Q: Could you speak about the hindrances to the current domestic business environment?

A: Viet Nam has enough laws and policies, but there remain hindrances in implementation at lower levels. Our administrative apparatus has not functioned well and public employees have failed to take full responsibility. There remain difficulties intentionally caused by authorities for businesspeople and private citizens. Although our administrative apparatus has changed a lot, many things still need to be improved. Taxation, customs and other systems have seen great progress but are not yet thoroughly transparent. It takes one or even two years for many projects to complete administrative procedures; therefore opportunities are lost.

Q: People are worried that we have not taken drastic enough measures in combating corruption and waste. What is your opinion?

A: People are worried about corruption and property losses. These are legitimate worries. As Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at the NA session this morning, prevention is the first step in anti-corruption work. In foreign countries where laws are adequate and public employees' responsibilities are clear, it is difficult for employees to behave in a corrupt way. If we can achieve this, corruption will be driven back. In fact, all the corruption cases uncovered so far have been strictly dealt with, without shielding or protecting any one. To prevent corruption, every deed of every State employee must be clear and transparent.

Q: What is the mechanism of the Central Steering Committee for Preventing and Combating Corruption?

A: According to the Law on Preventing and Fighting Corruption, the Prime Minister will take the responsibility for the work and be head of the corruption combat and prevention committee. In the near future, if permitted by the National Assembly, a deputy prime minister will take the responsibility for preventing and fighting corruption and a steering committee for prevention of corruption of both the Party and State will be established; it will comprise representatives of the Party, the National Assembly and the organs of justice such as the procuracy, courts, police, inspectorate, the Party Central Committee's Commission for Home Affairs, Commission for Organisation and the Commission for Inspection. This is a steering committee for the work of the Party and State. I believe that after the central steering committee for preventing and combating corruption is formed, the anti-corruption work will be carried out more effectively.

Source: VNA