Vietnam is facing new and greater difficulties and challenges, requiring the country to promote the tradition of great national solidarity to overcome this tough time, stated National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at the opening of the 15th NA’s second session in Hanoi on October 20.

The event was held in the form of video conference with connection to 62 NA deputy delegations in localities nationwide.

The NA leader noted that the fourth wave of COVID-19 has posed severe impacts on many sectors, seriously affecting production and business activities as well as the livelihoods and living conditions of people.

With a minus 6.17 percent year on year economic growth in the third quarter, the country’s economy expanded only 1.42 percent in the first nine months of this year, the lowest level since 2000, he said, adding that economic growth for the whole year is likely to reach only 2.5-3 percent, far below the target set by the NA at about 6 percent.

Thanks to the solidarity of the whole nation, social consensus and the active engagement of the entire political system as well as the support and trust of the people and assistance from the Vietnamese community abroad and international friends, COVID-19 has been put under control across the nation, he said.

Meanwhile, the macro-economy has remained stable, and the agricultural sector has recorded strong growth and continued to be the backbone of the economy and social stability, said the NA leader.

He underlined that exports have surged over the same period last year, while inflation has been reigned in, State budget collection and major balances of the economy have been ensured, social welfare and security have received great attention, and national defence, security and social order have been maintained.

The top legislator briefed on the working programme of the second session, with two laws and five resolutions to be adopted, and five other bills along with the Government’s reports on a series of important issues to be tabled for discussion. Question-and-answer sessions will also be held.

The NA leader asked all legislators to show high sense of responsibility in the debate, speaking out voters’ opinions and deciding important matters.

Following the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a report on the results of the socio-economic development plan for 2021 and a draft plan for 2022.

Second session of 15th National Assembly opens

The second session of the 15th National Assembly opens in Hanoi on October 20 morning.

The meeting is broadcast live by Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV1), Vietnam Television (VTV1) and National Assembly Television.

Prior to the opening ceremony, a delegation of leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front and NA deputies paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.

They then held a preparatory meeting to discuss and vote on the working programme of the second session.

Amid the complex developments of COVID-19, the meeting is held both in-person and online. Legislators will meet virtually from October 20 to 30, and then join in-person discussions from November 8 to 13.

The deputies are expected to consider and adopt two bills and five draft resolutions, including the law amending and supplementing some articles of the Statistics Law, the law amending and supplementing some articles of the Criminal Procedure Code, resolutions on a number of specific mechanisms and policies for Hai Phong city, and Nghe An , Thanh Hoa and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, and another resolution on the organisation of online trials.

Five other bills, comprising the Law on Mobile Police, the Law on Cinematography (amended), the Law on Insurance Business, the Law on Emulation and Commendation (amended), and the law amending and supplementing some articles of the Intellectual Property Law, will also be tabled for discussions.

Apart from legislative matters, the deputies will scrutinise reports on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget estimate in 2021, and COVID-19 prevention and control, along with decisions on socio-economic development plan, state budget estimate and central budget allocation plan for 2022, among others.

The NA Office has also drawn up plans for a scenario where the pandemic continues to develop complicatedly nationwide. Under the scenario, the meeting will be held in the form of teleconference entirely and without the gap between the two phases, so that the session will conclude earlier, giving time for the Government and localities to focus on the pandemic fight. 

First working day of 15th NA’s second session

The second plenary session of the 15th National Assembly will open in Hanoi on October 20.

On the first working day of the session, participants are to spend one-minute of silence to commemorate dead victims of COVID-19.

Following the opening remarks by NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will deliver a report on the progress of the socio-economic development plan for 2021 and a draft plan for 2022. A verification report on the plans will be delivered by Chairman of the NA Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh.

Chairman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh is to present a report verifying the results of COVID-19 prevention and control measures and the implementation of Resolution No. 30/2021/QH15 on outcomes of the first session of the 15th National Assembly.

In the morning, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien is scheduled to deliver a report summarising ideas and requests from voters to the 15th NA’s second session, followed by a report read by Duong Thanh Binh, head of the NA Standing Committee’s Ombudsman Committee, on the supervision results of the settlement of requests that voters sent to the 11th session of the 14th NA.

In the afternoon, NA deputies will listen to Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc’s report on the State budget disbursement situation in 2021 and the estimate and allocation plan for 2022 as well as the State finance-budget plan for the 2022-2024 period, along with a verification report on the work.

Also in the afternoon, Inspector General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy Le Minh Tri will present a draft Law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung will also deliver a proposal on a bill on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Statistics Law.

Later, the legislators will discuss the two bills in groups./.

Source: VNA