HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly plans to pass 24 bills and debate 14 other draft laws in 2017, along with considering many important policies, stated NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân in a New Year interview with Vietnam News Agency. 
This year, the NA will supervise the implementation of policies and law on food safety for 2011-16 and State administrative reform in 2011-16, said the top legislator. 
She underlined that the major task for the political system is to continue implementing Resolution of the 12th Party Congress and the Constitution 2013. 
Along with deciding important issues of the country, the NA will conduct more effective supervision, creating an obvious change in operation of the State agencies from central to local levels, ensuring the law is strictly observed. 
In terms of external affairs, the NA leader said that the NA has assigned its Committee for External Affairs to coordinate with the Economic Committee and other agencies to prepare the NA’s plan of action to suit new generation free trade agreements. 
The Law Committee was asked to work with the Committee for External Affairs in designing the programme on the amendments, supplements and completion of legal regulations to match the domestic situation and Việt Nam’s international commitments. 
The NA will also boost ties with parliaments of other countries, while expanding relations with potential partners, contributing to safeguarding national sea and island sovereignty and national interests, she said. 
The top legislator affirmed that the NA will work to ensure its positive engagement in multilateral parliamentary forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), while broadening parliamentary consultations to improve mutual understanding and trust for effective collaboration in dealing with common issues. 
In 2017, the NA will increase foreign affair activities to serve the country’s international integration, she said, noting that in the second session of the 14th NA, the NA Standing Committee announced a resolution on the formation of the Việt Nam Parliamentary Friendship Union. — VNS