Reform political apparatus, experts say

The conference attracted Vietnamese and international experts as well as high-level officials from Malaysia, Poland and France who discussed challenges facing the Vietnamese economy. They also offered recommendations on forging a State that proactively facilitates growth.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his cabinet introduced the ‘constructive Government’ concept last year.

While a precise definition has not accompanied the phrase, it is roughly understood as a State that promotes sustainable economic development through a pro-business policy.

Since the Government implements policies set by the Communist Party, facilitating growth is not just about the former. It also involves the Party and the whole political system, said former Planning and Investment Minister Bui Quang Vinh.

“The Government can’t resolve everything. It needs support from higher levels like the Party Central Committee. Government reform is good, but not good enough,” he added.

Nguyen Dinh Cung, director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, said that over the last three decades since the Doi moi (renewal) process was launched, the Government had facilitated less and restrained more.

The Doi moi reform in the late 80s and the early 90s introduced a market-oriented economy in place of a subsidy-based one. However, the political system went through minimal reforms despite major changes in economic development.

“This system no longer works effectively. There will be no constructive State if no political reform is carried out,” he said.

“There is a major problem in Viet Nam, which is the absence of a commercial class independent from the State. The way Doi moi unfolded in Viet Nam didn’t really solve the problem,” said Jonathan Pincus of Indonesia’s Rajawali Foundation.

“It is a structural obstacle to creating a constructive State in Viet Nam.”