Anti-corruption fight gains tremendous results: Deputy PM​

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue made the statement during the fifth plenum of the National Assembly's 14th legislature in Hanoi on June 6 to answer questions focusing issues of public concerns in general and anti-corruption in particular.
  He appreciated specific actions by the city’s Party committee and government in the ten years since the implementation of the anti-corruption law, consistently considering it an urgent and long-term task with great significance in building and protecting the country.
Deputy PM Hue urged Vietnamese authorities to focus on key tasks in preventing and combating corruption, with effective inspection plans on the fields of administrative reform, food safety, management programs.
He also asked for further personnel training and place qualified staff in agencies and departments in charge of preventing corruption, as well as strictly implementation of regulations on promotion and reorganization of officials and employees, particularly in tax, market management and customs agencies.
The Deputy PM said the Government will consider recommendations made on the amendments and supplements to the law.
Promoting anti-corruption does not affect the business environment. "Therefore, last year we achieved a comprehensive victory in both economic growth and anti-corruption," he noted.
Deputy PM Hue said that with the Government's strong direction, the Government Inspectorate has come in and the inspection results have been reported to the National Assembly. The police also prosecuted many cases of corruption.
In the coming time, the Government will seriously implement the resolution of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption that will further promote this task. In terms of the circulation of fake and bad-quality medicines, Deputy PM Hue said their global rate nears 10 percent while the rate in Vietnam is about 2.1 percent. 
In order to deal with the issue, the Deputy PM directed the Health Ministry to revamp the medicine bidding system, which, he said, will help reduce 15-20 percent of medicine prices. 
The Deputy PM also requested pilot connecting medical stations with pharmacies to trace origin of medicines in the northern provinces of Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Hung Yen in early 2017, which will be reviewed in the middle of this year before launching nationwide. 
He also directed enhancing the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, including medicines. The Government and PM drastically asked for ensuring quality and reducing medicine prices, Hue said. 
Regarding the special administrative-economic zones in Van Don, Bac Van Phong and Phu Quoc, Hue said they aim to pilot mechanisms and create driving force for growth. 
He affirmed that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City remain the motive powers of the local economy while the seven key economic areas must tap mechanisms and policies to uphold their strengths. 
According to him, chairs of the special administrative-economic zones must undergo a thorough process, from being nominated by chairmen of the provinces, to being reviewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, elected by the People’s Councils and approved by the PM. 
Asked about the link between economic development in three special economic and administrative units and national defense-security stability and territorial integrity, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the legislature is yet to approve the Law on Special Economic-Administrative Units so that the Deputy PM will give answers in writing. 
On the management of virtual currencies, Hue stated that the State of Vietnam (SBV) issued a document refuting bitcoin and other virtual currencies as valid in Vietnam. He said the Government has directed the Ministry of Justice, the SBV, ministries and agencies thoroughly consider worldwide management. experience to issue proper policies.