Ha Noi (VNA) - Nguyen Minh Triet in his new capacity as State President of Viet Nam on June 27 described administrative reform as a pressing requirement of the new period.

In an interview with the Viet Nam News Agency shortly after being elected, he said: "This (administrative reform programme) is an urgent requirement of the new period, with a view to building a clean, strong, effective and efficient State apparatus, efficiently resolving socio-economic issues, strengthening national defence and security, expanding foreign relations and actively participating in international integration."

He said that the need for administrative reform originated from the fact that the State administration directly organised and managed all fields of social life and directly related to citizens and, therefore, represented the face of a new-style State and fully reflected the nature of the State.

"I suppose that, in the near future, administrative reform should focus on clarifying the functions and duties, authority and responsibilities of every agency in the administrative system and put an end to the overlap in function and duty between organisations," he said.

With regard to the judiciary reform programme, the President said that Viet Nam had been perfecting a system of litigious regulations. These were complete and transparent and everybody, from the investigation and prosecution stages to judgement and judiciary agencies, were obliged to strictly observe them.

This was an important factor which aimed at overcoming the existing shortcomings, ensuring that judiciary rights were performed democratically and that State power belongs to the people, and ensuring precise verdicts in judiciary operations.

Being independent, complying with the laws and not being affected by other factors had to be principles throughout the process of judiciary organisation and operation, the State leader said, adding that these were not only principles but also the society's aspirations to judiciary operations. Apart from drawing up regulations on litigation, future work would include increasing the capacity for prosecution by the People's Procuracy and for judgement by courts at all levels.

Regarding foreign policy, the President said that Viet Nam had expanded its relations with almost all countries and international organisations worldwide.

"The country's development has been benefited by this external work and is good for facilitating external work. Viet Nam achieved a higher position and more power in its international exchanges," he said.

According to the President, the present complicated world situation required a consistency in observing the Party's policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations.

He reiterated that Viet Nam was willing to befriend and be a trusted partner of other countries, striving for peace, independence, development and mutual benefits.

The President stressed that external work would continue to serve internal work, attending to the country's political tasks and key domains such as the economy, security and national defence, science and technology and the social and cultural sectors.

"The major task is to maintain a peaceful environment with favourable conditions, to preserve independence and sovereignty, thus successfully conducting the national industrialisation and modernisation cause," the President said in conclusion. – Enditem