Draft Law on Special Cities: Requires a superior institutional framework and sufficiently strong decentralization.

Commenting on the draft Law on Special Cities, former leaders of the Central Government and Ho Chi Minh City suggested that a superior institutional framework and sufficiently strong decentralization and delegation of power are needed for the city to fulfill its leading role.

The scene at the seminar. Photo: VIET DUNG

On the afternoon of May 28th, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee organized a workshop to gather feedback from former Ho Chi Minh City leaders on the draft Law on Special Urban Areas. The workshop was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; and Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

In his welcoming remarks, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City is a special urban area, the largest economic , cultural, and scientific-technological center in the country. However, in recent years, the city has still faced many bottlenecks in socio-economic development; the institutions, legal system, and legal framework have not met the requirements and are not suitable for the unique status of a special urban area.

According to Comrade Nguyen Manh Cuong, the Politburo has issued Resolution 09 on building and developing Ho Chi Minh City in the new era. This is an important milestone, creating confidence, enthusiasm, and expectations among the people, the business community, and the entire society regarding the city's development in the coming period.

Resolution 09 not only provides strategic direction but also affirms the Central Committee's determination to build Ho Chi Minh City into a modern, civilized, compassionate, rapidly and sustainably developing city, maintaining its role as an economic, financial, and service center for Southeast Asia and Asia.

Comrade Nguyen Van Duoc welcomes the delegates attending the workshop. Photo: VIET DUNG

In particular, the Politburo and the Central Committee agreed to allow Ho Chi Minh City to proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to develop a Law on Special Cities. According to Comrade Nguyen Manh Cuong, this is a strategic and historical task, aimed at creating more opportunities and a special, superior institutional framework to promote the city's development in the coming time.

The Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee emphasized that the city's perspective when developing the Law on Special Urban Areas is not only to remove difficulties and obstacles or request additional special mechanisms and policies, but also to form a comprehensive and unified institutional framework with truly unique and outstanding policies to create the potential for strong breakthroughs.

With the extensive experience and practical work in managing and operating localities of former central and city leaders, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee hopes to hear many opinions to help the editorial team update, supplement, and draft the Law on Special Urban Areas, meeting the requirements and expectations of the city in the coming period.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong delivers a welcoming speech. Photo: VIET DUNG

Contributing to the workshop, Comrade Pham Chanh Truc, former Deputy Head of the Central Economic Committee, former Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, and former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, suggested that the nature of a special urban area needs to be clearly defined. According to him, Ho Chi Minh City, as a special urban area, should be viewed from its scale, potential, development process, scientific and technological foundation, large market, and open international market; while also serving as the leading city of the country and the core of the Southern key economic region.

Comrade Pham Chanh Truc offers his comments. Photo: VIET DUNG

Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Tran, former Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested that the draft law needs to clarify the boundaries of overlap between this law and other laws. At the same time, a mechanism for exemption from liability is needed, because the application of controlled testing mechanisms (sandbox) or public-private partnership (PPP) methods can both give rise to risks and errors.

According to Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Tran, the law needs a mechanism to protect officials and clearly distinguish between risks for the common good and acts of self-serving gain. The draft also needs to stipulate the authority and resources for Ho Chi Minh City to build a shared, real-time data architecture framework to serve optimal administrative decision-making.

Comrade Pham Phuong Thao expresses her opinion. Photo: VIET DUNG

Comrade Pham Phuong Thao, former Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and former Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, proposed that the draft Law on Special Cities should boldly increase the authority, mechanisms, and policy resources, promoting maximum initiative for the city.

Regarding the hierarchical management structure, Comrade Pham Phuong Thao suggested that the functions of departments and agencies should be clearly codified into law, defining them as state management bodies according to their respective sectors and fields, not just advisory bodies. Departments and agencies should both provide advice and play a management role within their sectors and fields to reduce the need to seek approval from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Regarding attracting talent, Comrade Pham Phuong Thao believes the focus should be on changing the working environment, not just salary. If experts are integrated into the administrative system but still managed through timekeeping, without the autonomy to decide on ideas, capabilities, human resources, or research conditions, it will be difficult to achieve effectiveness. The city needs to institutionalize the right of experts to effectively implement creative ideas to create genuine breakthroughs.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam offers her comments. Photo: VIET DUNG

Meanwhile, Comrade Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, former Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and former Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, suggested replacing the phrase "thorough decentralization and delegation of power" with "sufficiently strong decentralization and delegation of power," linked to the city's practical situation.

According to him, a strong decentralization mechanism must be based on three pillars: practical capacity, potential, and competitive advantages of Ho Chi Minh City. The central government needs to grant full authority and responsibility exceeding the current legal framework, avoiding a "request-and-grant" mechanism that slows down development opportunities.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam also suggested that there is a need to change the management mindset regarding organizational structure and personnel; granting genuine autonomy to the People's Council and People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City in deciding on job positions and staffing levels suitable to the specific characteristics of a special urban area, in order to maximize the capacity and intelligence of the staff.

THU HUONG - NGO BINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/du-thao-luat-do-thi-dac-biet-can-khung-the-che-vuot-troi-phan-cap-du-manh-post854836.html