The 14th National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) wrapped up its 14th session in Hanoi, on September 21, following eight days of meetings.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan addresses the closing of NASC’s 14th session in Hanoi, on September 21.

Speaking at the closing, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said that the NASC had completed the agenda for its14th session, discussing the proposed contents that will be submitted to the 14th NA’s next meeting, as well as the preparation for the NA’s next session and a number of other important issues.

The senior legislator highly praised the positive and urgent preparation by the relevant authorities and units in making quality comments with regards to the discussed contents. Depending on the specific content the NASC will decide on whether to issue a resolution or a conclusion on each item.

NA Chairwomen Ngan requested that the Government, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the State Audit, the NA’s committees and the relevant authorities collect opinions at the NASC’s meeting in order to finalise the draft bills before being submitted to the NA’s upcoming fourth session.

Regarding the preparations for the NA fourth session, the NA chairwoman urged the NASC to propose the drafting and verifying of agencies to actively review and prepare the draft bills for the next meeting, while sending the documents to the NA deputies in due time.

The NA General Secretary was asked to coordinate with the concerned agencies in collecting comments at the last NASC meeting to finalise the agenda for consultation with the NA deputies and preparation for the NA’s forthcoming session, in addition to making report on the relevant issues to the NASC at its 15th session in October.

NA Chairwoman Ngan informed those in attendance that the 15th session of the NASC is scheduled to take place over the course of three days, from October 11-13, reviewing a range of important issues before the start of the 14th NA’s fourth session on October 23.

Earlier, on the same day, the NASC organised a specialised monitoring session on “the implementation of policies and laws for individuals and organisations that are exploiting, cultivating and processing seafood for marine economic development associated with national defence and security" during 2011-2016.

The NASC members agreed with the report on the results of monitoring the implementation of the policies and laws on the issue, saying that the close integration and efficient exploitation of aquaculture and the processing of marine products in the development of marine economy, in association with ensuring national defence and security, plays a very important role in promoting national economic development, while firmly maintaining national sovereignty over its sea and islands and ensuring order and safety at sea.

Furthermore, they also pointed out a number of limitations and inadequacies in marine economic development, with ineffective propaganda and dissemination of the policies and laws on fishing, aquaculture and processing, associated with ensuring national defence and security. 

Aquaculture and seafood processing activities remain small and fragmented, not fulfilling their potential and showing a lack of synchronism. Credit policies for marine economic development still contain limitations.

Emphasising the importance of fishermen in the development of the marine economy and the protection of national sovereignty, NA's External Relations Committee Chairman Nguyen Van Giau suggested developing policies in order to encourage and create better conditions for fishermen to promote marine economic development and offshore fishing.

The delegates also suggested paying greater attention to complete and direct the synchronous implementation of policies and laws on fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing, associated with the protection and development of marine resources, as well as enhancing the capacity of offshore fishing and building large-scale fishery centres, in association with key fishing grounds combined with building strong defense zones. 

The functional authorities should further strengthen the monitoring of activities at sea and strengthen the measures to protect the lives and property of fishermen at sea.

Nhan Dan