Vietnam places people at heart of governance: official
Vietnam's removal of intermediary and district-level units, restructuring of ministries and agencies, organisation of a two-tier local government model, clear delegation of authority to the grassroots level, and shift from pre- to post-audit mechanisms aim to enhance efficiency and better serve the public.
Officers and soldiers of Truong Sa border post conduct a legal education session for local fishermen. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – All activities of the Vietnamese Party and the State are centred around the people, who are regarded as the ultimate recipient of service, Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tinh told the Vietnam News Agency following his participation in the United Nations Human Rights Committee session in Switzerland on July 7-8.
The session saw the committee reviewing Vietnam’s fourth periodic report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
According to the official, Vietnam’s engagement with the committee demonstrated the country’s ongoing commitment to fulfilling its reporting obligations on the implementation of international commitments.
He affirmed that the two-day dialogue was successful. Notably, many of the issues raised by committee members were areas that Vietnam has also prioritised in recent years, including efforts to reform, improve legal institutions and policy frameworks, alongside related implementation. A shared concern highlighted by the committee, also a focus of Vietnam’s agenda, is the consistent pursuit of economic development in tandem with social progress.
Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tinh speaks at the United Nations Human Rights Committee session in Switzerland (Photo: VNA)
The deputy minister stressed that Vietnam’s ongoing administrative streamlining reforms have clarified the country’s strategic governance approach. Specifically, the removal of intermediary and district-level units, restructuring of ministries and agencies, organisation of a two-tier local government model, clear delegation of authority to the grassroots level, and shift from pre- to post-audit mechanisms aim to enhance efficiency and better serve the public.
These reforms, he noted, align with the UN committee’s recommendations that Vietnam strengthen law enforcement and narrow the gap between legislative development and practical implementation.
The ICCPR, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 and in force since 1976, encompasses a wide range of civil and political rights for individuals. Since acceding to the ICCPR on September 24, 1982, Vietnam has achieved significant progress. The country’s 2013 Constitution marked a major milestone in evolving understanding of human rights and affirmed the responsibilities of organisations and individuals to recognise, respect, protect and guarantee these rights across all spheres of life./.
Vietnam not only provides updates on its progress but also shares practical experiences, contributing to global discussions on common concerns. These efforts have been met with positive feedback from international partners, reinforcing Vietnam’s standing and credibility at multilateral forums, including the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son commended the AICHR’s contributions over the past 15 years and expressed confidence in its continued role in advancing the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and other regional cooperation strategies.
The country will showcase legal reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty for eight crimes in the Penal Code, the passage of the Law on Juvenile Justice, and amendments to the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat.
The Government leader called for specific amendments and supplements of tasks and measures to improve institutions and policies on land management and use, while stressing a need for the inclusion of solutions related to land allocation and lease, and land-use conversion.
Such a journey is rare in international relations, and for Vietnam, it represents the fruit of a consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and deep global integration for peace and development, Dung said.
By reorganising the administrative system from three to two levels, with the district level removed, the authority and responsibility of commune/ward administrations will be strengthened, and efficiency will be improved, thus better serving citizens.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien has emphasised that over the past 60 years of development, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have grown steadily and expanded international cooperation, including practical and effective collaboration with the Vietnam People's Army.
Without trust, it would be difficult to have the substantive relationship the two countries have today, and trust has been developed and built on the determination to overcome and solve war legacies.
At this one-day meeting, the NA Standing Committee is scheduled to give opinions on eight major items, including an initial discussion on a thematic supervision report on the implementation of policies and laws related to human resource development, especially high-quality personnel, which are deemed essential for sustainable economic growth in Vietnam's new development phase.
PM Chinh said that after three years of implementing Resolution 18-NQ/TW on continuing to innovate and perfect institutions and policies, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of land management and use, and one year of enforcing the 2024 Land Law, the legal policies on land have been carried out synchronously, achieving positive results.
Mozambican Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Delfina Levi has emphasised the special ties between Mozambique and Vietnam, noting their shared views and complementary socio-economic similarities.
Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, and Belarus have been invited to join a parade during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and National Day (September 2).
Highlighting the core values that have contributed to the success of ASEAN, including unity and mutual respect, Son affirmed that in the current period of instability, the bloc’s unity and centrality, along with strong commitments to inclusive and sustainable development, continue to serve as guiding principles for the ASEAN Community.
The spirit of family unity, community solidarity and close neighbourliness, along with the solid foundation of dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law, has made ASEAN successful over the past decades.
Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung expressed his hope that Lao leaders would continue to guide relevant agencies in coordinating closely with their Vietnamese counterparts to effectively carry out assigned tasks.
The two sides briefed updates on the situation in each country, reviewed bilateral cooperation in recent time, and discussed specific directions and measures to further strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in the time to come.
The two sides spoke highly of the continuously strengthened Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly through recent high-level delegation exchanges. They pledged to further foster parliamentary cooperation, highlighting the active contributions of the two countries’ friendship parliamentary groups to fostering the bilateral relations.
The officials agreed on the need to effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), remove technical barriers, and open markets to each other’s key export items such as agro-forestry-fishery products, apparel, footwear, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, in order to boost bilateral trade and ensure a more balanced trade structure.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha held a meeting with US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and a delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Hanoi on July 9.
