National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has announced that the ninth session of the National Assembly is expected to start earlier than usual, likely right after the April 30 – May 1 holiday. The session will include discussions on amending the 2013 Constitution and revising several related laws.

On the morning of March 10, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly opened its 43rd session. In his opening remarks, Chairman Tran Thanh Man noted that this was the first session following the restructuring of various committees within the Standing Committee and the National Assembly.

Following the extraordinary ninth session in February, the Standing Committee has reorganized the structure of the Ethnic Council and other committees to stabilize operations and immediately resume legislative work.

Legislative priorities and key legal reforms

Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that the swift resumption of legislative work after restructuring the government and National Assembly has facilitated easier access to administrative procedures for citizens and businesses.

During this session, the Standing Committee will review, revise, and finalize three key draft laws before submitting them for discussion at the conference of full-time National Assembly deputies. If necessary, these laws will be presented for approval at the upcoming ninth session.

The draft laws under review include:

Amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Law
Amendments to the Special Consumption Tax Law
The Law on State Capital Management and Investment in Enterprises

According to the Chairman, given Vietnam’s goal of achieving at least 8% economic growth in 2025 and successfully implementing the five-year socio-economic development plan, these legislative proposals are crucial. They could serve as catalysts to accelerate economic growth and meet development targets.

Additionally, the Standing Committee will review five other draft laws that will be presented to the National Assembly for the first time during the ninth session. These include:

Amendments to the Product and Goods Quality Law
The revised Railway Law
The Personal Data Protection Law
The Emergency Situations Law
The Law on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

The Committee will also discuss reducing land rental fees for 2024 and review the National Assembly’s citizen petitions report for February.

Constitutional amendments and legislative workload

Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed that the National Assembly faces an extensive workload with heightened responsibilities, particularly regarding the review and amendment of the 2013 Constitution and related laws. These amendments align with Conclusions 126 and 127 of the Politburo and the Party Secretariat.

In addition to constitutional amendments, the legislative agenda is packed with regular lawmaking tasks. The 2025 legislative program includes the approval of 11 laws, review of 16 other draft laws, and additional legislation that may be introduced based on Conclusion 127 and government proposals.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man highlighted that the upcoming ninth session of the National Assembly will address several critical issues, including constitutional revisions and legal amendments.

Throughout April, the Standing Committee may hold multiple meetings to oversee the restructuring of administrative units at the commune level, aiming for a more streamlined government.

Intensive legislative schedule and deadlines

The Chairman stated that the Standing Committee will likely hold multiple sessions, including weekend and nighttime meetings, to ensure the timely reorganization of administrative units as proposed by local authorities and the government.

Given the Politburo and Party Secretariat’s directive to complete several key tasks by June 30, the ninth National Assembly session is expected to convene earlier than planned - likely right after the April 30 – May 1 holiday.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man urged close coordination between the Ethnic Council, the Standing Committee’s relevant agencies, and the government to finalize legislative proposals for the session. The legal drafts must be reviewed in April, with the amended Law on the National Assembly and People’s Councils finalized in March before submission for high-level approval. By April, it must be presented at the Central Party Conference.

Furthermore, proposals and frameworks for the 2026–2031 elections of the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels must be completed within March to allow for Central Party approval in April.

To meet these goals, Chairman Tran Thanh Man assigned Vice Chairpersons, the Committee on Deputies' Affairs, the Committee on People's Petitions and Oversight, and the Legal and Judicial Committee to work closely with relevant agencies.

He emphasized the need for all bodies to align their efforts with the directives of the Central Party Committee, the Politburo, the Party Secretariat, and the Central Steering Committee for Resolution 18 Review.

He also called for meticulous preparation of all legislative documents and careful coordination before presenting them to the Standing Committee. This would prevent delays, avoid last-minute workloads, and ensure high-quality legislation is completed on time.

Tran Thuong