Hanoi (VNA) – ꩵThe 11 th session of the 13 th National Assembly (NA) was a success, fulfilling all set tasks regarding making laws, reviewing the legislature’s performance during the 13 th tenure, deciding on socio-economic issues, and State personnel work.

The session, the last gathering of legislators in this tenure, wrapped up in Hanoi on April 12, after 19 days of sitting in the spirit of solidarity, democracy and high responsibility, said NA Vice Secretary General Le Minh Thong at a press conference on the outcomes of the session later the same day. Lawmakers considered and passed seven bills, including the Law on Access to Information; the revised Law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties; the amended Law on Press; the Law on Children; the amended Pharmacy Law; the revised Law on Export-Import Tariffs; and the Law on amendments and supplements to some articles of the Law on Value Added Tax, the Law on Special Consumption Tax, and the Law on Tax Management. The legislature also adopted a resolution ratifying the diplomatic note on the visa agreement between Vietnam and the US, said Thong, who is also Vice Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Legal Affairs. At the session, legislators looked into Government reports on supplementary assessments of the implementation of the 2015 socio-economic development plan, a socio-economic development plan for 2016 and socio-economic development plans for 2016-2020. They approved a resolution on adjustments to the land use planning by 2020 and the national-level 2016-2020 land use plan, in order to meet land demands for socio-economic development, national defence and security in the new situation. The Government was requested to make annual reports on the implementation of the land use plans to the NA. According to the NA Vice Secretary General, lawmakers devoted time to examine the five-year performance of the NA, the State President, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, and the State Auditor General. Basically agreeing with the reports, the NA said that during the 2011-2016 term, despite complicated developments in the region and the world, and difficulties facing the domestic socio-economic development, under the leadership of the Party as well as the support and supervision of the people, the State apparatus has inherited and promoted achievements of the previous tenures, while continuing with reform of its organisation and operation, thus fulfilling its duties in line with the regulations of the Constitution and laws. However, the NA deputies pointed out limitations and shortcomings in the operations of State agencies. The legislature issued a resolution on the performance of the NA, the State President, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, and the State Auditor General during the 2011-2016 tenure. Regarding the State personnel work, Thong said that at the session, the NA elected the Chief Legislator, Chairperson of the National Election Council, State President, Prime Minister, two NA Vice Chairmen, seven members of the NA Standing Committee, Vice State President, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, Chairperson of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs, heads of five NA committees, and State Auditor General. It also approved the nomination of three Deputy Prime Ministers, 18 ministers and other Cabinet members as well as the list of two Vice Chairpersons and 13 members of the National Election Council and the list of one Vice Chairperson and three members of the Council on National Defence and Security. For the first time, the NA Chair, the President, the Prime Minister, and the Chief Justice made oaths in front of the national flag, committing absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the people and the Constitution and vowing to do their utmost to fulfil their assigned tasks, he noted.-VNA