions, exploding vehicles, poor food safety and hygiene, the use of prohibited substances in livestock farming, credit defaults, serious criminal cases etc. are causing a sense of discontent in society. Although the number of cases of protracted, mass complaints has decreased, the total remains high; misinformation about a number of cases have led to manufacturing losses, and law enforcement and administration of justice lack stringency and timeliness.

There are many limitations to environmental protection; pollution is particularly grave around river basins, industrial parks, craft villages, and areas in major cities. The management of land and natural resources is loose, land resources have not been effective used to create drive for development.  

II. SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION DURING THE FIRST 4 MONTHS OF 2012

Since the beginning of 2012, the global economy has been recovering but with many potentially volatile developments; the international market is suffering from complex fluctuations of food, foodstuff and raw materials. Domestically, the macro-economy faces many challenges with potential risks such as shrinking markets, significantly weakened purchasing power, large dormant inventories, high interest rates; fast rising number of enterprises defaulting, suspending operations (particularly enterprises in construction, real estate), and rising levels of unemployment. Moreover, prolonged, harmful cold weather in the North and North-western areas have negatively impacted agricultural production and the livelihood of farmers.

Since the beginning of the year, in realizing the National Assembly’s Resolution, the Government passed Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated 03 January, 2012 on the main solutions to direct, guide the implementation of the 2012 socio-economic plan and spending of the budget with the overall goal of: Prioritize control of inflation, stabilize the macro-economy, maintain growth at suitable levels linked to renovation of growth model and economic restructuring, improve quality, effectiveness and competitiveness, ensure social welfare, security and improved livelihood for the people, maintain political stability, strengthen national defence, ensure national security, social order and safety; improve the efficiency of external relations and international integration activities. Priority will be given to realizing solutions to control inflation, ensure macro-economic stability; restructure the economy, starting with restructuring of investments, corporate restructuring, and restructuring of the banking and finance system.

Thanks to the efforts of the whole political system, of management at different administrative levels, of sectors, of corporations and the people, the socio-economic situation during the first 4 months of 2012 have seen positive developments and have gained initial success.

Inflation has been checked. CPI growth reduction has started since mid 2011 and has significantly declined in recent months. CPI in January grew by 1%, in February by 1.37%, March by 0.16% and in April 0.05%. CPI for the first for months only grew 2.6%, much less when compared to growth during similar periods in recent years. Measures such as tightening of fiscal and monetary policies, increased management of public spending, prices, and market have contributed to reining inflation.

Interest rates have gradually lowered, with more stable exchange rates, and an improved balance of payment. Deposit interest rate ceiling have been adjusted from 14% down to 12%; credit loan rates have decreased compared to the beginning of the year. This trend is gaining momentum and flexibly handled based on changes in market and inflation developments. The government is directing the implementation of a credit support policy for agriculture, rural areas, SMEs, manufacturing of exports, processing industry, labour-intensive corporations, and investment in the construction of social homes, thereby helping to alleviate difficulties for enterprises, and improve market confidence. Policy credit programs have reached communes and wards nationwide, with total loan as of April 30^th 2012 reaching nearly VND 107 trillion, an increase of 2.9% compared to end of 2011, of which loans for students increased by more than VND 2 trillion, loans for poor households increased by nearly VND 540 billion.

The restructuring of commercial banks is being actively implemented, and banks have been classified into different categories for ease of application of management measures; the banking system’s security and liquidity have seen initial improvements. Dollarization and goldenization (or reversion-to-gold) has been controlled.

Exports are on the rise, trade deficit is experiencing strong reduction. Total exports during the first 4 months is estimated at over US$ 33.4 billion, a 22.1% increase; for imports is US$ 33.6 billion, a 4.4% increase; the trade deficit stands at US$ 176 million, or roughly 0.53% of total export, much lower than compared to the same period in recent years, helping to raise national foreign reserves to about 9 weeks of import. Amidst the current global prices and purchasing power situation, this is proof of the efforts of corporations, manufacturers and agencies and management at all levels.

Industrial production is seeing signs of rise again. The Industrial Index of Production  (IIP) for the first four months grew 4.3% year on year. Industrial production during the past 2 months have seen very positive recovery (rising 6.5%, and 7.5% respectively in March and April, with processing industries seeing growth of 8.6% and 9.3% respectively).

Agricultural production is seeing stable development. Total agricultural, forestry and fishery value in the first quarter of 2012 grew 3.7% year on year. The Government has bought 1 million tons of rice in the Mekong River Delta for temporary stockpiling to assist production and lessen the hardship for farmers. During this period, fishery volume grew 3.7%; the continued assistance policy for large capacity vessels to engage in offshore fishing has helped fishermen to extend their time at sea, increasing fishing volumes.

Services have seen relatively good growth. Retail and consumer services during the first 4 months grew 21.6% year on year. The number of tourists coming to Viet Nam was roughly 2.5 million turns, a 22.9% increase. Post and telecommunication have continued to see strong growth. The successful launch of the Vinasat 2 satellite marks a new development step, helping to modernize the national telecommunications infrastructure.

Social welfare, preferential treatment for people with contribution to the revolution continues to be implemented with many practical measures. Many social policies continues to be implemented such as: Assistance to hungry households; support in terms of medical insurance, electricity bills, accommodations, credit for students; assistance for ethnic minorities to develop production, assistance for poor districts and communes in particular difficult hardship; provide education and occupational training for rural labourers, actively realize the National Target Program of New Rural Areas…; raise minimum wage for civilians and military personnel, fringe benefits, pensions, social insurance subsidies for retired commune officials; reform policies on preventive health, health insurance, medical check-up and treatment and hospital fees. Policies concerning people with contribution to the revolution are being improved.

Other issues regarding social, cultural, education and training activities have received due attention, and implemented on schedule set at the beginning of the year and have yield optimistic results. Many cultural, sports, festivals have been better organized, have involved the participation of the community more in the process, and attracted positive contributions of corporations and the community, helping to communicate the image of Viet Nam and its tourism industry. The National, sectoral and local Human Resources Development Strategy and Planning related to occupational training for rural labourers have been pursued. All children age-5 are encouraged to go to school. Focus attention on reforming education management mechanisms, prioritize capacity training for teachers, educators and education managers (implement the seniority subsidy mechanism for teachers, maintain subsidies for teachers being reassigned to education management duties). Educational institution monitoring and supervision have been strengthened in order to improve the quality of training, particularly tertiary education. The fight against drugs, prostitution, HIV/AIDS, drug trafficking have been determinedly and comprehensively carried out. Priority has been given to methadone treatment for opioid substance abusers.

Thanks to strong and comprehensive measures, traffic order and safety has been improved in the first quarter of 2012 over three criteria, of which the number of traffic accident decreased by 22.8% while deaths and injuries fell to 19.2% and 26.3% respectively from the previous year.

Communication was strengthened, in particular information of socio-economic development and the Party and the State’s policies, guidelines and operation. The Government’s officials increased their dialogues and contacts with people. The ‘People ask - Ministers answer’ program is done periodically online at the Government Web Portal while other forms of dialogues are also organized, which promptly answers people’s concerns and gains social consensus.

In addition, the administration reform and computerization of state management are intensified. The review of the implementation of 1992 Constitution was made on schedule and met the requirements. Issues concerning anti-corruption, complaints and denunciation, land inspection and state owned enterprises are handled together with the implementation of Resolution of the 4^th Plenum of the 11^th Communist Party Congress.

Despite those achievements, Viet Nam’s socio-economic development still faces difficulties and challenges.

Economic growth has seen signals of slowdown. GDP growth rate of the first quarter of 2012 stands at 4% only, a sharp decrease from 5.57% in 2011 and 5.84% in 2010. Industries and construction sector only grow by 2.94%.

Although the tight fiscal and monetary policy has done well in curbing inflation and sustaining macroeconomic stability, but enterprises in particular the SMEs suffered significantly from it. Loan interest rates remain high, which undermine enterprises’ ability to access bank loans and mobilize capital. Meanwhile, high input costs, slow sales and large inventories narrowed production and led to enterprises’ termination of production, bankruptcy or dissolution, which resulted in more employees losing job and increasing pressure on social stability and people’s livelihood. In the first four months, 17.7 thousand enterprises have suffered from dissolution, an increase of 9.5% from the previous year.

Bank loan interest remains high irrespective of a sharp fall of inflation. Bad debt increases. Import decreases sharply in particular in domestic enterprises. The decrease in import of materials and fuels will negatively exert impact on investment and production in the coming time, especially export production.

Smuggling, trade fraud, production and consumption of counterfeit goods or low-quality goods do not decline, which cause revenue loss, challenge production and violate the legitimate interests of businesses and consumers.

People in many areas are still facing challenges in making their living while security and social order remain complicated. Food safety and food hygiene are not examined and monitored carefully while violations are not strictly punished.

Social evils and crimes remain serious, in particular organized crimes and offences against officers- on- duty. Corruption and wastefulness are not yet pushed back while the number of lawsuits involving many parties concerned increase, especially cases in relation to land issues. Safety of hydropower dams, traffic accident and traffic jam in metropolitans still remain thorny issues.

III. MAJOR MANDATES  AND  SOLUTIONS  FOR THE REST OF 2012 

Global economy is expected to show positive signals but still remains complicated and unpredictable. Meanwhile, domestic socio-economic development experiences tough time due to natural disasters, diseases, macroeconomic instability, high credit interest rate and increasing input cost will continue to challenge production and management of the macro economy. However, some areas such as agriculture, services, tourism, export, manufacturing products, especially agricultural products, processing fishery and electronics see strong growth. Those are important features that need to be encouraged in getting over the tough time and achieving the goals of socio-economic development in 2012.

Considering the tasks and objectives for socio-economic development in 2012 set out in the Resolutions of the Party, the National Assembly and the Government as well as difficult economic context, the Government has identified the core tasks in the coming time, including removing difficulties, enhancing production, pursuing the consistent policy of inflation control and macroeconomic stability to lay foundation for sustainable development and gradually implementing economic restructuring towards more efficiency, better quality and stronger competitiveness.

Priority will be given to the following tasks:

First, removing difficulties, enhancing production and investment together with pursuing the consistent policy of inflation control and macroeconomic stability

The Government, Ministries, agencies and municipal authorities will take necessary measures and effectively remove difficulties for further production, especially difficulties in capital, site, manpower, consumption market and export in accordance with mechanisms and policies and implement Resolution 13 dated 10 May, 2012 on solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles in production and market facilitation. In particular, loan interest rate should be reduced conforming to inflation control while enterprises should be facilitated in bank loans, especially the SMEs and those working on export production, supporting industries, rural and agricultural development. Extend the tax payment deadline, reduce land leasing fee, exempt excise tax for particular enterprises, speed up the disbursement of state capital and submit some recommendations on taxation reduction and exemption to the National Assembly for consideration. Increase the attraction and disbursement of FDI and ODA. Take measures to control debt of enterprises, especially those which have good performance and potential but yet are challenged by temporary difficulties such as debt restructuring, debt rescheduling, changes of payment deadline and interest. Remove inappropriate barriers; enhance administration reform and facilitation of investment and businesses.

Continue to pursue the policy consistent with inflation control, tightened monetary policy and harmonization between monetary and fiscal policies to control inflation between 8% and 9% in 2012, which facilitates a lower level of inflation in the years to come, ensure macroeconomic stability and sustainable development in midterm and long term plans. It is essential to understand this guiding principle in the operation of each level of authorities and sector. Create a healthy national finance by controlling state budget deficit in 2012 as stipulated in the National Assembly’s Resolution and have it reduced in the years to come, manage and monitor the Government’s, debt, public debt and national debt in securing national finance and macroeconomic stability.

Enhance trade promotion; continue facilitating key exports with comparative advantages, market potential and competitiveness; strengthen the examination of export quality and take flexible solutions to make the most of export to potential markets and recovering markets. Focus on domestic market, especially facilitate the consumption of enterprises’ products, reduce inventories, reform the system of purchasing, consumption and transport of goods to rural areas. Continue to impose market price on items priced by the State together with management of market and price, enhance inspection, examination and handle inappropriate change of price, especially price for important fuels and materials and essential manufactured goods; prevent illegal change of price, tax evasion, contraband, speculation and manipulation of market price. Save fuels and energy to reduce the price of product, make diverse forms of product and improve the quality of product and efficiency of production.

Continue to improve institutions and mobilize strength for agriculture and rural development; enhance the implementation of the National target program on rural development. Prepare carefully seeds, fertilizers, pesticide and disseminate new agricultural technology, speed up the implementation of infrastructure to cope with typhoon and flood, enhance measures to prevent diseases for plants, cattle and poultry and ensure food safety and food hygiene.

Second, fulfil the task of economic restructuring and shift of growth model towards more efficiency, better quality and stronger competitiveness

Implement the policy of investment restructuring with focus on public investment and effectiveness of investment. Review, amend and supplement mechanisms of investment management to ensure socio-economic development of the country, sectors and regions as well as to meet the interests of provinces in short term, midterm and long term. The Government is speedily developing the midterm investment plan to be submitted to the National Assembly’s meeting by the end of this year.

Implement the roadmap for restructuring of finance and banking with focus on restructuring the commercial banks, improve the services quality, business outcomes and ensure safety of the whole financial and banking system, take measures to control banks of poor performance and ensure the interests of depositors. Enhance the healthy development of the securities market and other financial services, ensure the openness and transparency and seek out sources for long term and sustained capital mobilization.

Intensify the restructuring of SOEs with focus on State’s corporations and business groups by identifying their roles and mandates to make SOEs well organized for better performance, stronger competitiveness and excellent fulfilment of their mandates. State’s corporation and business groups focus on their major sectors and make their business outcomes and financial report public and transparent. Enhance the responsibility of leaders of enterprises and state management agencies and the owner’s monitoring duty. Reform management manner and implement the equitization of state owned enterprises effectively. Restructuring SOEs also helps promote the restructuring of enterprises from other economic sectors.

Economic restructuring should be connected with shifting of growth model. As such, it is essential to focus on review and improvement of the master plan on socio-economic development, the development plans for industries and sectors towards more efficiency and better quality and the connectivity among plans. Enhance examination, monitoring and management of development in accordance with the development plans of sectors and provinces and ensure the connectivity between those two kinds of development plan. Review and evaluate for exploration and production in economic zones, industrial parks, processing zones and border economic zones.

Give directions and pay attention to manpower development, encourage social demand –based training, improve the efficiency of labour distribution and productivity. Take strong measures of reform programs to apply new technology, improve quality of domestic products and science and technology market with a view to making the most of manpower in economic restructuring and shifting of growth model.

Third, ensure social safety and social welfare and environmental protection

Promptly build the action plan for implementation of the Resolution of the 5^th Plenum of the 11^th Party Congress on several issues of social policy from 2012 to 2020. Mobilize resources for the national target programs on the social domain to be completed on schedule. Continue to implement solutions to sustainable poverty reduction, especially for poor districts, communes and villages. Implement better the policy for the people with meritorious services to national protection and development causes. Create more job and promptly facilitate persons who lose jobs by social welfare and social safety net and unemployment insurance. Take solutions to prevent and overcome natural disasters, speedily assist the people living in disaster-hit areas for stabilization and restoration of production. Enhance examination and monitoring to ensure resources are used in an adequate and effective manner with no wastefulness.

Promptly issue and implement the Strategy on Education and Vocational Training by 2020; continue to implement the Program on Improving schools, classes, public houses for teachers and dormitories for students; promote universalisation of pre-schools for children aged 5; effectively implement the project on vocational training for rural labourers; and build high-quality facilities of vocational training. Strengthen the management, increase the quality of public healthcare, and actively control and prevent severe diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Focus on dealing effectively with the overloading situation at hospitals, expand the coverage of health insurance and change the management method. Strengthen activities related to conservation and promote tangible and intangible cultural values as well as to develop tourism, intensify activities related to gender equality and develop families of prosperity, advancement and happiness.  

Give instructions on implementing effectively the National Target Program on Addressing Pollution and Improving Environment in response to climate change. Continue to invest in infrastructure, equipment and training for research and forecast facilities on natural disasters and climate change; increase the capacity of weather forecast and hydrometeorology for production and people’s life. Strictly control the management of exploiting resources and minerals coupled with requirements on environmental protection; resolutely suspend activities, withdraw license, do not extend, supplement or grant a new license on exploiting resources and minerals to businesses violating or not meeting requirements on environmental protection.

Fourth, complete the legal system, implement the program on administrative reform, increase the capacity of state management and intensify activities related to the fight against corruption and wastefulness  

Continue to implement effectively the Program on administrative reform in the period of 2011 – 2020; promptly complete the functions, responsibilities and organization of Ministries, agencies and local authorities; increase the effectiveness and quality of public service activities; continue to complete the decentralized management mechanism between the Central government and localities, coupled with examination and monitoring, particularly in areas of investment, land, resources, minerals and budget, etc.  

Strengthen the discipline in activities of the State apparatus, coupled with the implementation of the Resolution of the 4^th Plenum, 11^th Party Congress on some urgent measures on building the Party; the Resolution of the 3^rd Plenum, 10^th Party Congress, Decision of the 5^th Central Meeting, of the 11^th Party Congress on activities against corruption and wastefulness. Hold high the responsibilities of the head of organisation; strictly deal with cases violating the laws, particularly cases that people and voters pay attention to. Focus on dealing with complaints and denunciations in the spirit of protecting the legitimate interests of the people in a public and transparent manner in accordance with the laws. Address protracted cases, minimize the possibility of occurring new complicated cases, particularly in the process of land acquisition, compensation, assistance and resettlement.

Fifth, strengthen the national defence and security, ensure the social order and safety; increase the effectiveness of external activities

Strengthen the capacity of national defence and security, firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, particularly on islands of the Homeland. Continue to engage in both cooperation and struggling and address differences and disputes at seas by peaceful means in accordance with international laws. Cooperate to build a borderline of peace and friendship with neighbouring countries while demarcating border line and planting border pillars. Implement effectively activities guaranteeing security, social order and safety and firmly maintain the political security; strongly and effectively implement national programs against crimes, drugs, trafficking in women and children. Strive to meet and exceed the targets set for the Year of National Traffic Safety in 2012.

Expand external relations with countries in the region and the world, actively and responsibly participate in international fora and organizations such as the UN, APEC, ASEM, and ASEAN, etc; effectively deepen relations with partners; implement international commitments and actively participate in negotiations on new trade agreements (such as the Tran-Pacific Partnership - TPP and the trade agreement with the EU).

Sixth, strengthen activities related to information and communications for social consensus

Continue to implement activities of information and communications on guidelines and policies of the Party and State, creating high social consensus in the implementation of the national socio-economic development goals.

Leaders of Ministries, agencies and localities are responsible for working closely with the Fatherland Front at various levels, socio-political and professional organizations and on communicating and disseminating information for the press in a full, accurate, timely and transparent manner, particularly issues that people pay attention to. Strictly punish acts that provide inaccurate news, creating a sense of uncertainty in the society, and having negative effects on the interests of the State, businesses and the people.

Effectively carry out external information to promote national image, solicit the international support, strengthen cooperation to attract investment, tourism, and actively fight against inaccurate information and distorted propaganda.

National Assembly,

Focusing on addressing difficulties, facilitating production and continuing to implement the goal of inflation control, macro-economic stability and appropriate growth are difficult responsibilities. They are urgent and significant tasks for 2012 to ensure stability and sustainable development in the immediate and long term. 

Given a number of difficulties and challenges, with the high determination, solidarity and meeting of minds and actions of the whole political system, the business community and people and under the leadership of the Party, we believe that  we will implement successfully goals and tasks for 2012 set by the National Assembly and resolutions issued in the fourth and the fifth Plenum of the 11^th Party Congress, creating the foundation for faster and more sustainable development for years to come.

The Government kindly requests the National Assembly, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, mass organizations, comrades and the people to monitor, coordinate actions and do your utmost to create more unified and remarkable changes at various areas to achieve the goals of the Strategy on Socio-Economic Development in 2012, contributing to the success of the 5-year Strategy on Socio-Economic Development in the period of 2011 - 2015.

          Thank you./.