NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (C) chairs the 32nd session of the NA Standing Committee (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The NationalAssembly (NA) Standing Committee opened its 32nd session in Hanoi onMarch 11, under the chair of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.
Opening the session, ChairwomanNgan said five bills will be tabled for discussion at this meeting, which arethe draft law amending and supplementing some articles of the law on stateaudit, the draft revised law on militia and self-defence forces, the draft lawon architecture, the draft revised law on education and the draft law onlibrary.
The NA Standing Committee willalso look into a draft resolution on handling tax debts and fines on overduedebts of tax payers who have become bankrupt or been dissolved or stopped doingbusiness and no longer been able to pay to the State budget.
Some other resolutions anddecisions are slated to be approved during this session, including one on thearrangement of administrative units at district and communal levels in2019-2021.
The NA Chairwoman informed the committeethat five documents had been omitted from this session’s agenda pending moreresearch, including the draft revised Labour Code and the draft revised law onsecurities.
Following the opening, thecommittee examined the draft law amending and supplementing some articles ofthe law on state audit.
The 2015 Law on State Audit waspassed at the ninth session of the 13th National Assembly and tookeffect on January 1, 2016. The law has since shown several shortcomings thatrequire adjustment and supplementation.-VNA
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan expressed thanks to press and media outlets for partnering with the legislature and covering its activities over the past years during a meeting in Hanoi on January 21.
National Assembly deputies discussed several divisive issues of the draft law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Public Investment, and the draft revision of the Law on Tax Management at the one-day 31st session of the 14th NA Standing Committee on February 21.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President and CEO of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende discussed Vietnam’s new development vision and its experience in building an independent, self-reliant and globally-integrated economy, and navigating global instability through proactive diplomacy.
Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Interim Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and Borge Brende, WEF President and CEO, commended Vietnam’s flexible and effective economic governance and its strong economic performance.
The two PMs agreed on measures to strengthen bilateral relations in the future, especially the prompt signing of an action plan for implementing the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, and the launch of upgraded VSIPs to include hi-tech parks, urban areas, and commercial zones.
PM Chinh requested ERIA to maintain close coordination with Vietnamese agencies and research institutes to promote policy research and consultations, and help the country increase productivity, quality, and competitiveness of the economy, especially in digital transformation, green transition, and circular economy, to contribute to achieving the rapid, sustainable development and double-digit economic growth goals it has set out for the coming decades.
The new Quang Tri province will include 78 commune-level units and features key assets such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a long coastline, historical landmarks, three international border gates, deep-water ports, a modern transport network, and two airports.
The rehearsal took place at the National Military Training Centre No. 4, the Vietnam National University - Hanoi, and the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, involving more than 7,400 officers and soldiers.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on June 25 on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city, China, during which he affirmed Vietnam attaches great importance to its multifaceted cooperation with Ecuador and proposes continued dialogue, negotiation, and signing of cooperation agreements in trade, investment, finance, and agriculture.
A working visit to Toulouse by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang from June 23–25 has laid important groundwork for expanding multi-sector cooperation between Vietnam and the Occitanie region.
Prof. Dr. Georgy Toloraia, Executive Director of the National Committee for BRICS Research and Director of the Centre for Russian Strategy in Asia at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, expressed his confidence that Vietnam will become a substantial and influential partner of BRICS.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed enhancing economic and trade cooperation, including the development of railway connectivity between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan, which will also strengthen links with Central Asian nations.
The new law abolishes the death penalty for eight criminal offenses: the crime aimed at overthrowing the people’s government; the crime of sabotaging state infrastructure and technical facilities; the crime of producing and trading counterfeit medicines for treatment and prevention; the crime of destroying peace and causing aggressive war; the crime of espionage; that of illegally transporting narcotics; embezzlement; and bribe taking.
Vietnam will continue to coordinate closely with and make positive contributions to the initiatives and collective work of the Group of 77 (G77) developing nations, said Ambassador Do Hung Viet, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN.
Speaking at the session, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the urgency of the amended railway law, noting the country is currently implementing many railway development projects such as the North–South high-speed railway, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi urban rail systems, and the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong line.
Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed a decision establishing a Vietnamese sub-committee under the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, and Investment Cooperation between the Vietnamese and Spanish Governments.
Young lawmakers must be remain true to revolutionary ideals, loyal to the Party, nation, and people, and to resist the temptations of personal gain or power. They must dare to think, dare to act, dare to innovate, and dare to take responsibility.
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (C) chairs the 32nd session of the NA Standing Committee (Source: VNA) 
