Following the success of the questioning sessions at previous meetings, the first-ever "re-monitoring" activity in the 15th National Assembly term demonstrated the responsibility of the National Assembly Standing Committee in supervision.
For the first time during the 15th National Assembly term, from August 21st to the morning of August 22nd, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly implemented a "re-supervision" activity by conducting question-and-answer sessions.
This activity aims to comprehensively assess the implementation by the Government, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuracy of the resolutions of the National Assembly Standing Committee on thematic supervision and questioning from the beginning of the 15th National Assembly term until the end of 2023.
Accordingly, National Assembly deputies conducted questioning on two groups of issues related to nine fields, including the first group of issues related to Industry and Trade; Agriculture and Rural Development; Culture, Sports and Tourism; and the second group of issues related to Justice; Internal Affairs; Security, Order and Social Safety; Inspection; Courts; and Prosecution.
A resolution on the interpellation will be issued.
Notably, regarding the first group of issues, in response to a delegate's question about tourism development, Minister Nguyen Van Hung stated that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has a plan to encourage localities to research and evaluate night-time tourism products based on planning factors. The goal is for "each locality to have a unique, professional, distinctive, and highly competitive tourism product."
Regarding the relationship between tourism and culture, Minister Nguyen Van Hung stated that "tourism develops to support culture, and the development of culture will make tourism flourish."
According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long, in reality, many localities have adopted new and creative approaches, linking them with the introduction of OCOP products, street food, culture and arts, and street music performances, creating a positive impression on tourists.
Vietnam's tourism industry has recovered strongly after the pandemic, and is considered a bright spot in the country's economic and social landscape. In 2023, we welcomed 12.6 million international visitors, a 57.5% increase compared to the target, generating total revenue of 672 trillion VND, and winning the "Leading Destination in Asia" award for the fifth consecutive time.
In the first seven months of 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 10 million international tourists, with total revenue estimated at 513.3 trillion VND. Also in the first group of issues, supporting production and consumption of agricultural products, expanding markets, and the difficulties in lobbying the European Commission to lift the IUU "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood were two of the issues of concern to the delegates.
Responding to delegates' questions about solutions to lift the IUU "yellow card," Minister Le Minh Hoan stated that the main focus remains on effectively implementing the Vietnam Fisheries Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045; and the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, both approved by the Prime Minister. Fisheries development is based on three pillars: reducing overfishing, increasing aquaculture, and conserving marine resources to ensure sufficient fish stocks for future generations.
Clarifying this matter, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long stated that all 28 coastal provinces and cities have established fisheries inspection organizations.
Recognizing the crucial importance of addressing IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing violations to lift the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" on Vietnamese fisheries, the Government and the Prime Minister have focused their efforts on this issue. As a result, progress has been made in managing, monitoring, and controlling fishing vessel activities; nearly 100% of fishing vessels have been equipped with vessel tracking devices; and investigative agencies have initiated legal proceedings in four cases related to brokering and facilitating illegal fishing by vessels and fishermen.
The European Commission (EC) continues to highly appreciate Vietnam's commitments, political will, and efforts in combating IUU fishing…
In the second group of issues, the areas include justice; internal affairs; security, order, and social safety; inspection; courts; and prosecution. Notably, when questioning the situation of cybercrime, Representative Nguyen Anh Tri (Hanoi) assessed that cybercrime is becoming increasingly serious and violent; he requested the Government to state its stance on organizing forces to prevent and combat cybercrime in the coming period.
In response to questions, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang stated that cybercrime and high-tech crime are not unique to Vietnam. This is one of the non-traditional security challenges that countries around the world face.
The United Nations is proposing an international cybercrime agreement to be signed in the near future, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security will be one of the signatory members. The Minister also stated that this type of crime has three characteristics that make it difficult to detect and prosecute: borderless, highly anonymous, and technologically advanced; "almost everything that exists in real life also exists online, and if something exists only once in real life, it can be multiplied many times online." Therefore, solutions to combat this type of crime must also be specific.
The Ministry of Public Security has been implementing numerous solutions to combat cybercrime and high-tech crime. Specifically, it is promoting the application of electronic identity verification accounts for citizens, considered "cyber IDs," to verify identity when participating in activities serving state management, thereby limiting anonymity and fraud.
At the meeting, many delegates expressed interest in solutions to unify the system of information technology applications in handling citizens' complaints and denunciations.
In response to the questions, the Inspector General of the Government, Doan Hong Phong, stated that the application of information technology in receiving citizens and resolving complaints and denunciations has been identified by the Government as one of the key tasks of state administrative reform and has been directed by leaders at all levels and sectors to focus on implementation in recent times.
Regarding the field of justice, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long, the Government and the Prime Minister have always considered the task of building and implementing laws as a key priority to promptly address difficulties and shortcomings, ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the people, and create favorable conditions for investment, production, and business activities.
Also at the meeting, in response to a question about resolving the policy of supporting officials, civil servants, and non-specialized personnel at the commune level when they retire due to the reorganization of commune-level administrative units, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra said that localities that cannot balance their budgets independently should compile a report for the Ministry to submit to the Government for budget allocation to pay the costs. The resolution of the surplus number of officials and civil servants will be implemented over 5 years, with a complete resolution by 2030…
In his concluding remarks after a day and a half of "re-monitoring," National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated that, based on the results of the questioning session, the National Assembly Standing Committee will issue a Resolution on the questioning with specific requirements for each content, clearly stating the time for implementation and completion.
Actively contributing to institutional improvement.
Nine government members participated in the explanation and answering of questions from National Assembly deputies. Based on the opinions of the National Assembly deputies and the explanations of the government members, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long further clarified some issues of concern to the National Assembly deputies, which fall under the responsibility of the government.
Ministers must be directly responsible for legal affairs; this was emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long when responding to delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap) regarding the issue of rectifying the quality of draft law proposals; the late submission of documents; and the addition of many draft laws to the agenda close to the session, causing considerable difficulties for research and review.
Regarding agriculture, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that agriculture has fundamentally developed stably, affirming its position as a pillar of the economy, ensuring national food security and maintaining exports. Exports of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products reached a record high in 2023, exceeding $53 billion; with a trade surplus of $11 billion. In the first seven months of 2024, exports reached $34.27 billion, an increase of 18.8% compared to the same period last year, with a trade surplus of $9.42 billion, a 60% increase.
Regarding the lifting of the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" against Vietnamese fisheries, the Government and the Prime Minister will continue to direct ministries, sectors, and localities to strictly, decisively, and effectively implement Directive No. 32 of the Party Central Committee; and at the same time, continue to exchange views and lobby member states of the European Union to support the early removal of the "yellow card" against Vietnamese fisheries.
Regarding energy security, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long stated that the Government has focused on directing from an early stage and from afar the sufficient supply of electricity and petroleum products for production, business, and people's consumption, and has decisively directed the drafting of the revised Electricity Law project to be submitted to the National Assembly at its 8th session.
In the field of justice, the Government and the Prime Minister have always identified the task of drafting and implementing laws as a key priority, aiming to promptly address difficulties and shortcomings, ensure the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, and create favorable conditions for investment, production, and business activities. The Government and the Prime Minister have decisively and promptly directed the review and revision of legal documents, focusing on key areas…
According to the assessment of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, based on reports submitted to National Assembly deputies and through the questioning session, the resolutions of the National Assembly Standing Committee have been seriously implemented by relevant agencies with many synchronized solutions, creating positive changes and achieving concrete results in most areas. The Chairman also outlined several basic and key tasks directly related to the main responsibilities of ministries and agencies to focus on in the coming period.
According to the Chairman of the National Assembly, General Secretary and President To Lam has repeatedly mentioned the important role and urgent need to accelerate the building and improvement of institutions, promptly resolving difficulties and obstacles to promote socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security, foreign affairs, and combat corruption and negative practices.
The interpellation session also made a positive contribution to promoting the implementation of that very important task and requirement. Following the success of the interpellation activities at previous sessions, the first "re-monitoring" activity in the 15th National Assembly term demonstrated the responsibility of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in thoroughly monitoring the implementation of the requirements and recommendations of the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.
This activity also demonstrates the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's support for the Government in implementing and carrying out the requirements set forth by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in resolutions on thematic supervision and questioning.
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