National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn speaks at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly (NA)’s Standing Committee convened its 50th session, the final preparatory meeting ahead of the tenth sitting of the 15th parliament, in Hà Nội on Wednesday afternoon.

Presiding over the opening ceremony, NA Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn said the six-day session will deliberate on 37 major items. Legislative work, he said, will take centre stage, with the NA Standing Committee set to discuss 22 draft laws and resolutions for submission to the NA at its 10th sitting, adding the legislative proposals on such key areas as completion of tax policy, apparatus organisation, human rights, innovation, and national digital transformation.

The top legislator urged the members of the NA Standing Committee to embody the spirit articulated by Party General Secretary Tô Lâm at the first congress of the NA Party Organisation, emphasising that legislative work must go beyond merely resolving overlaps, contradictions, and bottlenecks to pave the way for national development, encourage innovation, unleash labour potential, and unlock resources for development.

He called on the members to demonstrate their new mindset and long-term vision, building a modern and harmonious legal framework that creates new momentum and space for national growth.

The committee will also set aside time to finalise three draft laws and resolutions already scheduled for the 10th session, as well as five others proposed by the Government for inclusion, provided all procedural conditions are met. It will further deliberate on several resolutions within its jurisdiction.

During the session, members will review reports on socio-economic performance and the State budget, people’s aspirations, and implementation of the five-year plan for submission to the parliament.

NA Chairman Mẫn ordered the members to meticulously look into reports to institutionalise the Party Central Committee’s policies and major orientations, particularly issues related to growth quality, labour productivity, green transition, digital transformation, economic restructuring, and social security. They should propose breakthrough solutions to lay a solid foundation for harmonious institutions and policies, creating momentum for the nation’s development for 2026-30.

The NA Standing Committee will also give opinions on four major issues for NA consideration, namely the investment policy for a national target programme on modernising and improving education quality for 2026-2035, adjustments to the national master plan for 2021-2030, submission to the NA for ratification of the external affairs agreement requested by the State President, and personnel work.

Other items on the agenda comprise the third review of the preparations for the 10th sitting of the 15th NA and decisions on specific matters within its mandate, including guidance on candidate structures for the 2026-2031 People’s Councils, allocation of the 2025 public investment plans using the central state budget, adjustments to the public investment plan following local administrative mergers, environmental tax rates for fuel in 2026, and a draft Government decree on distinct industrial development policies in the defence sector.

NA Chairman Mẫn stressed that the session’s workload is extensive and time-sensitive, requiring close coordination, discipline, and a strong sense of responsibility among all agencies to meet the schedule.

Press Law

The same day, the committee reviewed the draft amended Press Law, focusing on the financial mechanism of core multimedia agencies.

According to the Government's proposal, the bill comprises four chapters with 50 articles, a reduction of two chapters and 11 articles compared to the 2016 Press Law

The draft introduces key principles on press operation models, media economics, and the expansion of press activity to meet information and communication demands in the new era, while ensuring streamlined organisation within the political system.

A notable addition is the definition of a core multimedia communication agency — a press organisation encompassing multiple media types and subordinate outlets, granted a special financial mechanism under Government regulation. Their activities must align with the national master plan for press, broadcasting, electronic information, and publishing networks approved by the Prime Minister.

The draft also introduces provisions on press activities in cyberspace, requiring compliance with press law, cybersecurity law, and relevant international commitments.

As the verification agency for the bill, the NA Committee for Cultural-Social Affairs agreed on the need to revise the Press Law, as well as its scope and coverage.

Chairman of the committee Nguyễn Đắc Vinh noted the lack of a definition for “media economics” and the need for a comprehensive policy framework to address current challenges in press financing, autonomy, and public investment.

Addressing the discussion, NA Chairman Mẫn emphasised the need to ensure consistency and feasibility across related legal frameworks — particularly laws on cybersecurity, corporate income tax, and intellectual property, and regulations on public service units. He urged the draft to include mechanisms to strengthen revolutionary journalism, increase its presence on social media, and safeguard the country’s information sovereignty in the digital space.

On the financial mechanism, he requested careful review to ensure robust foundations for press economics and detailed guidance to facilitate implementation.

He stressed that media operations online must strictly protect national information security and sovereignty. —  VNA/VNS