The content and agenda of the 11th meeting of the 13th National Assembly (NA), to be held in late March, were among the talking points of the NA Standing Committee’s 45th session on the morning of February 24.

NA Committee on Judicial Affairs' head Nguyen Van Hien speaks at the session (Source: VNA)

In his report on the meeting preparations, NA Secretary General Nguyen Hanh Phuc said that the 11th meeting is scheduled to take place from March 21 to April 9.

Seven draft laws are expected to be approved during the event, including the Law on Information Access; the revised Law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties; the revised Press Law; the Law on Child Protection, Care and Education (revised); the Pharmacy Law (revised); the draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to articles of Law on Value Added Tax, Law on Special Consumption Tax, Law on Tax Management; and the revised Law on Import and Export Tariffs.

Regarding the draft Law on Demonstrations, many deputies asked the Government to confirm whether or not this law can be contained in the 11th meeting’s agenda as this is a sensitive law drawing much attention from NA deputies and voters.

NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong stated that the Political Bureau had directed the making of the law. Therefore, as scheduled, after the Government submits it, the law will be discussed by the NA Standing Committee during its 46th session in March before the opening ceremony of the 11th meeting, she added.

In the morning session, NA deputies also discussed a report of the State Audit agency’s performances in the 13th NA tenure. According to State Auditor General Nguyen Huu Van, in the past 5 years, the agency proposed conducting financial punishments worth a total of 101 trillion VND (4.54 billion USD).

It also conducted audits on 106 groups and corporations and 5,285 projects.

Head of the NA Law Committee Phan Trung Ly asked for further intensifying the role of the audit agency at the National Assembly, and in public awareness, and strengthening strict sanctions against leaders of localities and offices when not following auditors’ conclusions.

VNA