Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy Nguyen Thi Khuong ROLES OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE INTEGRATION OF ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION IN VIETNAM NOWADAYS Specialism : CNDVBC & CNDVLS Code : 62 22 80 05 SUMMARY PHD THESIS IN PHILOSOPHY Ha Noi – 2014 The work was completed at Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Supervisor: 1. A.Prof.Dr. Tran Thanh 2. A.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoan Reviewer 1:…………………………………………………………………………. Reviewer 2:…………………………………………………………………………. Reviewer 3:…………………………………………………………………………. The PhD thesis will be defensed in front of a jury and marked by at Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics At…: On 2014 The PhD thesis is available in National Library and the Library of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics INTRODUCTION 1. The necessity of the research Human beings have entered the third millennium, and we are facing global challenges. Climate change and the degradation of natural resources, ecological environment pollution are the biggest concerns of the contemporary world. Ecological environment pollution has been changing comprehensively and deeply natural ecosystems, affecting the economic growth as well as the whole society, threatening seriously environment, energy and food security in worldwide. The root causes of global climate change and ecological environmental pollution are: the uncompleted engineering, exploiting and processing technology of natural resources; incomplete understanding of ecological environment. Especially, development policies of countries often only focus and prioritize economic growth, regardless ecological environment protection. Meaningful action of protecting the ecological environment and combating climate change is that countries need to establish harmonious relationship between economic growth and ecological environment protection. This is an inevitable demand for nations toward sustainable development in the XXI century. Like many other countries in the world, in Vietnam, due to the impact of maintaining development model in width for a long time and dependence on exploitation of natural resource and environmental factors, ecological quality has been declining rapidly. The natural ecosystem was narrowed in area and degraded in quality. And many resources are exhausted leading to risk of insufficient supply Those situations have negatively impacted on the socio- economic aspects and growth rate of the economy, threatening food security, environment security, public health and sustainable development in Vietnam. To reduce these negative impacts, in the period of renovation and reinforcement of industrialization and modernization, Vietnam Communist Party and the government have reformed the development model. Model “comprehensive development” has been presented with the major contents of “rapid, efficient and sustainable development, economic growth with the maintenance of social equality and environmental protection” [50, page 162]. Thanks to this model, Vietnamese socialist-oriented market economy has been established and strongly developed. Vietnam is regarded as the nation of high economic growth in the region. Specially, the economic achievements have helped Vietnam to make considerable progress in implementing the millennium development objectives. Such social issues as: hunger eradication, poverty alleviation, medicinal- educational-cultural development, etc. have been tackled. However, there still exist some limitations in the implementation of the new development model. Among these limitations, “the inefficiency and wastefulness in the management, exploitation and use of natural resources” [52, page 166], [the serious environmental degradation in some regions growing to the warming level” [52, page 169] have been considered the strictest ones by Vietnam Communist Party and the Government. These limitations are due to several causes, most of which are the subjective causes. The emphasis on economic growth and neglect of environmental protection are still popular; economic growth is in a wide range, heavily depending on the exploitation of natural resources; several fields and lines of manufacturing still use the obsolete technology, causing the severe environmental pollution; the population growth and rapid urbanization are putting pressures on the environment. Meanwhile, the regulations and policies on environmental protection and sustainable development have not met the demand for economic-social development of the nation. The state system of organization and administration still has several drawbacks and lacks human resources, especially in local areas. There still exist some limitations in the implementation; the violations to the laws on environmental protection are not tackled decisively and strictly. Vietnamese Communist Party and the government have acknowledged the above limitations; without the proper solutions, these limitations may not only seriously affect the implementation of the millennium objectives but also give threats to economic growth, causing the hazards to people’s life. Rapid and sustainable growth is the need of the nation’s strategies of economic-social development. The integration of economic growth with ecological environment protection is an essential issue and a tough and complicated mission. This requires the Government to continuously reform the thinking, methods of implementation and reinforce the policies, legal instruments, implement the inspection, checking and supervision of the economic management and management of resources-environment, financial investment for the protection of resource- environment, raise people’s awareness of the importance of the integration of economic growth with ecological environment protection, etc. From the above analysis, the study of the roles of the Government in the integration of economic growth with ecological environment protection is very essential. For these reasons, the researcher chooses the topic “Roles of the Government in the integration of economic growth with ecological environment protection” as the topic for her doctoral thesis. 2. Purpose and task of the research 2.1. Research purposes On the basis of clarifying the basic contents of the Goverment’s roles in integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection, the thesis analyzes problems of improving the Government's roles in integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection, thereby, a number of major solutions are proposed to promote the role of the Government in this issue during phase of promoting industrialization and modernization in Vietnam. 2.2. Research tasks - To clarify the dialectical relationship between economic growth with ecological environment protection and the basic contents expressing the role of the Government in integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection. - To analysis and evaluate issues for enhancing the role of the Government in integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection in Vietnam. - To propose some basic solutions to promote the role of the Government in integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection in Vietnam. 3. Subjects and scope of research 3.1. Research Subjects The thesis focuses on the role of the Government in the integration of economic growth with ecological environment protection. 3.2. Scope of the Study The thesis clarifies the integration of economic growth with ecological environment protection in philosophical perspective. Through social functions of the Government as an important factor in the superstructure, the thesis proposes the basic contents showing the Government's role in integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection during phase of promoting industrialization and modernization in Vietnam from 1996 to present. 4. Theoretical basis and research methodology of the thesis 4.1. Theoretical basis The thesis bases on the theoretical basis of Marxism - Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and viewpoints, guidelines and policies of the Party and the Government on socio - economic development in the period of accelerating industrialization and modernization. During performance, the thesis also inherits some achievements of relevant scientific works. 4.2. Research Methodology The thesis bases on the methodological principles of dialectical materialism and historical materialism in combination with other methods such as: logic – history, analysis - synthesis and induction - deduction, investigation, information collection, survey, research, comparison 5. New contributions - The thesis clarifies issues for enhancing the role of the Government in integrating economic growth with ecological environment during phase of promoting industrialization and modernization in Vietnam. - The thesis proposes some basic solutions to promote the role of the Government in integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection during phase of promoting industrialization and modernization in Vietnam. 6. Significance of the thesis - The thesis contributes to point out scientific arguments for the Party and the Government proposing sound guidelines, policies and laws to address well relationship between economic growth and ecological environment protection. - Problem are mentioned and resolved by thesis will contribute to enhancing the role of the Government in leading, directing and implementing combination of economic growth with ecological environment protection. - The thesis can be used as reference for those who studying, teaching, and those interested in the field of integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection. 7. Structure of the thesis Besides the introduction, conclusion, list of references and appendices, this thesis includes 4 chapters and 10 units. Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT 1.1. RESEARCHES ON INTEGRATING ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION 1.1.1. Researches on economic growth Many works has researched on economic growth including some typical works as "A number of measures to improve the quality of socio-economic development in our country", the Journal Political Theory No. 4 (2010) by Nguyen Thi Doan; "the Vietnam’s transformation in economic growth today" Journal of Political Theory No. 1 (2013) by Nguyen Van Hau, "Economic growth, social progress and equality in Vietnam" by Hoang Duc Than and Dinh Quang Ty; "The great relationships need to be addressed well in the innovation - oriented socialism in our country" by Nguyen Phu Trong; "The speed and quality of economic growth in Vietnam" by Nguyen Van Nam, Tran Tho Dat In general, available studies on economic growth have focused on clarifying connotation of economic growth concept, and studying in depth and systemizing the theoretical issues related to the speed and quality of economic growth, indicating model of economic growth as well as factors affecting the growing scale of the world economy and Vietnam economy, pointing out the fundamental solutions to promote process of economic growth in our country. 1.1.2. The studies on ecological environment, ecological environment protection Some works has studied on this issue as "Philosophical - social aspect of ecological environment problems in Vietnam", The Journal of Philosophy No. 6 (1998) by Pham Thi Ngoc Tram; "The relationship between development and environmental protection - the Japanese experience, The Journal of Economic Studies No. 316 (2004) of Nguyen Van Kim,"Ecological Ethics and environmental-ecological education" (2009) by Vu Trong Dung; "Actively respond to climate change, promote the protection of natural resources and environment", National Political Publishing House, Hanoi (2013) The studies clarifies connotation of ecological environmental concept, pointing out that protection of ecological environment is vital to nations in present. This study refers to solutions on ecological environment protection such as solutions on policy, law, financial investment, science and technology and education on ecological environment protection for people 1.1.3. The studies on integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection In recent years, researches on integrating economic growth with ecological environment protection have drawn considerable attention. Among the studies related to this issue, we can mention some typical works such as "Developing ecological ethics - man's responsibility for nature", The Journal of Philosophy No. 6 (2009) by Pham Thi Ngoc Tram, "Environmental pollution in our country today - Situation and some solutions", published in the Journal of Philosophy No.11 (2009) by Tran Dac Hien, "The development of free trade in market economy in Vietnam today with ecological environment protection”, doctoral thesis of Truong Manh Tien; "The relationship between economic growth and environmental protection for sustainable development", doctoral thesis of Bui Van Dung The above studies proved that activities of material production, daily activity and activities promoting economic growth are root causes of ecological environment pollution and exhaustion of natural resources. Since then, the researches focused on analyzing and providing the best basic solutions to combine economic growth with ecological environment protection. 1.2. PREVIOUS RESEARCH ON ROLES OF THE GOVERNMENT IN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION 1.2.1. Research on roles of the government in economic growth Roles of the government in economic growth is a popular issue of research in the recent years, including the following studies: “Government administration on the economy in Vietnam nowadays” Journal of political theory No 2 (2010) by Ngo Quang Minh; “Roles of subject factors in the growth of the socialism-oriented economy in Vietnam nowadays”, Journal of Philosophy No. 10 (2012) by Tran Thanh, “Economic regulations of the government in the market economy and international economic integration in Vietnam”, by Luong Xuan Quy and Do Duc Binh; “Roles of the Government in international economic integration in Vietnam” by Mai Lan Huong, etc. In these works, the terms of economic growth, market economy and international economic integration are clearly defined and explained. Besides, the research has focused on clarifying the changes of the government’s roles since the economic reform was implemented, which denotes that with all the economic regulations, the government has created the equal legal framework to all the entities joining the market, stimulating the growth of socialism oriented economy. Some research has shown that Vietnam has succeeded in the economic integration with the work and region. Therefore, the participation of the government in the economy and society in the new period is essential. However, apart from the advantages, the roles of the government in regulating the economy have shown some drawbacks. Thus, there need some measures to improve the efficiency in the economic management of the government like: improving the legal system and economic policies; reforming and improving the administration regulations, etc. 1.2.2. Research on roles of the government in ecological environment protection The typical works include: “From Engels’s warming about natural disasters, thinking about the roles of the government in ecological environment protection” by Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, Journal of Political theory No. 7 (2011); “Roles of the Vietnamese government in environmental protection” by Le Thi Thanh Ha, Journal of Philosophy No. 8 (2011); “Administration to resources and environment for the sustainable development from the society-humanity perspective” by Pham Thi Ngoc Tram (2006); “Improving the efficiency of the Government administration on the environment” by Nguyen Thi Thom and An Nhu Hai (2011), etc. These works have shown that the entity holding the most important role in stimulate the ecological environment protection is the government. As the representative of people owning natural resources, the government performs the functions of organizing, managing, checking and inspecting the exploitation and use of natural resources. In Vietnam, the government plays an important role in issuing the undertakings, policies, laws and organizing, building the team of professional staff that is in charge of performing the management of resources and environment. Strengthening the government’s roles in the management of resources and environment requires: improving the legal system and policies on the environmental protection; improving the Government system of organization mechanisms on the management of resources and environment in different levels; raising people’s awareness of environmental protection, etc. In conclusion, these works have proven their theoretical and practical meanings. The scientific value of these works has facilitated the research direction of the current thesis. Chapter 2 INCORPORATING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH THE PROTECTION OF ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT – DEMAND FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ROLES OF THE GOVERNMENT 2.1. INCORPORATING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION– DEMAND FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2.1.1. Definition of Economic growth and Ecological environment protection 2.1.1.1. Definition of Economic growth and factors influencing the economic growth Economic growth is defined in a variety of aspects. For example, economic growth is the potential output expansion of a nation over the time, or the expansion of economic capacity to manufacture and expand the production possibility over the time; economic growth is the term used to denote the growth in terms of the output scale of an economy during a specific period. In the current thesis, economic growth is the growth in terms of the quantity and quality of an economy during a specific period on the basis of the exploitation of natural and social resources. The factors influencing the economic growth include: high-quality human resources, the application of new technology, development of modern infrastructure and favorable ecological environment. 2.1.1.2. Definition of ecological environment and ecological environment protection There are a variety of definitions of ecological environment including: Ecological environment comprises all the natural and social conditions (organic and inorganic) concerning the human life, the existence and development of the society; Ecological environment is the aggregation of all factors directly influencing human life like: air, water, land, soil, climate and toxic contaminants; etc. In the current thesis, ecological environment is defined as the natural ecological environment that provides such inputs to the economic growth as species of flora and fauna and types of natural resources influencing the manufacturing process. Ecological environment protection is the human exploitation and use of natural resources reasonably in order to maintain the ecological balance, reform and improve the environment, avoid the severe consequences that economic growth brings to the ecological environment. 2.1.2. Dialectical relationship between economic growth and ecological environment protection 2.1.2.1. Roles and effects of economic growth in ecological environment protection In the manufacturing process, economic growth is the primary way and the compulsory demand of every nation in order to develop the economy. To stimulate the economic growth, every nation has been affecting the ecological environment. For each nation, natural resources are the basis for the development. Over the last decades, human beings have continuously developed labor tools and applied modern technology for the exploitation of natural resources. The application of modern technology for the exploitation of natural resources helps to conserve natural resources and preserve the landscapes of the ecological environment to some extents. However, it has also brought the consequences negatively affecting the ecological environment. In case of high economic growth, human beings will be given more favorable conditions to protect ecological environment; and vice versa, without the economic growth or if human beings try to heavily exploit natural resources for the economic growth, there shall be no conditions to improve and protect the ecological environment 2.1.2.2. Effects of ecological environment protection on economic growth Ecological environment provides with the basic physical conditions so that human beings may survive and conduct the manufacturing of wealth. There shall be no economic growth without the inputs to the process of manufacturing, so ecological environment itself provides with the labor objects for the continuing manufacturing process. Therefore, ecological environment protection has positive effects on economic growth. If ecological environment is protected; natural resources are conserved and conditioned to renew, the inputs for economic growth, as a result, will be conserved and stable. If ecological environment is not protected, natural resources are exploited heavily to the depletion and not conditioned to renew, the economic inputs consequently will be unstable and insufficient for the manufacturing; also, there will be no economic growth. For the ecological environment protection, during the manufacturing process, human beings shall find out the appropriate methods affecting the ecological environment that both allow the economic growth and protect ecological environment 2.1.3. Demand for incorporating economic with ecological environment protection for the sustainable development First, for economic growth, countries depend on the ecological environment to some extents. The accomplishment of the objectives of economic growth shall focus on the effective exploitation of natural resources to condition the economic growth potentials and the maintenance of the ecological balance. [...]... quality of staffs working in the government management on linking economic growth with ecological environment protection in our country today has many limitations such as low professional skills; poor moral qualities 3.2.2 The investment on capital, science and technology, ensuring economic growth attached to ecological environment protection has not achieved the desired effects Regarding the capital investment... the total annual state budget However, managers find the current investment too low in comparision with the actual requirements of environment protection tasks and still scattered; returned investment rate for environment protection from revenues related to the environment is low; the allocation of ODA, credit capital in the annual budget plan for the socialization of environment is not clear; capital... avoid environmental issues, do not honest in declarations, ignore environmental criteria, cause serious environmental pollution The inadequacies of policies and law, the weakness of leadership, management of government agencies are the underlying reasons for neglectful condition, lack of environmental responsibility of enterprises, economic institutions in our country today 3.3.2 The limitations in raising... that are obstacles and challenges of the development process If we overcome the obstacles and challenges, connect the economic growth with environment protection, our nation will reach a state of sustainable development However, this process is long-term and full of hardships, requiring efforts of everyone at every authorities in every sectors, from central levels to local ones; at first, the State play... State in the combination between economic growth with ecological environment protection in four following contents namely role of the State in establishing legal system, policies, strategies on the combination between economic growth with ecological environment protection; role of the State in performing the combination between economic growth with ecological environment protection; role of the State... law; the State also organized and created the social consensus on the combination between economic growth with ecological environment protection In a specific term, the State has affirmed its important role in the following contents Apart from obtained achievements, there are many shortcomings in solving the relation between economic growth with ecological environment protection of the State, such... the economy Roles of the government in assembling the team of professional staff incorporating the economic growth with ecological environment protection: The government assembles the team of professional staff by planning, training and developing skilled staff and Government officials Then, there will be a team of skilled staff, ensuring the continuing hierarchy in terms of human resources and meeting... offers specific provisions on the preferential regimes of land, tax, financial support for the environment protection activities, the environmentally friendly products as well as activities which nicely balance between protection and efficient use of environmental elements for the development Despite advancements in promulgation and implementation of policies, but in fact, many complicated difficulties... level and are environmentally friendly; the process of exploitation and use of natural resources is more effective and economical Besides, the implementation and application of science and technology to practical economic growth and ecological environment protection in our country is limited, such as: scientific and technological development does not correspond with the sustainable development; does... and implementation direction of these policies still shows certain limitations, the Government must be positive and more proactive in order to propose more reasonable policies, create necessary and sufficient conditions for economic growth and environment protection to be mounted right in every step of the development of the country Secondly: The inadequacies in the creation and implementation of strategies . tackled. However, there still exist some limitations in the implementation of the new development model. Among these limitations, “the inefficiency and wastefulness in the management, exploitation. environmental protection are not tackled decisively and strictly. Vietnamese Communist Party and the government have acknowledged the above limitations; without the proper solutions, these limitations. exploitation and use of natural resources. In Vietnam, the government plays an important role in issuing the undertakings, policies, laws and organizing, building the team of professional staff