VietNamNet Bridge – Nine bills and three resolutions important for the country's socio-economic development, national defence and security were discussed and passed at the 5th session of the 13th National Assembly, which closed on Friday, June 21.

The 5th session of the 13th National Assembly concluded on Friday, June 21, after a month of sitting. Nine bills and three resolutions were passed during the session.

Speaking at the closing ceremony NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung praised the efforts of the Government, sectors, enterprises and people in overcoming difficulties and gaining remarkable results.

"The National Assembly requested the Government, sectors and localities at all levels focus activities on implementing the overall economic restructuring project, and to step-by-step solve difficulties and boost production and business development to ensure micro-economic stability, social security and national defence," said Hung.

For the first time in the National Assembly's history, deputies held a confidence vote on the country's 47 top officials elected or approved by the Assembly or People's Councils. They included the State President and Vice President, National Assembly Chairman and Deputy Chairmen, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers and ministers. The NA also approved a resolution to recognise results of the vote.

"The vote was implemented seriously and carefully following NA procedures and regulations. The process was performed in a democratic, public and transparent way with supervision by the people and voters," Hung said.

"The vote result has displayed truthfully the country's socio-economic, national defence, foreign affairs and judicial activities."

On behalf of the National Assembly, Hung also thanked the people inside and outside the country for their enthusiasm in responding and making suggestions on the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

Deputies also passed three resolutions on extending time for the resumption of farmland, aquatic cultivation areas and salt production land; oversight results of the implementation of the law on thrift practice and waste combat in the use of Government bonds for primary construction investment during the 2006-12 period; the question and answer session.

During the one-month session, lawmakers discussed and adopted nine laws, including those on grassroots mediation, natural disaster reduction and prevention, combating and preventing terrorism, science and technology, national defence and security education, residency, corporate income tax, value-added tax and enterprises.

The NA also discussed the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution and gave opinions on eight other bills concerning plant protection and quarantine, emulations and rewards, bidding, fire fighting and prevention, thrift practices and combating waste, and employment.

A resolution on the 2014 legislative programme and adjusting the similar programme for 2013 of the 13th National Assembly were also approved at the session.

However, the revised land law wasn't adopted at the session as deputies held that it should be adopted after the revised 1992 Constitution's adoption at the sixth session of the NA later this year and come into effect from the beginning of July next year.

Such an important legal document, with a major impact on the country's socio-economics and people, is closely related to the draft of the revised 1992 Constitution. The constitution was being perfected, based on the collected opinions and discussions of people, deputies and related bodies. Therefore, it should be decided later, they said.

Deputies also had differing opinions relating to the right to announce an epidemic in provinces and cities directly under the central Government.

Deputy Pham Xuan Thang, from Hai Duong Province, Tran Xuan Hung, from Ha Nam Province, and many others said that chairmen of provincial People's Committees should be given the right to announce an epidemic, or an end to an epidemic, in a province or city directly under the central Government.

They believed the right should be given to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development when an epidemic occurs in two provinces or more or when stranger and dangerous organisms were found.

Thang said that the regulation would help improve the role and responsibility of provincial and municipal chairmen in order to prevent or control plant epidemics.

Deputy Nguyen Thanh Phuong, from Can Tho City, and Huynh Minh Hoang, from Bac Lieu Province, said that the announcement that an epidemic had occurred or ended should be the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, a professional unit qualified in epidemic analysis and evaluation.

Phuong added that the law should prohibit bringing harmful organisms into Viet Nam.

Deputy Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, from Long An Province, said the law should also regulates the collection of used pesticide boxes or covers because the inadequate awareness of people and the weakness in pesticide management had caused negative impacts on the environment and people's health.

Khanh said that nearly 50,000 tonnes of pesticide were used yearly in Viet Nam, many of which had high toxicity.

Deputy Nguyen Huu Hung from Tien Giang Province said the law should have strict sanctions against violations relating to the overuse of pesticide.

Source: VNS