The 14th National Assembly (NA) worked on two draft laws and four draft resolutions on November 24 before wrapping up its month-long fourth session later the same day.

An overview of the closing session of the 14th National Assemby's fourth sitting on November 24

NA deputies approved the Law on Planning and discussed the draft revised Law on National Defence in the morning.

In the afternoon, deputies adopted a resolution on a feasibility study report on a land seizure, compensation, support, and resettlement project for the construction of Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province, and another resolution on piloting specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

At the following closing session, legislators passed a resolution on the continuation of reforming State administrative apparatus. They also approved a resolution on question and answer activities at the fourth session.

After that, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivered a speech concluding the fourth sitting of the 14th NA.

The closing session was broadcast live by Vietnam Television and Radio the Voice of Vietnam.

14th NA’s fourth meeting passes planning law

The Law on Planning sailed through the 4th meeting of the 14th National Assembly in Hanoi on November 24 with the majority of votes in favour.

The draft law, passed with 88.19 percent of votes, includes six chapters with 72 articles regulating the establishment, assessment, decision or ratification, adjustment and inspection of the national planning system.

It will come into force from January 1, 2019.

The same day, the legislators discussed the amended Law on National Defence. They agreed to develop a law towards building a modern, regular revolutionary army and combining defence with economic, cultural and social affairs.

Lawmakers reached consensus on the amendment of the law to repair shortcomings and asked the drafting agencies to clarify the limitations and evaluate impacts of new policies like regulations on state of defence emergency and defence education.

Regarding the combination of defence with economic, cultural and social affairs, they said that there should be specific regulations which stipulate responsibilities of military and security organisations in each project.

Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich made it clear that the regulation stipulating the army’s task of joining in production and building the economy institutionalizes the Party’s guidelines and viewpoints and concretizes Article 68 of the 2013 Constitution.

Performing the task, the army has taken part in eradicating poverty, spurring socio-economic development, and building defence-economic zones, while providing infrastructure for dozens of thousands of households to engage in economic production to stabilize their life, he said.

He noted that many military-run enterprises have been leading in the application of science and technology, international integration and military diplomacy, producing products with high-tech contents and contributing trillions of VND to the State budget, with Viettel and MB Bank a few to name.

“The task of joining in production and building the economy has been and will be an extremely important duty of the military and it must be regulated in the revised Law on National Defence,” Minister Lich said.

National Assembly’s fourth session wraps up

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan addresses the closing ceremony of the National Assembly's fourth session 

The 14th National Assembly wrapped up its fourth session in Hanoi on November 24.

During the one-month sitting, deputies adopted six laws, debated nine draft laws and approved solutions on socio-economic development plan of 2018 and State budget estimate and central budget allocation for next year.

Addressing the closing ceremony, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan noted that during the year-end session, deputies commented on many important reports on the implementations of national targets on gender equality, the settlement of citizens’ complaints and denunciations, the prevention of crimes and anti-corruption.

They conducted the supreme supervision over the implementation of policies and laws on the reform of the State administrative system in the 2011-2016 period.

Deputies questions cabinet members on issues related to finance, banking, information-communications, court’s judgment activities, and raised queries to the Prime Minister on matters relating to the Government’s management.

Lawmakers discussed and approved a resolution on investment policy of a project to construct some Eastern sections of the North-South Expressway in the 2017-2020 period, a report on the feasibility of the project on land reclaiming, compensation and resettlement support for the construction of Long Thanh International Airport. Alongside, they also commented on a pilot project to give special policies and mechanisms for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, and the adjustment of a roadmap of applying reformed curriculum and textbook for general education.

NA Chairman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan spoke highly of the success of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, saying that the event helped raise Vietnam’s position in the world arena and opened up many new opportunities for the country’s future development.

She also lauded the active participations of deputies, and the careful preparation of organisation units during the session.

The top legislator asked NA committees, the Government and localities as well as other relevant agencies to focus on the implementation of the new-adopted laws and resolutions, while continuing to withdraw lessons during the work.

Earlier, at the closing session, with 464 ‘yes’ votes, or 94.50 percent, the NA passed a resolution on the continued reform of the State administrative system towards simplification and effectiveness. They also passed a resolution on question-and-answer sessions at the NA fourth session.

After the closing ceremony, Secretary General of the National Assembly Nguyen Hanh Phuc chaired a press conference, informing reporters of the results of the NA’s forth session.

VNA