“Currently there’s a situation where planting one banana tree or raising one pig gets reported by three different departments. Because father, mother, and child in the same family all report separately, then when aggregated, it produces inaccurate numbers,” National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn said.

On the morning of October 9, opinions were given on the draft Law amending and supplementing some articles of the Statistics Law.

Presenting the report, the Minister of Finance stated that the draft amendment groups regulations related to reorganizing the state apparatus, state statistical organizations, and two-level local government organizations.

Inaccurate data leads to wrong policies and strategies

During the session, many opinions reflected discrepancies in statistical data between ministries, sectors, and localities.

The Chairman of the National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs Committee said that recently, during economic-social group discussions at the Central Conference, many mentioned that population statistics currently show two different numbers.

    He cited the example of the An Giang Provincial Party Secretary saying the province currently has over 5 million people, but the Statistics Department’s figure shows only 3.5 million people. Therefore, recent per capita allocations have been “very difficult.”

    Similarly, Phú Thọ province also reported similar situations. The Chairman proposed establishing a coordination mechanism between relevant agencies and the Ministry of Finance on this issue.

    Also emphasizing the problem of “inaccurate data leads to wrong decisions and policies,” the Vice Chairman shared experiences showing that the reliability of current statistical data is not high, but often there’s no other choice but to use it.

    Therefore, improving the quality of statistical data is the most important task of this draft law.

    Speaking at the session, National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn emphasized that the spirit of amending the law must reduce the burden of administrative reporting, ensure data security, and integrate technology.

    There is already a national database currently managed by the Ministry of Public Security. Therefore, it’s necessary to enhance the exploitation of administrative data to reduce reporting burdens.

    He also noted that currently, localities, from party committees and government agencies to various sectors, all complain about “having to report too much.” Therefore, measures must be found to reduce the burden on localities investing too much time in reporting.

    The National Assembly Chairman also raised the question: Now that national GDP is calculated, can provincial-level GDP be calculated? Going further, should communes calculate this content?

    “Currently there’s a situation where planting one banana tree or raising one pig gets reported by three different departments. Because father, mother, and child in the same family all report separately, then when aggregated, it produces inaccurate numbers,” the National Assembly Chairman said.

    He also noted that the amended Statistics Law is not only a legal document but also a powerful tool supporting sustainable development.

    The National Assembly Chairman emphasized that amending the law must increase the timeliness and accuracy of statistical indicators, thereby supporting macroeconomic analysis and forecasting.

    “Now, where can we confirm exactly what our current population is? 107 million or 108 million?

    There are many different reports on this issue. Of course, population changes daily, weekly, but how can we keep track? Sometimes people have passed away but are still recorded as ‘living’,” the National Assembly Chairman noted.

    National Assembly - Image 3.

    Promote information technology application to ensure fast and accurate data collection

    In subsequent explanations, the Minister of Finance stated that the demand for socio-economic statistical information serving management and administration at the commune level is urgent and very necessary.

    However, regulations on commune-level statistical information and commune-level statistical reporting regimes do not increase the workload of communes, because the operation and management of commune-level statistical information systems are assigned to grassroots statistical agencies.

    According to him, grassroots statistical agencies are similar to the model of regional courts, people’s procuracies, and similar to the current customs model. This model reduces intermediaries and personnel while still ensuring information quality.

    Additionally, the Ministry of Finance is vigorously implementing information technology applications to ensure rapid and accurate data collection, serving management work promptly, and avoiding additional reporting regimes.</

    National Assembly

    The National Assembly refers to the legislative body of many countries, with its most famous historical example being the National Assembly of the French Revolution. Formed in 1789 by the Third Estate, it represented a pivotal break from the traditional Estates-General and marked the beginning of representative government in France. Today, the name is used for the parliament in various nations, such as South Korea, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

    Statistics Law

    The Statistics Law is not a physical place or cultural site, but a legal framework governing the collection, analysis, and dissemination of official statistics. It was established to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and impartiality of national data, often in response to a need for credible information for policy-making and public trust. Many countries have enacted their own versions, such as China’s Statistics Law which was first adopted in 1983 and has been amended to strengthen data integrity and combat falsification.

    An Giang Provincial Party

    An Giang Provincial Party is a local political organization of the Communist Party of Vietnam, responsible for leadership and governance in An Giang province. It was established as part of the national party structure to implement the Party’s directives and policies at the local level. Its history is intertwined with the political development of the Mekong Delta region following the reunification of Vietnam.

    Phú Thọ province

    Phú Thọ province is a culturally significant region in northern Vietnam, widely regarded as the ancestral land of the Vietnamese people. It is most famous for being the location of the Hùng Kings Temple, a complex of temples dedicated to the legendary Hùng Kings who founded the nation of Văn Lang, considered Vietnam’s first state. The province hosts the annual Hung Kings Temple Festival, a major national holiday that honors these founders and celebrates the country’s origins.

    National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs Committee

    The National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs Committee is a parliamentary body commonly found in national legislatures, responsible for overseeing matters of military policy, national security, and international relations. Its history is tied to the development of modern democratic governance, where legislative oversight of the executive branch in these critical areas became a standard practice to ensure accountability and transparency.

    Ministry of Finance

    The Ministry of Finance is a key government department responsible for managing a nation’s revenue, financial policies, and economic strategy. Historically, such institutions have evolved from ancient treasuries and exchequers into modern, complex organizations that oversee budgeting, taxation, and national debt. Its primary role is to ensure the financial stability and economic health of the country.

    Ministry of Public Security

    The Ministry of Public Security is the principal police and security authority of the People’s Republic of China. It was established in 1949 following the founding of the PRC and is responsible for domestic security, law enforcement, and counter-intelligence. The ministry plays a central role in maintaining public order and social stability throughout the country.

    Central Conference

    “Central Conference” does not refer to a specific, well-known place or cultural site. It is a generic term most commonly used to describe a major meeting or convention, often within a religious or organizational context, such as the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Therefore, it does not have a physical location or a singular history to summarize.