The National Assembly approves a resolution on the national target programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2021-30 with 100 per cent of the vote. Photo baotainguyenmoitruong.vn

HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution on the national target programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2021-30, which aimed at improving livelihoods of ethnic minority groups, with the majority of deputies voting in favour.

The programme sets a target of doubling the income per capita of people from ethnic minority groups in the next five years compared to the current rate (VNĐ1.1 million to VNĐ2.2 million per month per person).

By 2025, it aims to improve infrastructure, create jobs and address pressing issues of more than 16,100 households from ethnic minority groups and disadvantaged ethnic groups.

By 2030, income per capita of people from ethnic minority groups is hoped to be raised to half of the national average. The programme also aims to cut the number of poor households to less than 10 per cent of the total number of households, with no hamlets or communes classified as in extremely difficult conditions and 70 per cent of communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas meeting new rural area criteria.

Nearly VNĐ272 trillion (US$11.8 billion) will be mobilised to implement the programme.

According to Đỗ Văn Chiến, chairman of the NA Commission for Ethnic Minorities, the national target programme will boost socio-economic development in these areas by creating livelihoods and enhance incomes for local residents, thereby reducing poverty.

The programme will set multiple targets in socio-economy, national defence-security, environment and biodiversity protection, and grassroots political system construction.

A resolution on the thematic supervision of the implementation of policies and laws on preventing and fighting child abuse was also approved by NA deputies on the same day.

Law approval

Legislators passed a law amending the Law on Organisation of the National Assembly on Friday with 442 of 451 deputies voting in favour.

The law increases the number of full-time delegates from at least 35 per cent to at least 40 per cent of the total number of NA deputies.

The law takes effect from January 1, 2021.

Hoàng Thanh Tùng, chairman of the NA’s Committee on Legal Affairs, said raising the proportion of full-time NA deputies to at least 40 per cent had been calculated carefully.

This was a legal basis for introducing more full-time deputies, he said, enhancing professionalism and the efficiency of the NA’s activities.

“In order to ensure the feasibility of this provision, the 14th NA Election project will detail related content as well as the arrangement of specialised deputies in the future,” Tùng said.

The 14th NA also adopted a resolution on specific financial-budgetary policies and mechanisms for Hà Nội with 91.51 per cent of votes.

The resolution will take effect on August 15 and be valid for five years.

Under the resolution, the Hà Nội People’s Council can decide to collect some fees specific to Hà Nội which are not on the list of fees and charges issued along with the Law on Fees and Charges and adjust the fees and charges on the list except for those belonging to the central budget.

According to the resolution, the ceiling of debts will be no more than 90 per cent of revenue with the principle that the capital city must ensure its solvency.

The city will be allowed to use the financial reserve fund to invest in infrastructure projects in the medium-term public investment plan. It must ensure the recovery of the money within 36 months.

It will also be permitted to use the local budget’s fund for regular spending for the upgrade and building of essential items in existing facilities of administrative public non-production agencies and agencies under political-social organisations.

The city can use its budget to support other localities in the country.

Nguyễn Đức Hải, chairman of NA’s Committee on Finance and Budget, said the regulation creates flexibility for the city in management.

He also said it would not have a large impact on budget balance while encouraging local governments to use public assets more effectively.

The NA on Friday also approved a resolution piloting the urban administration model in the central city of Đà Nẵng and some other specific mechanisms and policies.

According to the resolution, the city will be governed by the municipal People’s Committee and People’s Council but People’s Councils will no longer exist in districts and wards in the city.

Like Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng can collect some fees which are not on the list of fees and charges issued along with the Law on Fees and Charges and will be allowed to use the financial reserve fund to invest in socio-economic infrastructure projects.

On the same day, the NA also approved a resolution on the establishment of the National Election Council (NEC) with 94.41 per cent of deputies in favour.

It had earlier passed a resolution on the election of the Chairperson of the NEC and another ratifying the list of Vice-Chairpersons and members of the council.

NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân was elected Chairwoman of the NEC. The Vice-Chairpersons are NA Vice Chairwoman Tòng Thị Phóng, Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Trần Thanh Mẫn, and Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh.

The ninth session of the 14th NA wrapped up on Friday after 19 working days.

NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân said this was the first time the NA held online meetings.

The 19 working days divided into two periods was shorter than previous sessions but the NA still completed the agenda which included urgent and important content in the context of the whole country taking COVID-19 prevention and control measures, she said.

The NA did not hold a Q&A session but lawmakers still sent documents to Government members and sector leaders to solicit questions, she said.

Lawmakers discussed and approved 10 laws, 21 resolutions and gave opinions on six other bills.

With very high approval rates, the NA ratified the Việt Nam-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Việt Nam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (Convention 105). 

The ratification of the international treaties was an important step in international economic integration, especially the participation in new-generation free trade agreements with higher standards. They also open up new development opportunities, affirming Việt Nam’s determination to implement labour-related commitments in trade agreements, as well as fulfilling the obligations of being an ILO member, she said.— VNS