Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng delivers his closing remarks during the second meeting of the Party Central Committee. – VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI – The Party Central Committee closed its second plenum in Hà Nội on Saturday after three work days. During the session opinions were given on the Government’s five-year socio-economic development plan, the working agenda for the 12th tenure and the nomination of candidates for the country’s top positions.

The committee unanimously adopted a resolution.

In his closing remarks, Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng said that the Committee generally agreed with the draft working agenda for the 12th tenure, explaining that it covers important issues with the goal of successfully realising the Resolution adopted by the 12th National Party Congress.

The agenda aims to continue accelerating the implementation of a resolution on Party-building set by the 11th Party Central Committee’s fourth plenum; build a strong political system; streamline personnel in public administration; renew the Party leadership; fight corruption and wastefulness; and restructure the economy, including State-owned enterprises, commercial banks and credit institutions to encourage economic growth and labour productivity.

As for the 2016-20 socio-economic development plan, the Party leader said the Committee gave the nod to proposals mentioned in the Government’s report and offered more suggestions to the scheme to submit to the 13th National Assembly’s 11th session for adoption.

It pressed forward on refining the mid-term State budget plan and the mid-term public investment plan to submit to the 14th NA for consideration.

According to Party General Secretary Trọng, participants underscored the need to prioritise investment in agriculture, farmers and rural areas; overhaul the public administration sector and administrative procedures; and improve the business environment.

Other concerns include dealing with high budget overspending and public debts amid volatilities in the global financial-monetary markets; mitigating the adverse affects of climate change that has led to severe saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta and drought in the south central region and the Central Highlands; and handling environmental pollution and traffic congestion in cities.

Enacting the five-year public investment scheme will give way to a number of public projects and help balance the State budget between 2016-20, they said.

The Committee said that annual, mid-term and five-year socio-economic development plans must be in line with the guidelines and viewpoints of the 12th National Party Congress, as well as the conditions of each locality and sector.

It also urged the development of action programmes for implementing the policies and guidelines of the Party and State, including any revisions, if necessary.

Participants also discussed and reached a consensus on personnel arrangements for State agencies in a bid to ensure the timely implementation of the resolution adopted at the 12th National Party Congress.

The Committee cast votes for nominees to key positions including the President, Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Assembly.

The Party chief said that the Politburo had earlier sought consensus from the Party Central Committee on these key positions before submitting its personnel options for other posts to be elected or approved by the National Assembly, in accordance with the current Constitution and law.

Based on the Committee’s nominations and voting results, the Politburo will instruct authorised agencies to continue refining the nomination list for leading posts of State agencies before submitting it to the NA, General Secretary Trọng said.

“After the meeting, we will continue consolidating leading positions in agencies of the Party Central Committee and Party delegations to areas where personnel changes will be made,” he said, stressing the urgent need to establish action plans to realise the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and implement socio-economic, national defence-security and foreign relations tasks.

Thorough preparations will be made to successfully conduct the election of deputies to the 14th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-21 tenure, he said. – VNS