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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Nhat Bac

On July 24, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a government session focusing on legislative matters for July 2024. The session began with a minute of silence in memory of President Ho Chi Minh, fallen heroes, and the recently deceased Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

A key agenda item was the proposal to invest in a high-speed rail project along the North-South axis, implementing the resolutions of the Central Committee and National Assembly.

The government members generally agreed on the proposal to present to the appropriate authorities the construction of a modern, synchronized high-speed rail line, in line with global development trends.

The proposed rail line will be 1,541 km long, crossing 20 provinces and cities, and is scheduled for completion by 2035. This rail line will primarily serve passenger transport but will also accommodate light freight when necessary.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the importance of technology transfer mechanisms to build a robust railway industry, following the directives of the Party Central Committee and the Politburo.

He also stressed the need to develop policies to mobilize and diversify resources, including state funds (central and local), loans, bond issuances, corporate investments, and revenues from the efficient operation of the rail line.

The Prime Minister called for increased decentralization and empowerment, enhancing the capacity of agencies, localities, and enterprises to implement major infrastructure projects. He also highlighted the importance of assessing impacts, particularly concerning public debt, government debt, and foreign debt, and emphasized effective communication to build high public consensus.

Alongside the high-speed rail project, there are plans to upgrade existing railway lines to focus on freight transport and tourism. Additionally, there are plans to connect with China through three railway lines and to develop the Vientiane (Laos)-Vung Ang (Ha Tinh) railway line.

Previously, the Prime Minister had requested studies on the most efficient, shortest, and effective high-speed rail routes, with a design speed of around 350 km/h.

Discussion on two legislative proposals (Emergency Law, amended Law on Science and Technology); and giving opinions on two draft laws (amended Electricity Law and amended Employment Law)

Since the beginning of its term, the government has reviewed, approved, and passed over 100 legislative proposals, laws, and resolutions, with more than 60 being submitted to the National Assembly. Additionally, over 380 decrees have been issued by the government, and nearly 90 normative decisions have been made by the Prime Minister.

In 2024, the government has organized five sessions dedicated to legislative development, reviewing and approving 26 legislative proposals and resolutions. Notably, the government has established a committee to review and address legal document obstacles, chaired by the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need for a consistent, transparent, clear, and objective legal system, avoiding overlaps and ambiguous interpretations. This would ensure that officials feel secure in their work, thereby preventing fear of mistakes, responsibility avoidance, and passing the buck among some officials and party members, thus mobilizing resources for national development.

He also highlighted the importance of a transparent mechanism to mobilize domestic and foreign resources through enhanced public-private partnerships while maintaining strict controls to prevent policy-related corruption and ensuring efficient use of state resources, with public investment leading and activating private investment.

Thu Hang