He thankedthe VFF for contributing to the country’s socio-economic development over thepast years, saying that during monthly government meetings, the VFF voicepublic opinions and offer proposals regarding management to authorities and theCabinet.
The PMlauded VFF chapters at all levels for launching patriotic emulation campaignsand raising funds in support of the poor and disaster victims.
According tohim, the VFF’s supervision activities have proved effective, especially in thesettlement of complaints and denunciations, food safety and hygiene, productionand trade of agricultural materials, taxation and customs policies.
The leaderexpressed his delight at collaboration between the government and the VFF over thepast years, particularly in 2017 when positive results were seen inscience-technology, food safety, protection of legitimate rights and interestsof businesses and people.
Mentioningtasks for 2018 – a crucial year for 2016-2020 socio-economic development plan,the PM reiterated the government’s motto of Discipline, Integrity, Action,Creativity, and Effectiveness.
Thegovernment will continue working closely with Party and State agencies, and theVFF to successfully achieve set targets, he said.
He asked theVFF to strengthen the great national unity to effectively realise the Partyguidelines and State policies, pay attention to social welfares, especially forthe poor, the disabled and the elderly.
The VFFneeds to raise public awareness of Party policies and State laws as well as superviselaw enforcement, thereby upholding the power of the great national unity of nearly100 million Vietnamese people at home and abroad.
He suggestedfocusing supervision on issues of public concern such as administrative reform,business climate improvement, assessment of the people’s feedback, responsibilityof heads of units in the fight against corruption, and comprehensive reform ofeducation-training.
In 2017, theVFF held 7,271 meetings with the ethnic groups with 346,677 taking part, 9,186visits and meetings with religious followers with the attendance of 586,066people and 1,186 gatherings to honour 26,990 outstanding and prestigious peopleat the grassroots level.
The “For thePoor” fund raised a total of 919.483 billion VND (40.86 million USD) whileindividuals and businesses donated over 3 trillion VND to social welfareprogrammes in localities. Up to 32,414 houses of gratitude were built andrepaired, support was given to 155,423 poor households and health check-ups andtreatment were offered to more than 2.7 million poor residents.
The VFF alsolaunched 850 provincial-level inspections, 4,469 others at district level and45,584 at communal level. It also sent staff to 22,450 inspections held by its chaptersand State agencies in localities.-VNA