Hanoi (VNA) - A workshop sharing experience on enhancing the role of the peoplein the decision-making process in ASEAN member nations was held online by the VietnameseMinistry of Home Affairs on November 3.

In his opening remarks, Director of the ministry’s InternationalCooperation Department, Chu Tuan Tu, said the workshop was among activities held within the framework of Vietnam’s Chairmanshipof ASEAN in 2020.

It focused on evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of policiesand decision-making process and defining the role of the people in the policy-makingprocess, and shared experience, good practice, and initiatives of ASEAN member countriesin promoting the role of the people in public management in general and in policymaking in particular.

According to Hoang Minh Hieu from the National Assembly Office, Vietnam’s legislaturehas organised activities via the online form to contribute to promoting thismanner of consultation and enhancing the efficiency of policy making.

The NA Office launched a website in 2017 to provide more convenient tools forpeople to easily contribute comments on law projects, ordinances, and legaldocuments, he said.

It is necessary, he went on, to diversify consultation methods to improve theefficiency of public consultation on law and ordinance projects, especially inthe digital form, thus promoting interactions between NA agencies, the people,businesses, and organisations.
A representativefrom Brunei emphasised the crucial role of people in assessing plans to promotenational development.

In Brunei,community participation is a common initiative to assist the government incoping with economic and social challenges, as well in policy making, therepresentative said.  

Meanwhile, a representative of the Lao Ministry of Home Affairs said publicopinion plays an important role in making decisions, and the Lao Government recognisesthe participation of people in the policy-building process in the country.

The representative said the Lao Government alsotakes the measure of people’s satisfaction and embraces recommendations tobetter improve public services, especially in education, healthcare, cleanwater supply, and public transportation./.