At the meeting

Under the chair of NA Permanent Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, the legislature discussed the draft revised Law on Drug Prevention and Control in a plenary session in the morning.

Twenty-nine deputies offered their opinions on the bill.

Minister of Public Security To Lam later explained several issues of deputies’ concern related to the draft law.

Phong asked the NA’s Committee for Social Affairs to work closely with compilation and concerned agencies to collect feedback to continue perfecting the draft law before submitting it to the legislature for approval at the 11th session.

In the afternoon, presided over by NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, the legislature listened to a report examining the draft law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on the Handling of Administrative Violations presented by Chairman of the NA Committee for Legal Affairs Hoang Thanh Tung.

As many as 446 deputies voted in favour of the draft law, or 92.53 percent of all.

Later, 449 lawmakers voted yes to the draft revised Law on Residency.

Among 454 lawmakers present, 450 cast approval votes for the draft amended Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers under Contract.

The Law on International Agreements, the resolution on central budget allocation for 2021, and the resolution on Vietnam’s engagement in the United Nations peacekeeping operations, were also adopted.

During the plenary session on November 16, the NA ratified the resolution on urban administration organisation in Ho Chi Minh City and discussed the draft revised Law on Road Traffic.

In the afternoon, the legislature is scheduled to approve the law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and debate the draft law on road traffic safety and order.

NA approves Resolution on participation in UN peacekeeping operations

All 455 lawmakers present at the 14th National Assembly’s 10th session in Hanoi on November 13 voted in favour of a resolution on Vietnam's engagement in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Taking effect on July 1, 2021, the resolution specifies that the participation in the UN peacekeeping missions must be under the absolute and direct leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the decision of the Council for National Defence and Security, the command of the President and State management of the Government, in line with Vietnam’s Constitution and law, the UN Charter, international law and treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

Other principles include ensuring independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; being consistent with national interests, conditions and capabilities of Vietnam; respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations; and only participating in activities such as overcoming war consequences and maintaining peace after conflicts, for humanitarian purposes on the basis of the request of the UN.

The Ministry of National Defence must work closely with the Ministry of Public Security, other ministries and agencies to devise long- and mid-term plans to build Vietnam’s forces joining the UN peacekeeping operations to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

They are also assigned to recruit and train forces for the missions in terms of expertise, politics, law and foreign languages, as well as submit annual plans to send alternative forces to the missions to the Council for National Defence and Security.

14th National Assembly adopts revised laws

The 14th National Assembly adopted the amended Law on Residency during its ongoing 10th session in Hanoi on November 13.

Of the 455 deputies present, 449 voted in favour, reaching 93.15 percent.

With seven chapters and 38 articles, the law will take effect on July 1, 2021. It stipulates the right of Vietnamese citizens to freedom of residency in the Vietnamese territory, the registration and management of residency, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens and agencies in this regard.

Household registration and temporary residence books will be valid until December 31, 2022 and updated in the national residency archive. 

Amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on the Handling of Administrative Violations were also approved at the meeting, with 446 votes in favour, or 92.53 percent of lawmakers.

The law comprises three articles and will come into force on January 1, 2022.

With 450 votes in favour or 93.36 percent of those present, the revised Law on Vietnamese Guest Workers under Contract was adopted.

Effective from January 1, 2022, it has eight chapters and 74 articles regulating the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of Vietnamese guest workers under contract, relevant individuals and organisations, and State management in the field.

Of 458 lawmakers present, 456 voted for the Law on International Agreements, or 94.61 percent.

With seven chapters and 52 articles, the law stipulates principles, authority and procedures for amending, supplementing, extending, and ending the validity of international agreements, as well as the responsibilities of agencies for signing and implementing them.

It will take effect on July 1, 2021./.

NA adopts resolution on central budget allocation for 2021

The 14th National Assembly (NA) adopted a resolution on central budget allocation for 2021 during its ongoing 10th session in Hanoi on November 13.

Of 451 lawmakers present, 449 voted in favour, or 93.15 percent.

According to the resolution, total central budget revenue is to surpass 739.4 trillion VND (31.9 billion USD) while local budget revenue will hit 603.9 trillion VND (26 billion USD).

Total central budget spending is to stand at over 1 quadrillion VND (43 billion USD).

The Government will allocate State budget funds for ministries, central agencies and localities to implement policies and projects under national target programmes.

The legislature assigned the Government to instruct ministries, centrally-run cities and provinces, and central agencies to allocate Stage budget funds in order of priority, in line with the Law on Public Investment and resolutions of the NA and its Standing Committee././VNA