On the morning of April 14, the National Assembly Standing Committee convened its 44th session. In his opening remarks, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized the critical importance of this session in preparing for the upcoming 9th plenary session of the National Assembly.

The session will span two weeks and be divided into two phases. Chairman Man noted that the committee has an extensive workload and may need to work into the night to complete all tasks.

"If the Government submits the commune-level administrative restructuring proposal for certain provinces on time, the Standing Committee will approve it," said Chairman Man.

The Party Central Committee has already issued a conclusion supporting the policy to reduce approximately 60-70% of the current 10,035 communes nationwide. Following the committee’s sessions, an official count will be released indicating how many communes will be maintained across the country.

In addition to administrative restructuring, the committee will deliberate on 42 content groups, including 24 related to legislation and constitutional amendments, and 10 focused on economic matters, budgeting, oversight, and other key issues.

One of the standout agenda items is the consideration of documents proposing amendments to the 2013 Constitution. The committee will also establish a drafting board for these amendments and gather public feedback on the proposed changes.

According to the Chairman, public consultation on the constitutional amendments will last about one month, with an additional five days allocated for compiling feedback, making the total process around 35 days.

"Amending the Constitution is an especially significant task with an enormous workload, involving many agencies and organizations. It aligns with the broader policy of streamlining and reorganizing the government structure in line with Party conclusions 126 and 127, and directives from the Central Steering Committee," Chairman Man emphasized.

He also pointed out that there remain many contingency issues requiring attention, particularly those affecting organizational structure, administrative units, and the construction of a two-tier local government system.

Chairman Man highlighted the context of scientific and technological development, innovation, and digital transformation needed to implement Resolution 57 and to address bottlenecks in economic and social development. He added that the Government is actively pursuing solutions to respond to the U.S. tariff policies affecting Vietnam.

Therefore, he affirmed that the National Assembly and its Standing Committee are ready to address matters within their authority to swiftly resolve difficulties and obstacles for businesses, citizens, and policies relating to tax exemption, reduction, and deferment for American enterprises in Vietnam.

Looking ahead to the 9th plenary session, Chairman Man described it as the largest session in terms of workload since the beginning of the current term. The National Assembly is expected to review and pass 30 laws and 7 resolutions, and provide feedback on 6 additional draft laws. Many other laws and resolutions are also being proposed by the Government and related agencies for inclusion.

He urged the drafting and reviewing bodies to work closely, review thoroughly, and collaborate constructively to achieve a high level of consensus.

"The recent 11th Plenum of the Central Committee was a historic conference, making historic decisions. The Government must translate these into proposals for the National Assembly, and the Assembly must fulfill its responsibilities to implement the Party’s resolutions. Discussions must be both rational and empathetic, putting citizens and businesses at the center of efforts to address proposals and remove obstacles," he said.

Chairman Man also outlined the target of achieving 8% GDP growth in 2025 amid the ongoing provincial and commune-level mergers and the elimination of the district level. He affirmed that the National Assembly and its Standing Committee are ready to support and accompany the Government in implementing these reforms.

However, he noted that many oversight bodies within the Assembly have not yet received the necessary documentation - particularly regarding economic and fiscal matters. He called on the Government to direct ministries and agencies to urgently complete their preparations and submit documents in accordance with the session’s agenda, to avoid delays.

During this session, the Standing Committee must also finalize resolutions for the reorganization of commune-level administrative units. In addition, the committee will provide opinions on resolutions concerning provincial-level mergers and fulfill other tasks set for the second quarter.

"The workload is extremely heavy, causing strain on both drafting and reviewing agencies. I recommend that the Government reconsider including non-urgent items unrelated to administrative reform, science, innovation, and development in this session. If included, they must be thoroughly prepared and meet quality standards before submission," the Chairman concluded.

On voter engagement before the 9th plenary session, Mr. Man emphasized that members of the Standing Committee must clearly and empathetically explain the rationale behind the elimination of district-level administration and the merger of provinces and communes.

Tran Thuong