New chairman for National Assembly

Hung (left) heads up a leadership team that will drive Vietnam’s push towards modernisation

After more than two decades spent dealing with financial and economic issues, Hung was voted into the position during an assembly session which will shape the country’s leadership for the next five years.

The sole candidate for the position as head of the country’s legislative body, 65-year-old Hung received 91.4 per cent of the total 498 votes.

A veteran of Vietnam’s political landscape, Hung became front man of the Vietnam’s State Treasury in 1990 - a time when the country was opening up to foreign investment. In 1992, he became deputy finance minister and from 1996 to 2006 he was finance minister. For the last five years, Hung has been standing deputy prime minister in charge of financial and economic issues.

Hung takes on his new role as Vietnam begins implementation of its socio-economic development strategy for the next decade, which targets transforming Vietnam into an industrialised nation by 2020.

Hung said: “The new National Assembly and I inherit the achievements and experiences of the previous National Assembly. We will together with National Assembly deputies continue to cement solidarity and to implement the country’s tasks and doi moi policy. We will also up our level of responsibility to people in order to effectively carry out tasks stipulated by the laws and the constitution. By doing so, we will contribute to the construction of the National Assembly as the highest body of power of the people and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.”

“We will continue the battle against redtape and corruption, while practising thrift and combating extravagance. At the same time, we will cement our relationship with people to listen to their advice, so that the new National Assembly will continue being the representative of their will and aspirations,” he added.

During the same session, the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan was elected the legislative body’s new vice chairperson together with incumbent vice heads Uong Chu Luu, Huynh Ngoc Son and Tong Thi Phong.

One of Hung’s first acts after taking on his post, He recommended Truong Tan Sang - Politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee -  for the position of new state president. This role will be decided by the National Assembly’s voting this Monday.

Votings for key roles including the country’s new vice president, new prime minister, new chief judge of the Supreme People’s Court, and new head of the Supreme People’s Procuracy will take place this Tuesday while election of new deputy prime ministers and ministers will take place next week.

The National Assembly Office former chairman Tran Dinh Dan said candidates for such positions had already been carefully selected. “They are talented and righteous and can meet the country’s requirements in the new situation,” Dan said.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - the National Assembly’s former chairman - said selection of the country’s leadership team was “the most important task at this session”, as it would greatly influence the quality and operational effectiveness of the state apparatus during the new term of office.

“The session will be a significant milestone in the country’s socio-economic development, as the new leadership team will play an important role in deciding how development will continue, given the new situation of the country and the world,” Trong said.

The 13th National Assembly comes after the successful completion of the 11th National Party Congress and the elections of deputies to the 13th National Assembly and people’s councils at all levels for 2011-2016.

The National Assembly also plans to use the current session to discuss reports on national socio-economic development and finance- and tax-related issues in 2011 with an aim to supporting enterprises and individuals. It will also consider and approve a resolution on a programme to develop laws and ordinances in 2012, alongside a resolution to amend and supplement Vietnam’s 1992 Constitution.