HCM City (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang on October 4 met voters in Ho Chi Minh City to inform them of the pl💙anned discussion of the National A༒ssembly’s (NA) second session and listen to their feedback and aspirations.

At the upcoming second session, NA deputies are scheduled to approve four bills, debate one draft resolution, 14 draft laws, while discussing the implementation of the socio-economic plan for 2016 and public debt management in the 2016-2020 period, together with the East Sea issue and the Government’s reports on crime combat and anti-corruption. A number of local voters gave their ideas on the Law on Associations, suggesting that the NA consider the creation of a legal framework for associations to promote their role in society, while making clear regulations on the financial sources for non-typical associations. They also raised concern about the State capital loss at State-owned groups and corporations, as well as the fight against corruption, the process of personnel appointment, environmental pollution and climate change response. Some voters also voiced their opinions on current urgent matters related to LSD drugs sold in schools, pilot curriculums of the Ministry of Education and Training, and employment support to the disadvantaged youngsters. President Tran Dai Quang said that the drafting of the Law on Associations aims to institutionalise policies of the Party and specify regulations of the Constitution 2013. He clarified that the right of forming associations is among citizens’ basic rights, which has been stated in the Constitution. The State ensures and creates favourable conditions for citizens to practise the right, thus promoting the role of the associations in the national construction and defence, he declared. On the socio-economic performance in the first nine months of 2016, the State leader stressed that the country is experiencing a recovery and development trend, with low inflation and rising foreign direct investment. However, Vietnam is facing a number of difficulties, he said, pointing out that two out of the 13 socio-economic goals set for 2016 -- GDP growth and exports -- are likely to be unachieved. Regarding public debt issue, President Quang noted that the figure rose rapidly from 51.7 percent of GDP in 2010 to 62.2 percent in late 2015, posing a pressure of payment on the State. However, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have still excluded Vietnam from countries with heavy burden of debt, he said. The President informed voters that ant-corruption work has seen positive results and will be drastically carried out in the future. On the case of Trinh Xuan Thanh, who is responsible for a loss of 3.3 trillion VND (142 million USD) at the PetroVietnam Construction Corporation, he briefed that the Ministry of Public Security has commenced legal proceedings against Thanh for deliberately infringing State regulations on economic management and causing serious consequences, while issuing wanted notice nationally and internationally against the man. The President underscored that the case has raised the alarm on the need to review and re-evaluate regulations and process relating to personnel appointment, thus making necessary adjustments.-VNA