NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ delivers opening remarks at the fourth session. VNA/VNS Photo

 HÀ NỘI — The 15th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee convened its fourth session in Hà Nội on Monday, under the chair of NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Huệ said that during this session, lawmakers will discuss contents to be submitted to the legislature’s second sitting.

The NA Standing Committee will for the second time give opinions on the draft Law on Statistics which has been revised based on the first debate. Chairman Huệ said this was an essential task to meet macro economy management demand and serve economic administration in localities.

The draft resolutions on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of northern Hải Phòng City and central Nghệ An and Thừa Thiên-Huế provinces will be tabled for examination, along with several reports on the management and use of the health insurance fund in 2020; the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget estimate in 2021; the socio-economic development plan for 2022; the economic restructuring plan for 2021-2025; the Government’s report on COVID-19 prevention and control; and the delay of the implementation of salary reform policy.

Chairman Huệ urged the NA Standing Committee to base on the issued NA Resolution about frameworks for five-year plans and update the current situation to discuss the economic restructuring plan during the 2021-25 period and national land planning during 2021-2030.

Lawmakers will give opinions on a proposal on holding virtual trials submitted by the Supreme People's Court, and the financial handling of the Nghi Sơn Refinery and Petrochemical Project in accordance with the commitments and objectives of the Government, among others.

This session will also be the last time the NA examine preparations for the second plenary session of the 15th NA, which is scheduled to open on October 20.

Later the same day, the NA Standing Committee discussed a report summarising voters’ opinions and recommendations sent to the second plenary session of the 15th NA; a report on supervision results of the handling of feedback and recommendations of voters sent to the 11th session of the 14th; and results of dealing with complaints and recommendations of voters sent to the NA in 2021.

Presenting the report on voters’ opinions and recommendations, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Central Committee Đỗ Văn Chiến said most voters expressed delight at the success of the fourth session of the 13th Party Central Committee. However, they expressed concerns over negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic which could affect the implementation of socio-economic development targets during the five-year period from 2021-2025 as set by the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

Based on recommendations of voters nationwide, the Fatherland Front Central Committee proposed the NA, the Government, ministries, agencies and localities to soon concretise the conclusion of the 13th Party Central Committee about COVID-19 prevention and control, focusing on two main contents of voters’ concern, including having fundamental and long-term solutions for the vaccine strategy and assessing the quality of online learning and teaching for students in order to build a strategy to adapt if the pandemic continues.

The NA, Government, ministries, agencies and localities are also advised to promptly realise the conclusion of the Party Central Committee on recovering and developing the economy when the pandemic is brought under control; soon deciding financial support packages to encourage businesses and people to invest in economic development and to prevent disruption of supply chains; have policies to ensure labour sources for businesses and improve the investment and business environment; and continue to have measures to keep inflation under control, ensuring prompt recovery and development for the economy.

The Party and State need to direct and increase inspection, supervision and auditing to prevent corruption and shortcomings in purchasing and investing in pandemic prevention and control and in carrying out social security packages and resolutely punish violators in line with laws.

The Party and State should study and develop policies to support frontline forces in the fight against COVID-19. 

Regarding the settlement of complaints and recommendations of voters sent to the 11th session of the 14th NA, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee’s Ombudsman Committee Dương Thanh Bình said so far, all 807 voters’ suggestions sent to the 14th NA’s 11th meeting have been dealt with, equivalent to 100 per cent. — VNS