Vietnam's communists to ward off "evil elements" and raise living standards
HANOI - Vietnam's communist authorities launched their National Assembly's spring session on Tuesday with a pledge to
raise living standards and a call for cadres to remain vigilant against hostile forces.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also used the opening to focus on the impoverished in the
countryside, highlight corruption and push the advancement of Vietnam into a more high-tech age.
This would be spearheaded by the government's 10-year development strategy aimed at opening-up key
economic zones, rationalising the banking system and at least doubling Gross Domestic Product over that
period by raising exports.
Dung said the government must press ahead with efforts to lower interest rates and improve access to capital in
a bid to spur investment and pursue its bid to join the World trade Organisation (WTO).
However, growth would be made difficult given the global economic slowdown which was weakening the
currency exchange rates of competitors and making Vietnam a less attractive destination for foreign capital.
Poverty alleviation would include subsidies to offset the high costs of borrowing for coffee, rice, vegetable and
meat producers.
Bureaucratic red tape and corruption had to be weeded out to maintain political and social order. Corrupt
officials would be severely punished while demanding and receiving bribes had to be eliminated.
"It is necessary to carry out measures to tackle the roots of corruption and continue to push reforming the
Dung said the government would increase investment for infrastructure in rural areas to create jobs, lift incomes
for rural people and stimulate consumption.
He cited unrest in the central highlands earlier this year, lamenting that "some of our people were fooled, incited
or coerced by enemies and evil elements."
Dung said a timely response had resulted in a stabilisation of the situation, but he admitted government
shortcomings had contributed to the problem which led to at least 300 people fleeing Vietnam for Cambodia.
Twenty-four ethnic Montagnards were given asylum in the United States last month.
Government failings included: "shortcomings in implementating socio-economic development policy" and "taking
care of people's material and spiritual life."
"Through this, the fact requires us to raise our vigilance against hostile forces, their sabotage schemes and
actions" and having "the measures to overcome our shortcomings and weaknesses, not only in central highlands
but also in other places."
Weeding out corruption and introducing economic reforms have topped the government's agenda for the last
three years, achieving mixed success.
The spring session will sit for one month and was expected to elect a new National Assembly chairman to
replace Nong Duc Manh who was elected general secretary of the communist party last month.
Only the first day of the National Assembly session is opened to the public.
Agence France Presse - May 22, 2001.
|