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At a press conference announcing the results of the First Session of the 16th National Assembly, Pham Thi Hong Yen, a National Assembly member who serves full-time on the Economic and Financial Committee, discussed the significance and impact of the Resolution on handling land-use violations that occurred before the 2024 Land Law took effect. Ms. Pham Thi Hong Yen noted that prior to the 2024 Land Law taking effect, violations and breaches in land management and use occurred in many localities across the country. They stemmed from various causes, circumstances, motivations, and objectives. Many cases of wrongdoing were identified, with findings and penalties applied strictly, promptly, and in accordance with the law. Through inspection, audit, or criminal liability proceedings in recent cases, the Government reported that many violators were not acting for personal gain but sought to attract investment, facilitate business development, help increase state revenues, create jobs, and improve people’s livelihoods. There are some projects and works related to violations that nevertheless yielded positive outcomes, providing legitimate benefits to citizens and businesses and contributing to local economic development. Therefore, to meet the practical requirement of releasing land resources and supporting two-digit economic growth, at the First Session the National Assembly, the Government also submitted and the National Assembly passed the Resolution on the mechanism and special policies to address land-law violations by organizations and individuals occurring before the 2024 Land Law took effect, as well as measures to continue removing obstacles for stalled projects. After passage, the Resolution enables a unified mechanism for evaluating cases objectively, comprehensively, and for reviewing and adjudicating organizations and individuals in a reasonable, context-appropriate manner, consistent with the applicable laws at the time of the violations. Along with that, it ensures an accurate assessment of the motives and purposes of the violations and the actual situation of each locality, and the economic-social benefits obtained compared with the damages caused. Ms. Pham Thi Hong Yen stressed that the Resolution’s provisions are very strict but also very humane in order to resolve, in a timely fashion, the pending cases, thereby reflecting the full benevolence of the law. In addition, implementing the Resolution will create a framework to protect dynamic, innovative officials who take risks for the public interest without corruption, waste, or negativity. It will also address the fear of responsibility or the shirking of duties by certain departments. “This is also a solution that directly contributes to achieving the two-digit economic growth target in 2026 and provides momentum for localities and the country to move toward two-digit growth in the 2026–2030 period,” she added. The report on the session results noted that the National Assembly had passed nine laws and 31 important resolutions (including a policy-resolution). The policies issued carry a spirit of reform and decisive action, focused on improving the institutional framework across areas and removing bottlenecks in the process of national development.
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