Highlights of NA’s 9th session

The passed laws include Law on Sea and Island Natural Resources and Environment, Law on State Budget (revised), Law on State Audit, Law on promulgating normative legal documents, Law on Government Organization (revised), Law on Organization of Local Governments, Law on Military Service (revised and Law on Veterinary.

Meanwhile Resolution on State Budget Balance for 2013, Resolution on lump-sum social insurance payments for workers, Resolution on the NA’s supervision program for 2016, and Resolution on the Long Thanh International Airport project were adopted during the session which lasted from May 20 to June 26.

May 20

Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc presented a report on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in 2014 and in the first months of 2015.

President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan reported voters’ comments and petitions.

Chairman of the NA Economic Committee Nguyen Van Giau presented the report on investigating the Government’s report on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in 2014 and in the early months of 2015.

May 21

The Legislature heard a report on Article 60 of the 2014 Law on Social Insurance and another report on explaining and adjusting amendments to draft Law on Military Service.

It also debated draft law on supervision of the NA and the People’s Council and the draft revised Law on the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF).

May 22

Legislators heard presentations on the draft law on amendments and supplements to some articles of the law on accounting, and a verification report on the bill.

They also heard a report on latest modifications to the draft Law on the promulgation of legal documents based on received feedback and discussed some debatable contents of this bill.

May 23

The implementation of socio-economic development plans and State budget in the first months of 2014 was brought to discussions.

Legislators heard reports on a draft Law on managing and using the State capital for production and trade.

They also deliberated on draft Law on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam.

May 24

Lawmakers discussed the draft Law on public investment and amendments to the construction Law.

The Legislature debated the draft Laws on Administrative Procedures

May 25

Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh delivered a Government report on the amended draft Law on Statistics.

The Head of the NA Committee for Social Affairs, Truong Thi Mai, presented a report on the proposed changes to the draft Law on Labor Safety and Hygiene.

Lawmakers debated the progress of socio-economic development and the State budgets for 2014 and the beginning of 2015 in groups, as well as the State budget balance sheet for 2013.

May 26

The revised state audit Law and penal Code were debated.

May 27

The draft Referendum Law was discussed for the first time in the Legislature.

May 28

Lawmakers debated the draft Law on Sea and Island Natural Resources and Environment.

May 29

National Assembly deputies discussed in groups the draft Law on Charges and Fees and changes to the Law on Accounting.

June 1

The NA examined the draft revised Law on Government Organization

June 2

Legislators debated the draft revised State Budget Law and worked in groups on the draft Law on Organization of Criminal Investigation Body and Law on Temporary Detention and Custody.

June 3

Amendments to the Maritime Code of Viet Nam and to the draft Law on the Elections of Deputies to the NA and elections for People's Councils were brought to discussions.

June 4

The NA deputies scrutinized issues related to the construction of the Long Thanh International Airport.

They also heard reports related to the draft Law on information safety.

June 6

Deputies discussed a Standing Committee report on wrongful convictions and compensation for those involved.

June 8

Lawmakers discussed the Government’s supplementary report on socio-economic development tasks in the first months of 2015.

June 9

A Resolution on the Law and Ordinance Making Program for 2016 and Adjustments to the Law and Ordinance Making Programs of the 13th NA Tenure and 2015 was adopted.

June 10

The legislators approved a Resolution on State Budget Balance for 2013 and discussed a report on the draft Law on Hydro-Meteorology, draft Law on adjustments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Accounting.

June 11-12

During the two days, the NA conducted televised question and answer sessions.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat answered 36 questions regarding the progress of the new rural construction campaign nationwide, linkage between the State, scientists, businesses and farmers in farm produce sales, sustainable development of industrial plants, incentives to fishermen, among others.

In the afternoon, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang gave reply to 20 questions involving measures to expand domestic and overseas markets in anticipation of Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, settle inventory and bring electricity to rural areas, the management and control of fuel and power prices to protect consumers’ interest, and promotion of the use of made-in-Viet Nam products.

During question-and-answer sessions, Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang also clarified relevant matters of concern.

Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang on June 11 was grilled on policies to promote the selling of farm products, a burning issue that National Assembly (NA) deputies had questioned Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat earlier the same day.

Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang fielded a number of questions ranging from crackdowns on counterfeit and contraband goods to bringing electricity to rural and island areas.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan underlined a number of measures to build a technology market and promote the application of science-technology in agriculture and increase labor productivity and competitiveness.

June 15

Lawmakers discussed amendments to the Civil Procedure Code.

June 16

Amendments to the Penal Code were brought to discussions.

June 17

Legislators discussed the draft revised Code on Criminal Procedures

June 18

The Legislature approved a Resolution on the NA’s supervision program for 2016 on June 18.

During the day, the deputies discussed the draft Law on fees and charges.

June 19

The Law on Government Organization (revised), Law on Organization of Local Governments, Law on Military Service (revised) and Law on Veterinary were all passed on June 19.

The NA also discussed the draft Law on the organization of criminal investigation agencies

June 22

The NA approved the Law on promulgating normative legal documents and the Resolution on lump-sum social insurance payments for workers and scrutinized the draft revised Law on Statistics.

June 23

The Legislature deliberated amendments to the Laws on Administrative Procedures and draft Law on referenda

June 24

The NA passed the revised Law on State Audit; discussed the draft Law on Hydrometeorology and draft Law on Information Security.

June 25

A resolution on the Long Thanh International Airport project was adopted with an 86.64% rate of approval.

The move aims to reduce the overload of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and make it one of the region’s aviation hubs.

Once completed, the airport worth US$16 billion has the capacity of serving 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of goods annually.

The same day, the Legislature adopted the Law on Sea and Island Natural Resources and Environment and the revised Law on State Budget.