VietNamNet Bridge – A review of 2013's socio-economic development and the three years' implementing the 11th Party Congress Resolution are high on the agenda for the 8th Plenum of the Party Central Committee which opened in the capital yesterday, Sep 30.

A view of the Party Central Committee's 8th Plenum which opened in the capital yesterday.

In his opening speech, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said the conference was of great importance as it would cover many important areas with a strong impact on the Party, people and the army.

Trong listed five important topics for discussions during the 10 day-meeting (September 30 - October10) as follows:

Economic restructuring

Trong emphasised the importance of performing economic restructuring thoroughly and comprehensively.

He asked participants to carefully analyse and evaluate the country's current socio-economic status, particularly the implementation of three strategic tasks - inflation control; macro economic stabilisation and maintaining economic growth while ensuring social security.

"Implementation of the three strategic tasks must go hand in hand with reforms of the economic growth model and restructuring," Trong noted.

"These ideas will lay firm foundations for our country's socio-economic development during the 2014-15 period and play a critical role in the successful implementation of the 11th Party Congress Resolution," he stressed.

He also asked participants to focus their discussion on lessons learned in the past nine months and the outlook for the whole of 2013.

When evaluating the nation's socio-economic development in the past three years, Trong called on participants to draw on their experiences in leadership roles within Party and Government offices.

"I want you to identify the objective and subjective reasons leading to successes and failures, including legal reasons, mechanisms and the roles of organisations," Trong said.

Education overhaul

"We should analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our education system. If we want to reform education, where should we start? These are the questions we have to find answers to at this conference," he told the plenary session.

"Investment in education is an investment in development. It should take a step forward before other socio-economic development plans or programmes. The objective of education is to develop learners' competency, to train human resources and to foster talent." Trong emphasised.

He also mentioned the importance of linking educational development and training with the requirements of socio-economic development and national defence, as well as the rule of objective development, with advanced science and technology.

"Our education development should switch from quantity to quality to meet the nation's demands," Trong said.

Constitution revisions

Revising the 1992 Constitution is a task of great importance to the Party, Government and the whole political system, he said.

"The constitution is the basic political system and a political document governing the most essential social relations - a solid foundation reflecting the nature of our State and regime. It is our country's fundamental law and the most powerful in our legal system. It ensures our nation's socio-political stability and national sovereignty," Trong said.

The Party leader urged all participants to comment on specific ideas in each chapter, article or section in the draft constitution, particularly on issues where opinions were still divided.

National defence strategy

Reviewing the 10 years' implementation of the 8th National Party Conference's Resolution on the Strategy for National Defence in the new context is of great significance, said Trong.

It will help us thoroughly analyse and evaluate the situation and then decide appropriate policies and measures to meet requirements.

Trong asked the Party Central Committee members to make objective comments on lessons learned over the last 10 years of implementing the resolution.

However, he also urged participants to focus discussion on the advantages and disadvantages, as well as opportunities inside and outside the country, so Viet Nam will be pro-active in defending the nation, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Improving the Party

Trong said a very important item at this meeting was to consider and then decide on the issuance of Party election regulations and to establish various sub-committees preparing for the 12th National Party Congress.

In conclusion, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong asked all Party Central Committee members to value their responsibility and be active during discussions to ensure the conference is a success.

The 8th Plenum of the Party Central Committee will conclude next Wednesday, October 9.

Source: VNS