They said agricultural land usage tax reductions and exemptions over the past period had helped farmers and contributed to promoting agricultural production and improving rural living conditions.

The deputies recommended offering full tax exemptions to agricultural land areas that were effectively utilised in conjunction with wider economic planning, to create conditions for farmers to expand production.

Deputy Cao Van Thanh from the southern province of Bac Lieu said the tax exemption should apply to both rice growers and salt producers.

"Rice growers and salt makers are those that benefit the least," he said.

Deputy Pham Xuan Thuong from the northern province of Thai Binh and Tran Van Kiet from the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long proposed the NA should not provide tax exemptions to a number of organisations and businesses who had been earmarked agricultural land, but had instead rented out the land for a profit, while many farmers still suffered from land shortages.

They suggested the NA review the ineffective use of agricultural land and proposed a punitive two to three-fold increase in taxes on those companies and organisations failing to properly use the agricultural land they had been allocated.

Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh agreed to consider suggestions and amendments that had emerged through the discussion to ensure the resolution fell in line with the existing Land Law.

The deputies also discuss draft amended laws on NA Elections and People's Council Deputies.

Many deputies agreed to increase the time between the calling of elections and polling day, in order to improve the election procedures and extend the period from 105 to 120 days in order to ensure that both polls would attract a larger number of candidates.

Regarding candidate qualifications, deputy Hoang Thi Binh from the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang and Nguyen Hong Nhi from the central province of Nghe An said it was essential to set out specific criteria for candidates, such as their academic and professional qualifications and ethics in the form of candidate guidelines to help voters.

In the afternoon, the NA heard the NA Standing Committee provide an introduction to socio-economic issues and the draft resolution on socio-economic development in 2011.

Chairman of the NA Economic Committee Ha Van Hien said most of the deputies agreed with the Government report and the committee's inspection report.

Deputies agreed that Viet Nam had done well to achieve the set economic targets, despite the difficulties facing the economy with an economic growth rate of 6.7 per cent, 0.2 per cent higher than targeted; exports grew 19.1 per cent in volume; while social security was ensured and national defence, security and social order were maintained.

However, deputies also pointed out shortcomings that needed to be addressed such as unsustainable economic growth; a burgeoning trade deficit; slow economic restructuring, underdeveloped infrastructure, commodity price rises and a high risk of inflation.

Regarding the draft 2011 socio-economic development resolution, most deputies agreed with the general target of increasing macro-economic stability and controlling inflation, together with continued economic restructuring and growth; higher growth rate than 2010, a qualitatively improved economy; social security and welfare, improved living standards; political stability, national defence, and social order and more effective foreign affairs.

The draft resolution set a GDP growth rate in 2011 of between 7-7.5 per cent, export turnover increase by 10 per cent in comparison with 2010, and consumer price index of no more than seven per cent.

The plan targets a two per cent reduction in the poverty rate according to the new definition of poverty, and proposes to generate jobs for 1.6 million workers, including 87,000 workers being sent abroad.
Source: Vietnamnews