VietNamNet Bridge – Numerous deputies used their alloted seven minutes to address the trade deficit; pollution and the widening income gap during the second day of 12th National Assembly's discussion session telivised live nationwide yesterday, Nov 2.

Deputies worry about the quality of growth development

National Assembly deputies comment on Party documents

Vocational training was among the issues discussed by lawmakers in a televised session yesterday. (Photo: VNS)

The successful hosting of such regional events as ASEAN's 17th Summit; its Inter-Parliamentary Assembly 31 and Defence-Military Meetings that helped raise the country's international prestige too were lauded.

The deputies also contributed to the Government review of this year's socio-economic targets and the previewing of the 2011 plan.

But they also identified their perceived shortcomings in State management.

Deputy Vo Thi Hong Thoai, southernmost Bac Lieu province, sought measures to reduce "excessive" imports.

It would be difficult to meet the target of reducing "excessive" imports from 19 per cent of the total cost to 14 per cent by 2015 without a "breakthrough policy," she said.

The deputy suggested fostering support industries through incentives such as those offered to foreign direct investors as a way to reduce unnecessary imports.

Deputy Phuong Huu Viet, northern Bac Ninh Province, suggested Viet Nam become a key exporter of agri-forestry-fishery produce.

"We should strive to bring made-in-Viet Nam food and drinks to many families in the world and help 70 per cent of our farmers to become rural entrepreneurs," he said.

The deputies also worried about inflation, which they said would reach 9 rather than the targeted 7 per cent, and that last month's heavy flooding of central Viet Nam would lower GDP to less than the estimated 6.7 per cent.

Addressing pollution

Many deputies complained that the Government and its agencies had not given pollution sufficient attention, particularly the treatment of waste water in production.

Deputy Le Dinh Khanh, northern Hai Duong Province, said the target to have 55 per cent of industrial parks and export processing zones with waste water treatment systems at the end of this year – just five per cent higher than last year – was "unacceptable."

"I suggest that all working IPs and EPZs must be ordered to install complete standard waste water treatment systems," he said urging the Government, provincial and municipal administrations to strictly enforce the law.

The deputy also questioned why the target for the delivery of clean urban water to urban areas had been lowered to 78 per cent in 2011 from 82 per cent in 2009.

Deputy Tran Van Tan, southern Tien Giang Province, said although 15 of 21 socio-economic targets would be achieved only six of the 15 were related to the environment.

He worried about the disposal of waste water in the major cities; pesticide abuse; the pollution of rivers waterways and air contamination in trade villages.

Deputy Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, northern Phu Tho Province, suggested that the licences of enterprises which did not honour commitments to environmental protection be revoked.

Deputy Duong Trung Quoc, southern Dong Nai Province, asked why climate change had not been included on the assembly's agenda.

The deputy also argued that Hungary's "red mud" catastrophe showed the need for caution in plans to mine bauxite in Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands).

"The bauxite project needs to be re-examined," he said.

The deputy cautioned that the near bankruptcy of the Viet Nam Shipbuilding Corporation, or Vinashin, could be repeated with the bauxite project if the National Assembly's supervisory role was neglected.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Pham Khoi Nguyen's reassurances about the measures implemented to ensure the safety of the proposed bauxite project did not satisfy deputy Quoc.

The minister told the assembly that Viet Nam National Coal, Mineral Industry Corporation environmental impact assessment of the project "had been very specific, scientific and ensured environmental safety."

The project would accord with the world's highest standards and Viet Nam's strictest regulations, he said.

The minister also reported that an assessment council of senior scientists had travelled to Australia, China and Brazil to study their experience in the mining of bauxite.

Shipbuilder revamped

Many deputies assessed the collapse of Vinashin and suggested measures to revamp it and better manage State enterprises.

Deputy Be Xuan Truong, northern Bac Kan Province said the successful revamp of Vinashin was crucial because Viet Nam, a seafaring nation, could not be without a ship-building industry.

"If not, maritime strategies would not be accomplished and the country would have to depend on others," he warned.

Deputies also linked Vinashin's failure and numerous other socio-economic problems with inadequate personnel training.

Deputy Hoang Van Toan, northern Vinh Phuc Province, said the capacity of both workers and managers was inadequate.

"We need to improve the national educational system," he said.

"The revamp is critical for secondary education, vocational training and cadres."

Deputy Dieu Dieu, southern Binh Phuoc Province, said the shortage of skilled personnel hindered the implementation the numerous policies to improve people's lives.

Nguyen Thi Hong Ha, Ha Noi, said that although the number of skilled workers accounted for 40 per cent of the labour force, their quality did not meet the demands of ever increasing high technology, particularly the support industries and rural ecology.

Investing in personnel training would be decisive to the successful accomplishment of socio-economic strategy, she said.

The deputies also discussed how to narrow the widening income gap between geographical locations and called for the Government to invest more in agriculture and rural Viet Nam.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News