HÀ NỘI – As many as 485 out of 489 deputies present at the July 26 plenary session of the 14th National Assembly, or 98.18 per cent, voted for Nguyễn Xuân Phúc as Prime Minister for the 2016-2021 tenure.
A resolution on the election of the new Government leader was also passed by 482 deputies, or 97.57 per cent.
In his swearing-in ceremony today, the newly-elected PM spoke of the great responsibility assigned to him by the Party, NA, voters and people nationwide, affirming that he would make every effort to serve the nation and people.
PM Phúc stressed that Việt Nam is facing both development opportunities and challenges, which require the country to optimise its internal strength and make full use of outside support with the goal of developing into a rich country with increased status in the world arena.
Currently, Việt Nam is ranked 14th worldwide in population, but only 48th in terms of economic scale and 133rd in per capita GDP, he noted.
The new Government leader emphasised that faster growth is also urgent to cope with the risk of population aging surpassing growth, as the golden period of average population age is to end in the next 10 years.
In the context of high public debt and debt payment pressure, along with inefficiency in bad debt settlement and limited resources for development in the next period, the Government must work harder to streamline the administrative system at all levels, while taking the initiative in saving public funds and property, he said.
The PM underscored that in order to grow in a sustainable manner, it is crucial to increase investment effectiveness; pointing to the need to speed up institutional reform and improve education and technology.
The recent natural disasters, drought and saltwater intrusion, which have caused unprecedented and massive losses, required the country to stand more actively ahead of the great challenges brought about by increasingly fast and devastating climate change, he stated.
Particularly, the PM highlighted how essential environmental protection is during the country’s development process, reiterating the Formosa Hà Tĩnh lesson. "This is a bitter lesson in getting and managing foreign-investment projects, which must not recur," he stressed.
He also pledged to review major projects and keep a closer watch on their commitments in environmental protection and technology transfer.
“As the leader of the top State administrative body, the Government and I will inherit and promote the achievements of the 30-year renewal, tapping all the opportunities and advantages, fixing shortcomings and weaknesses, overcoming difficulties and challenges, and working hard for a Government which works to spur growth, upholds integrity, and serves the people,” vowed the PM.
Nguyễn Xuân Phúc was elected Prime Minister by the 13th National Assembly’s 11th session in April 2016.

 High-ranking positions proposed

 President Trần Đại Quang has proposed candidates for the positions of Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy.
The proposal was submitted to the 14th National Assembly yesterday afternoon during the new parliament’s first session.
The President proposed that Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh, a member of the Party Central Committee who was Vice President since April 2016, be re-elected to this post for the 2016-2021 tenure.
The President proposed Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Nguyễn Hòa Bình, be voted in as Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court in the 2016-2021 tenure, a position in which  Bình has served since April this year.
The candidate for the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy is Lê Minh Trí, who is a member of the Party Central Committee and was also voted to the position last April.
Following the submission, National Assembly deputies discussed the candidacies.
Election results will be announced at the morning session tomorrow . — VNS