Photo taken yesterday Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) participate in the meeting. — Photo vnexpress.net

HÀ NỘI Viet Nam News - — Nearly 82 per cent of lawmakers – 418 in total - agreed to release Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng from his post during the 13th National Assembly’s 11th session in Hà Nội.

Later, the NA considered a draft resolution on the discharge delivered by Secretary General Nguyễn Hạnh Phúc.

With 430 approval votes, or 87 per cent of the legislature, the resolution was adopted.

President Trần Đại Quang then delivered a report on the nomination for the Prime Minister position, Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, who is also NA deputy for the 13th tenure.

During the Government’s March meeting, PM Dũng said that after nine years and 10 months in office, he will be allowed to retire.

He conveyed his sincere thanks to the Cabinet members, heads of Government bodies, Government staff and experts of the consulting group for their dedication, which helped him fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party, State and people during his two tenures.

He wished that the Cabinet members would continue to accomplish their assigned tasks, and that those who are planning to retire would make further contributions to national development.

Dũng, 67, is native to the southernmost province of Cà Mau. He was a member of the Party Central Committee from the 6th to the 11th tenure, a Politburo member from the 8th to 11th tenure, and NA deputy from the 10th to 13th tenure.
The election of the new PM will be held this morning.

Lawmakers hopeful about new PM, Government

Lawmakers have expressed hope that the new Prime Minister and his Cabinet will continue to be steadfast in their strategic goals to achieve higher economic growth and improve people’s lives.
On the sidelines of the 13th National Assembly’s 11th session in Hà Nội yesterday, Deputy Trần Hoàng Ngân from HCM City said the new Government should emphasise social welfare, food safety and hygiene, social order, transportation and health insurance, which are all of public concern.

It should also pay attention to refining the market economy and social management mechanisms, he said.
Deputy Trần Du Lịch, representing HCM City’s constituents, called for continued reforms of fiscal and monetary policies and administration, saying that the new Government should be more drastic in this regard.
In his opinion, Deputy Tran Ngoc Vinh from the northern port city of Hai Phong suggested thoroughly examining and fixing issues involving public debt, the State budget and social welfare by adjusting several policies.
According to him, the Government needs to crack down on corruption, especially in public administration, in part by recruiting qualified and moral officials.
The Government must offer a better public administration service, he stressed.
Lawmaker Bùi Thị An from Hà Nội expressed hopes that the new Prime Minister will make a breakthrough in streamlining personnel and fighting corruption, which she said will earn the trust of people nationwide.
Speaking highly of the PM’s role in operating the country’s executive branch and driving socio-economic development, Đỗ Văn Dương from HCM City said the Government leader should be dynamic, creative and highly responsible.
In the current context, Dương expressed his hopes that the new Prime Minister will stay determined to safeguard territorial sovereignty by practical means, both legally and politically.

National Assembly passes draft laws

A number of draft laws sailed through yesterday’s meeting, with the majority of votes being in favour.

They include the Law on Access to Information, the amended Pharmacy Law, amendments and supplements to the Law on Value Added Tax, the Law on Special Consumption Tax, the Law on Tax Management and the revised Law on Export-Import Tariffs.

The Law on Access to Information, which passed with 88.46 per cent of the vote, comprises five chapters and 37 articles. It will come into effect on July 1, 2018.

The law stipulates citizens’ right to access of information and principles and procedures of information access, as well as responsibilities and obligations of State agencies in ensuring citizens’ right to information access.

Restrictions are only imposed in line with the law regarding national defence and security, social order and safety, and public health.
The actualisation of citizens’ rights to information should not violate national interests or the legitimate rights and interests of other people, the law stated.

Earlier, the NA Standing Committee delivered a report on NA deputies’ opinions of the draft law, which states that foreigners’ right to information access is different from that of Vietnamese citizens.

They explained that foreigner access to information should be based on their purposes and the capacity of local State agencies.

Vietnamese people abroad should have the same right to information access as local citizens, they said.

Comprising 14 chapters and 116 articles, the amended Pharmacy Law was approved by the NA with an 88 per cent approval margin.

The law prescribes the State’s policy on pharmacy and the development of the pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical business, medicine management at healthcare centres and the management of medicine quality, among others.

Domestic agencies, organisations and individuals at home and abroad related to pharmaceutical activities in Việt Nam are subject to the law.

Before voting on the draft law, the NA Standing Committee presented its report on the acquisition of NA deputies’ opinions on the document. The report said many suggested supplementing the State’s policies on human resources development, the establishment of drugstore chains, and scientific research and transfers in this field.
Nearly 63 per cent of NA deputies agreed that practice certificates must be issued to each pharmacist.
Others proposed supplementing regulations prohibiting the trade of medicines that are not in line with regulations, and the import of extracted pharmaceutical products.
The law will take effect on January 1, 2017.
In addition, nearly 87 per cent of NA deputies adapted 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, which will go into effect on July 1, 2016, excluding Clauses 2 and 4 of Article 3, which will come into force on September 1, 2016.
With five chapters and 22 articles, the revised Law on Export-Import Tariffs was approved with 91.3 per cent of the vote.
The law will take effect on September 1, 2016, replacing the Law on Export-Import Tariffs. — VNS