(20-06-2009)

National Assembly chairman Nguyen Phu Trong at the closing ceremony of the NA’s 5th session. — VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung

It also lowered expected export turnover growth from 13 per cent to 3 per cent and set overspending at no more than 7 per cent of set targets.

The National Assembly also voted to end punishment for the illegal use of heroin and other narcotic drugs. This means there will be no penalties for illegal use of narcotics.

This significant change to the law on narcotics was passed under amendments to the criminal code. However, people can still be charged with transporting and storing narcotic drugs, for which the death penalty still applies.

All the changes were made at the NA’s fifth session, which closed yesterday after passing three new resolutions and three laws in 26 working days.

Two of the new resolutions were about adjustments to economic targets in this year’s State budget and for personal income tax. The third resolution aims to improve implementation of policies and laws on food safety and hygiene.

The closing ceremony, chaired by NA chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, was attended by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former Party General Secretaries Do Muoi and Le Kha Phieu, President Nguyen Minh Triet, former president Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, former PM Phan Van Khai, former NA chairman Nguyen Van An and other high ranking leaders.

Stable economy

In a speech to end the session, NA chairman Trong said that Viet Nam’s socio-economic development had achieved positive results.

The macro economy had been stabilised, industrial production and exports had grown considerably, and the inflationary spiral had been curbed, despite the global economic slowdown.

The first new resolution was to re-adjust annual economic growth rate from 6.5 per cent to 5 per cent, the consumer price index (CPI) from 15 per cent to below 10 per cent, export turnover from 13 per cent to 3 per cent and overspending no higher than 7 per cent of set targets compared to the present 4.8 per cent.

The economic adjustment follows the Government assessment of the socio-economic situation in the 16 months ended April. This shows that the domestic and world economic slowdown have declined. Most economic targets in Viet Nam were lower against the same period last year.

The NA also agreed to issue an additional VND20 trillion (US$1.1 billion) Government bonds to push progress in transport, irrigation, health services and education.

Narcotics

The changes on narcotic use, which were approved by about 74 per cent of deputies, will take effect at the beginning of next year.

According to the NA Standing Committee, since laws defining punishment were introduced 10 years ago, cases of illegal drug use have rarely been taken to court and the law has had little effect in the fight against illegal drug use.

The Standing Committee also reasoned that punishing illegal drug users could negatively affect their re-integration into society. The committee said it was better to find measures to help them, such as creating jobs.

However, if illegal drug users are found carrying or storing drugs, they will be brought to court under the revised Criminal Code. The extreme penalty is death. More than 88 per cent of NA deputies agreed with the move.

Education

Viet Nam will spend more money on education during the next two years. More than 83 per cent of National Assembly deputies approved a decree to restructure the mechanism for financing education from 2010-15.

The plan aims to mobilise more State and social resources to improve education and meet the demands of a modern, industrialised nation - and at making high-quality education accessible to everyone.

According to the plan, the State will continue to act as the main provider of education and training. Contributions from families, enterprises, individuals and organisations will be encouraged.

Central and local State management bodies will be given clear plans for financing and implementing school budgets.

The Government will increase investment for education and training from kindergarten to secondary-school level. Education for children in remote and ethnic minority areas, vocational training and talent development will also be highlighted.

The budget will also be spent on standardising public education and training centres and establishing high-quality education and training units.

The plan addresses the need to improve finance management by perfecting policies so that public vocational training centres and universities can increase their self-reliance in all areas, including finance. Educational units will need to ensure that there is a direct link between the quality of education and the money investment in it.

Another part of the restructuring plan is for the continuation of preferential treatment on salaries and welfare for teachers and education managers. And teachers will be encouraged to help children in remote areas.

The plan states that tuition fees will be based on the financial capacities of each area and each family. Exemption from tuition fees can be given to needy primary-school pupils, those whose parents contributed to the fight for national independence, or whose parents are beneficiaries of social welfare.

Tuition fees at vocational training centres and public universities will be based on the principle of dividing costs between the State and students. However, total tuition fees must not exceed 40 per cent of education spending.

The Government will subsidise public vocational training centres, universities, and non-public kindergartens and secondary schools accepting poor students.

High-quality educational centres and units can base their fees on the standard of their services and the amounts invested.

Rises in tuition fees must be carried out gradually. Ceiling levels can only be applied from the 2014-15 academic year.

In addition, more money will be spent on enlarging student hostels and urgent projects in poor and slowly developed localities.

The NA also declared personal income-tax exempt from taxes this year on income from capital and transfer investments, copyright and franchising.

Food safety

A resolution to step up policies and laws on food quality and hygiene management was approved by 461 deputies, or almost 94 per cent.

To upgrade food-hygiene controls, the Government has been considering upgrading the Food Hygiene and Safety Department to General Department of Food Hygiene and Safety under the Ministry of Health.

The NA asked the Government to build a national target on food safety and hygiene from 2011 to 2020.

Under the target, road maps and solutions should be made to thoroughly resolve the management of food safety and hygiene.

Building code

About 90 per cent of deputies also agreed to draft amendments to the Law on Intellectual Property and Law on Capital Construction Investment.

The changes to construction investment rules focus on minimising the time for appraising and ratifying projects so that they can be built more quickly.— VNS