Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

HÀ NỘI Viet Nam News - —  The National Assembly voted to approve the Prime Minister’s appointment of 21 cabinet positions, including three Deputy Prime Ministers for five-year terms, during the ongoing – and last – 11th session of the 13th legislature in Hà Nội. 

Expressing their view on the new posts on the sidelines of the NA meeting on Saturday, the three new Deputy Prime Ministers, 18 others ministers and cabinet members said they were honoured to be selected as cabinet members and vowed to do their best to fulfil their tasks in the new term.

Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng said that as an assistant of the Prime Minister, he would focus on lifting barriers in production for domestic business enterprises and local people.

In addition, Dũng, who previously led the Ministry of Construction, said he will improve the investment environment as a way to promote financial sources from all domestic and international economic sectors for socio-economic development.

Dũng said he will focus on economic restructuring aiming at creating high-quality industrial and agricultural products prevailing in both domestic and world competition.

This would give the Vietnamese economy a boost and help it to widely and deeply integrate into the world economy, said Dũng.

Sharing his view on the new post, Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, who was former chief judge of the Supreme People’s Court, said he would use his experience in the legislative sector – particularly in the prevention and fight against crime – to help the cabinet find effective measures against crime and ensure social order and political security.

As a cabinet member with the highest votes of 463, newly elected Minister-Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Affairs Đỗ Văn Chiến said he would continue to complete policies on socio-economic development in mountainous and ethnic minority regions, including a boost in investment for poverty eradication, health care and education measures.

NA deputies have expressed hope that the new Government will build on past successes and issue timely policies for socio-economic development.
They made the statement on the sidelines of the NA’s 11th session in Hà Nội, which approved the appointment of three Deputy Prime Ministers and 18 ministers and Cabinet members on Saturday.
Deputy Bùi Thị An, representing Hà Nội’s constituents, said several ministries and sectors made breakthroughs in the past tenure, especially the Transport Ministry.
Apart from ramping up infrastructure, the ministry emphasised personnel work by holding open examinations to choose the best candidates for managerial positions in its departments and agencies, she said.
In a separate matter, she raised concern over the smuggling and trading of counterfeit and low-quality goods, as well as poisonous and banned substances, and called upon the Government to annually assess each sector’s performance in a transparent manner.
Lawmaker Trần Ngọc Vinh from the northern port city of Hải Phòng said the new PM and other Government members should be more active in driving the economy forward.
The Government must devise solutions to achieve the goals set in the last tenure while continuing to make forecasts and issue specific measures, he said. 

The NA on Saturday approved the revised Law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties as well as resolutions on adjusting land use plans through 2020 and the national land use plan for 2016-2020 (last phase).
The same day, the NA also adopted a resolution ratifying the diplomatic note on the visa agreement between Việt Nam and the US.

NEC vice chairs, members discharged

Chairwoman of the National Election Council (NEC) Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân presented a proposal on relieving several NEC Vice Chairs and members from their duties during the 13th NA yesterday.
The 21 member NEC was established at the 13th NA’s 10th session, including one chair, four vice chairs and 16 members.
The proposal named two vice chairs - Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and former Vice President Nguyễn Thị Doan - and 12 members for release.
President Trần Đại Quang later presented a report asking for the discharge of former Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng from the position as Vice Chairman of the Council of National Defence and Security.
He also proposed relieving former NA Chairman Nguyễn Sinh Hùng and former Minister of National Defence Phùng Quang Thanh from their duties as members of the Council.
Lawmakers then discussed in groups the proposals of release.
The NA will continue working today. — VNS