NA calls for actions to protect industrial zones HA NOI (VNS) - The National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday called on the Government to stabilise the situation at industrial parks and export processing zones in various provinces where workers protested at China's acts in the East Sea. The committee said violations by bad elements during the protests had created serious disorder in recent days, highlighting the need for Viet Nam to be a safe destination for foreign investors. The NA Standing Committee resumed its last session yesterday in preparation for the general session next week. Members of the Standing Committee said the the present crisis had affected many foreign-invested companies and called for tougher measures to protect the investment climate. Minister of Planning and Investment, Bui Quang Vinh said the ministry had been in close touch with provincial authorities, agencies and foreign embassies to try and ensure the situation could be brought under control. Regarding the East Sea situation, Nguyen Van Giau, head of the NA Committee for Economic Affairs, said the Government should exercise all its rights according to the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to protect its sovereignty. A Government report presented at the meeting by Minister Vinh, Viet Nam's GDP growth was 4.96 per cent for the first quarter. Inflation during the first four months rose 4.73 per cent. The report said the nation's macro-economy still contained many risks, such as the threat of high-inflation, credit quality, bad debts and a VND30 trillion (US$1.5 billion) package that had not managed to revive the real estate market. Tran Van Hang, head of the NA Committee for External Affairs, said the Government must carefully consider how the situation in the East Sea and at the industrial zones would affect production and trade relations in coming months. He said all of these factors should be included in the projection of the economic situation for the rest of the year. Other members also felt that increased support for fishermen in maintaining their livelihoods and must also be included in the Government report. In the afternoon, the NA Standing Committee gave opinions on the implementation of poverty reduction policies from 2005-12. According to the report, poverty reduction averaged 2.3-2.5 per cent during the seven-year period. However, it was noted that it had not been sustainable and that more than half of those in poverty were ethnic. Ksor Phuoc, head of the NA Committee for Ethnic Nationalities, said the focus on poverty reduction should be on improving infrastructure, education and promoting investment and generating jobs. The NA may issue a resolution on sustainable poverty reduction for 2015-20.It is likely to focus more on other social factors affecting poverty rather than just income levels and providing solutions that motivated people. Phan Trung Ly, head of the NA Committee on Legal Affairs, suggested that the NA might consider putting all policies on poverty reduction into one single resolution or build a Law on Poverty Reduction, thus making sure resources and programmes were better managed and focused. - VNS