Lawmakers debate competition and cyber security laws
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on September 14 agreed on the necessity to amend the Law on Competition to address inadequacies in the 12-year-old legislation.
The NA Standing Committee on September 14 agreed on the necessity to amend the Law on Competition to address inadequacies in the 12-year-old legislation. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) -The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on September 14 agreed on thenecessity to amend the Law on Competition to address inadequacies in the12-year-old legislation.
The Government’s report onamending the competition law said the changes were essential to addressshortcomings, including the abuse of market dominance, monopolies and unfaircompetition.
Participants of theStanding Committee’s session also agreed that the amendment would seek toensure equal and non-discriminatory competition.
They said the groupdrafting the amended law should review thoroughly the relationship between thecompetition law and related laws, like the Penal Code, the AdministrativeProcedure Law, the law on fees and charges, and the law on credit institutions.
Minister of Industry andTrade Tran Tuan Anh said the amended law already clarified how to deal withlegal conflicts with other laws, such as the Advertising Law.
Nguyen Khac Dinh, Chairmanof the National Assembly’s Legislative Committee, said the bill had broadenedthe scope of regulation and had adopted a new approach more suited tomarket conditions.
In the afternoon session,the Standing Committee discussed the Law on Cyber Security.
Minister of Public SecurityTo Lam said there was an urgent need for network security in national securityprotection.
During the process ofdrafting the Law on Cyber Security, opinions varied. Some said it shouldfocus only on national security, while others said the law should not onlyfocus on protecting national security, but also ensure social security.
Lam said the Governmentbelieved that given the strong development of science and technology, networksecurity was important for all areas of activity covered by cyberspace.
"The situation ofnetwork security in our country is increasingly complicated. Many informationsystems have been targeted by hackers. Every year, there are thousands ofattacks aimed at government agencies, financial systems, banking, keyinformation infrastructure, websites of organisations and enterprises in Vietnam,”Lam said.
He added that if thenetwork security focused only on national security protection, it would missother entities that also needed protection.
In 2016, Vietnam detected135,190 cyber attacks, three times more than in 2015.-VNA
The Standing Committee of the 14th National Assembly (NA) will convene its 14th session in Hanoi from September 11-20, with a number of issues high on the agenda to prepare for the NA’s fourth meeting
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
The NA Standing Committee on September 14 agreed on the necessity to amend the Law on Competition to address inadequacies in the 12-year-old legislation. (Photo: VNA) 
