Phuc made the remarks at the National Assembly’s Q&A session on
Thursday afternoon, while answering Assemblyman Nguyen Ba Thuyen's
query on how to build an independent economy amid rising concerns about
Vietnam's economic reliance on China.
Vietnam will accelerate its economic restructuring plans, shift its
growth model, selectively seek to attract investment in high-tech and
environmentally-friendly projects, and strengthen equitization of
state-owned enterprises, he said.
The deputy prime minister also stressed the importance of expanding
both export and import markets, and strengthening its role in the
domestic market.
The government has diversified trade since 2010 to ensure that Vietnam doesn't become dependent on a single market, he said.
The country has signed 6 big bilateral and multilateral trade
agreements. It is preparing to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Agreement and sign free-trade agreements with Russia, the EU and South
Korea in the near future.
Vietnam is expected to sign 16 free trade agreements with 55
countries and territories by 2015, opening a huge space for trade
development, Phuc said.
Regarding relations with China, the deputy prime minister affirmed:
“Our policy is to maintain normal trade and investment relations with
China in the spirit of mutual benefits.”
'Justice will triumph'
Assemblyman Nguyen Ba Thuyen also asked about measures the
government will take to prevent such further riots and rebuild foreign
investor trust.
Demonstrations against China's positioning of a giant oil rig in
Vietnam's exclusive economic zone began peacefully in mid-May, but
turned violent when workers were incited to vandalize factories in
industrial zones in central and southern Vietnam.
Deputy Prime Minister Phuc said the government has reduced
administrative procedures, cut taxes for vandalized companies, and
supported them in terms of labor recruitment.
“Procedures for granting investment licenses are being implemented
in a matter of hours, instead of the 10 days required by law,” he said.
To date, nearly 100 percent of the affected companies have resumed their normal production and business activities.
Ministries and localities will continue to improve the business
environment and have offered to support investment activities in
Vietnam, he noted.
International organizations and governments have supported Vietnam's efforts to protect its sovereignty, Phuc said.
The deputy prime minister affirmed that Vietnam will take all
peaceful measures to protect its sovereignty. “Justice will triumph," he
said. "We learnt that with our blood.”
Ngan Anh