The 15th National Assembly (NA) convened its first session in Hanoi on July 20 morning.

The session is being broadcast live on channels of the Voice of Vietnam (VOV1), Vietnam Television (VTV), and NA television.

Prior to the meeting, leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front and NA deputies paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum. The lawmakers also laid wreaths at the Heroic Martyrs’ Monument in Hanoi.

Following the opening remarks by Chairman of the 14th NA Vuong Dinh Hue, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a speech at the session.

Tran Thanh Man, Vice Chairman of the 14th NA and deputy head of the National Election Council, then presented a report reviewing the elections of deputies to the 15th legislature and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026.

Another report on the verification of eligibility of deputies to the 15th NA was also tabled for discussion.

During the session, the legislative body will elect and approve leadership positions of State agencies, and mull over reports on socio-economic development and other major issues.

Notably, the legislature will consider and decide the numbers of NA Vice Chairpersons and members of the NA Standing Committee, and elect NA Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons, members of the NA Standing Committee, NA Secretary General, Chairperson of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs, heads of NA committees, and State Auditor General.

It will elect State President, Prime Minister, Vice State Presidents, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy.

The NA will also decide the structure and number of Cabinet members, and ratify the appointment of Deputy PMs, Ministers and other Cabinet members, along with the list of Vice Chairperson and members of the Council of National Defence and Security (if any), and the appointment of judges of the Supreme People’s Court.

After the elections, the NA Chairperson, State President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court will take the oath of office.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee is scheduled to present a report gathering opinions of voters sent to the first session.

The legislature will also consider and adopt resolutions on the programme on law and ordinance building in 2022, the 2022 supervision programme, and the establishment of a group in charge of thematic supervision.

In his opening remarks, Hue highlighted the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026, saying the voter turnout of 99.6 percent has reflected the public’s high sense of responsibility and trust in the Party and State.

The success of the elections has also demonstrated the strength of the great national unity bloc, he stressed.

Pointing out difficulties and challenges facing the country amidst the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, he urged deputies of the 15th NA to uphold their sense of responsibility and raise initiatives to help the legislature improve its operational quality and efficiency.

The success of the first session will create important premise and momentum for legislative activities in the 15th tenure, he said.

The meeting is scheduled to last until July 31.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and other Party and State leaders to the event.

The session, which began on July 20 morning, is taking place amidst the complex and unpredictable developments of the regional and international situation, he said, pointing out difficulties and challenges facing the country in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Given this, Hue urged deputies of the 15th NA to uphold their sense of responsibility and raise initiatives to help the legislature improve its operational quality and efficiency.

NA deputies at the first session

According to the top legislator, during the first session, the NA will mull over a report reviewing the elections of deputies to the 15th legislature and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026, to be presented by the National Election Council.

It will also consider and decide the personnel structure, and elect and approve high-ranking positions in the State apparatus.

The deputies will scrutinise reports assessing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in the first half of this year, as well as solutions to realising the socio-economic development plan and State budget in remaining months.

Chairman of the 14th NA Vuong Dinh Hue  speaks at the session.

They are scheduled to consider and decide the national target programmes on new-style rural area building and sustainable poverty reduction for 2021-2025, and adopt resolutions on the law and ordinance building programme for 2022.

Regarding the recent elections, Hue said the their successes have reflected people’s high sense of responsibility and profound trust in the Party and the State.

NA urged to uphold role as highest representative organ of people

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has urged the National Assembly to further uphold its role and position in creating a legal framework for the country’s activities.

In his keynote speech at the opening of the 15th NA’s first session in Hanoi on July 20, Trong asked the legislature to speed up the issuance and improve the quality of legal documents, soon build a legal system to meet demand in reality, and build and supplement laws in key areas that make breakthroughs in socio-economic development.
 
The NA needs to continue renewing and further improving operation quality and efficiency to meet the country’s requirements and political tasks in the new period, he said, adding that to such end, it is necessary to fully understand the role, position and responsibility of the legislature in the nation’s political system led by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), as well as promptly institutionalise the Party’s policies and guidelines to meet demand in reality and public expectations.

The legislature also needs to step up external activities, active and proactive global integration, contributing to performing the Party and State’s foreign policy of multilateralisation and diversification of relations.

The Party chief stressed that achievements made by the NA over the past 75 years are the result of the sound leadership of the CPV - a decisive factor for the legislature to fulfill tasks entrusted by the people.

In the immediate future, he called for institutionalising and concretising important policies affirmed at the 13th National Party Congress, ensuring the quality of the 15th NA’s activities to meet the requirements and tasks of the revolution and the people's expectations in the new period.

He expressed his belief that under the CPV’s leadership and with efforts and determination of NA deputies, close collaboration among units in the political system, support and supervision of the public, and cooperation and assistance of international friends, the Vietnamese legislature will reap important outcomes, thus deserving the highest representative organ of the people and the highest organ of State power of the country./.

Source: VNA