(VOVworld) – On Friday National Assembly deputies discussed socio-economic development in 2015 and over the last 5 years and development and land use plans until 2020.  Most deputies agreed with the government’s report, which says Vietnam has been able to stabilize the macro-economy, achieve high economic growth, and ensure social security.

In her closing speech, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the deputies frankly and openly discussed achievements and shortcomings in implementing socio-economic development plans in the last five years and put forward recommendations for the years to come. The deputies pressed for specific solutions to issues around to national development and international integration. Vu Tien Loc is a deputy for Thai Binh province: “It’s necessary to develop road maps and quantitative targets in reforming institutions, improving the business environment, and improving the national competitive edge. We need to reform our institutions to be on a par with other countries in the region. Our determination to reach our vision is reflected in the signing of a number of new-generation FTAs like TPP and the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement”.

The deputies stressed the need to strengthen measures against corruption and waste. Nguyen Cong Hong is Deputy Head of the Justice Committee: “Combating corruption and waste should begin at the central level. Carders need to set example in this regard”.

Truong Trong Nghia, a deputy for Ho Chi Minh City said: “I agree with the government’s report saying that the current tense complications in the East Sea are threatening peace, stability, and negatively affecting the national socio-economic development. We should essentially improve the great national unity among 54 ethnic groups, regions, and people at home and abroad. For thousands of years, the Vietnamese nation repelled foreign invaders and defeated them thanks to patriotism and national unity.”

Deputies asked for promulgation of a master plan on socio-economic development among the ethnic minorities and mountain regions to handle urgent matters.

Vietnam’s GDP growth in 2015 was 6.68%, the highest in 5 years. Deputies recommended that the government focus economic restructuring on public investment, the banking system, economic groups, and agriculture. They said priority should be given to foreign-invested sectors, agriculture and rural development, and remote and ethnic areas. Nguyen Lam Thanh, a deputy for Lang Son province, said: “There should be more coordinated policies and solutions for national development over the next 5 years. New mechanisms should be devised to reduce poverty, help disadvantaged and ethnic areas develop socially and economically, and narrow the development gap between regions and ethnic groups.”

A number of deputies advocated increasing regional economic connectivity and developing the private economic sector. Vo Kim Cu, a deputy for Ha Tinh province, said: “Central agencies should continue to help private businesses and cooperatives with more incentives. Cooperatives play an important role in building new-style areas. It is essential to develop a new model of cooperatives to achieve sustainable growth, encourage large-scale production, and increase regional connectivity. All communes should have their own cooperatives to boost local development.”

Deputies praised the government’s adjustments of land use plans to Vietnam’s current conditions.