Hanoi (VNA) – Party General SecretaryNguyen Phu Trong delivered an opening speech at the 8th meeting of the 12thParty Central Committee on October 2, suggesting issues regardingsocio-economic development, the Vietnam Maritime Strategy and the Party building that participants should focus on.

He said 2018 is in the middle of the Party’s12th tenure, so it plays a decisive role in the realisation of the Resolutionof the 12th National Party Congress and is the first year for making preparationsfor the 13th National Congress.

The Party leader noted that this meeting’sagenda covers many important issues directly relating to the steering of theimplementation of socio-economic development targets and the building of a pureand strong Party.

At the event, Politburo member and PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a report of the Government’s PartyCommittee on the socio-economic and state budget situation in 2018, along withthe socio-economic development plan and state budget estimates for 2019.

Pointing out certain problems and shortcomings,the report said there remain many difficulties in carrying out the threestrategic breakthroughs and restructuring the economy. The investment in constructionof key national projects and the disbursement of public investment capital remainslow. While exports growth still relies on the foreign invested sector, theindependence and self-reliance of the economy remain modest, and themacro-economy has yet to be steady.

Resources for implementing social and culturalpolicies are limited, some policies haven’t been issued in a timely manner orimplemented well, and the wealth gap among regions and strata of people is bigand tends to widen. Additionally, there are still many social problems in suchfields as healthcare, education, natural resources management and environment.

In his speech, General Secretary Trong askedmembers of the Party Central Committee to have objective and comprehensiveassessment of local and national socio-economic situation, point outachievements as well as flaws to seek solutions, as well as analyse and predictdifferent possibilities. He also requested them to specify targets, tasks, andbreakthrough and feasible policies and solutions to fulfill the tasks set for2019 as well as the whole 12th tenure.

ThePolitical Bureau delivered a report reviewing the 10-year implementation of theresolution of the 10th Party Central Committee’s 4th meeting on theVietnam Maritime Strategy towards 2020.

Seasand islands are not only a component part of the nation’s sacred sovereigntyand sovereign right, but also where generations of Vietnamese people haveexisted and grown. Vietnamese waters hold important geo-political, geo-militaryand geo-economic positions in the region and the world.

Atthe meeting, based on the report and the analyses and forecasts of newsituations in the country, the region and the world, the Party Committee of theGovernment proposed the Party Central Committee issue a new resolution on theVietnam Maritime Strategy until 2030 with a vision to 2045.

Thepromulgation of the resolution will help to orient the building of strategies,plans, policies and laws, as well as programmes and projects of the Government,localities and agencies involved, especially in the mobilisation of resourcesfor the medium-term investment plan for maritime and coastal economicdevelopment, in conformity with the national socio-economic development planand strategy for the 2021-2030 period.

Suggestingseveral issues for discussion, the Party chief asked for the clarification ofreasons why several maritime and coastal economic development targets aredifficult to be reached in 2020, the sea-based economy develops slowly, and theinvestment in developing coastal infrastructure, especially the seaport system,remains ineffective.

Itis also necessary to clarify shortcomings in the planning of coastal areas andseveral sectors, sea pollution, complicated developments of climate change andsea level rise and their negative impacts, and inefficient State management onseas and islands, General Secretary Trong stated.

Regardingthe Party building, the Politburo proposed the Party Central Committee decide onsome important issues such as the issuance of regulations on responsibility of officialsand Party members, firstly members of the Politburo, the Secretariat and theParty Central Committee, for setting examples.

ThePolitburo also suggested the establishment of sub-committees in preparation forthe 13th National Party Congress and the introduction of personnelfor the post of President to the National Assembly, the election of additionalmembers of the 12th Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission,and taking disciplinary measures against officials in line with Partyregulations.

Inhis remarks, Party General Secretary Trong said the Party Central Committee,Politburo and Secretariat have issued many guidelines and regulations on theresponsibility of officials and Party members for setting examples.

Theimplementation of Party guidelines and regulations has intensified the Party’sdisciplines, helped improve the leadership and combat capacity of Partyorganisations and members, contributing to preventing degradation, corruptionand other bad deeds, and consolidating confidence of officials, Party membersand people in the leadership of the Party, he said.

However,the Party leader pointed out that the outcomes have failed to meet the set targets,explaining that many officials and Party members, including those holding keypositions at all levels, have yet to be aware of the responsibility.

Somehigh-ranking officials, both retired and incumbent, have seriously violatedParty disciplines and State laws, sparking concerns among officials, Partymembers and people, he said.

Giventhis, the Politburo has agreed with the proposal of the Party Central Committeeto issue a new regulation on the responsibility for setting examples ofofficials and Party members.

Thedraft regulation requires Politburo, Secretariat and Party Central Committeemembers to set examples, align themselves with rules and resolutely combat baddeeds, the Party leader said.

Duringthe session, the Politburo proposed the establishment of five sub-committees ondocuments, socio-economic affairs, Party regulations, personnel andorganisation to serve the 13th National Party Congress.

Thesub-committees will prepare a report on the ten-year implementation of the supplemented2011 Party Political Platform, political report, report reviewing the10-year  realisation of socio-economicdevelopment strategy, five-year socio-economic report, and others on five-year Partybuilding, implementation of Party regulations and supplements and amendments tothe Party regulations (if any), and personnel affairs.-VNA