Speech by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at the opening of the 5th Session

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue delivers opening speech

On the morning of May 22, the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly solemnly opened at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House.

Hai Duong Electronic Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the opening speech of the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

“Dear Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam,
Dear leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front,
Dear Congress,
Dear guests,
Dear compatriots and voters nationwide.

Today, the 15th National Assembly solemnly opened its 5th Session. On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee, I warmly welcome the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, revolutionary veterans, National Assembly deputies, distinguished guests, representatives of diplomatic corps, and international organizations to attend the opening session of the Session.

On this occasion, I would like to send to all delegates, people, voters, compatriots and soldiers nationwide my respectful greetings, wishes for health, happiness and the success of the meeting as expected.

Dear Congress,

The 5th session of the 15th National Assembly took place right after the great success of the mid-term conference of the 13th Party Central Committee. This session is of great significance in terms of legislation, supreme supervision and decision-making on important national issues.

At the preparatory session, the National Assembly deputies highly agreed on the content, time, program and method of conducting the session. Accordingly, the 5th Session is divided into 2 sessions, meeting at the National Assembly House: session 1 from May 22 to June 10; session 2 from June 19 to June 24 (a week between the 2 sessions is allowed for the National Assembly agencies and relevant agencies to prepare reports on receiving and explaining the opinions of National Assembly deputies and to revise and complete the draft laws and resolutions to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the end of the Session). It is expected that in 23 working days, the National Assembly will consider and decide on the following important contents:

First, on legislative work

The National Assembly will consider and pass 8 draft laws, of which 6 draft laws have been commented on by the National Assembly at the 4th Session (Law on Consumer Protection (amended); Law on Bidding (amended); Law on Prices (amended); Law on Electronic Transactions (amended); Law on Cooperatives (amended); Law on Civil Defense); 2 draft laws (Law on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on People's Public Security; Law on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam) have been decided by the National Assembly Standing Committee to be added to the 2023 Law and Ordinance Development Program to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration at the 5th Session according to the procedure at a session on the basis of the provisions of Article 51 of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents and the Government's proposal, to promptly meet practical requirements.

The National Assembly also considered and issued three legal resolutions: Resolution on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City; Resolution on taking a vote of confidence and voting for people holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils (amended); Resolution on the 2024 Law and Ordinance Development Program, adjusting the 2023 Law and Ordinance Development Program.

At this session, the National Assembly reviewed and gave its second opinion on the draft Law on Land (amended); gave its first opinion on 8 other draft laws, including: Law on Real Estate Business (amended); Law on Housing (amended); Law on Water Resources (amended); Law on Telecommunications (amended); Law on Management and Protection of National Defense Works and Military Zones; Law on Citizen Identification (amended); Law on Credit Institutions (amended); Law on Forces Participating in Protecting Security and Order at the Grassroots Level.

For the draft laws and draft resolutions submitted to the National Assembly for approval, the National Assembly Standing Committee has closely directed the reception, revision and completion of the projects and drafts. In particular, for the 6 draft laws that the National Assembly commented on at the 4th Session, the National Assembly Standing Committee has directed the agency in charge of the review to closely coordinate with the agency submitting the project, study and maximally absorb the opinions of the National Assembly deputies at the 4th Session and at the 3rd Conference of National Assembly Deputies working full-time (held in April 2023); at the same time, many conferences, seminars, and discussions have been organized to collect public opinions and expert opinions.

The draft laws that have been completed for submission to the National Assembly for consideration and approval so far have basically achieved high consensus between the National Assembly Standing Committee and the Government.

Regarding the draft Land Law (amended), this is an important and complex law, playing a fundamental role in the land law system, having a profound relationship and influence on the implementation of policies and regulations in many other laws, affecting all aspects of economic and social life, all organizations and each citizen. The project has been received and completed on the basis of the opinions of National Assembly deputies at the 4th Session and over 12 million comments from all walks of life.

Overview of the opening session of the 5th Session, 15th National Assembly

Pursuant to Resolution No. 671/NQ-UBTVQH15 dated December 23, 2022 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the subjects consulted are very diverse, including all classes of people in the country and Vietnamese people residing abroad; state agencies at the central and local levels; the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels and socio-political organizations that are members of the Front, socio-political-professional organizations, socio-professional organizations, social organizations; enterprises, cooperatives, business households and other economic organizations; research institutes, universities and experts, scientists...

Through various forms, opinions have actively participated in completing many issues of the draft Law, focusing on 4 important issues: compensation, support, resettlement; land allocation, land lease, land use purpose conversion; land finance, land price; planning, land use plan. The collection of public opinions has truly become a broad political activity, deeply promoting the people's right to mastery, contributing to creating an important step forward in the quality of the draft Law.

The National Assembly respectfully thanks the People for their attention, enthusiastic opinions, wisdom and responsibility towards the draft Law on Land (amended) and towards the work of building and perfecting the law in general. Based on the draft Law dossier, we request that National Assembly deputies continue to uphold the spirit of responsibility, promote democracy, concentrate their wisdom, and contribute opinions to fully institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies, especially Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022 of the 5th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee on continuing to innovate and perfect institutions and policies, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of land management and use, and create momentum to turn our country into a high-income developed country; perfect this draft Law one step further, meeting practical requirements and ensuring quality, and having the conditions to submit it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 6th Session.

The draft laws submitted to the National Assembly for initial comments at this Session are legislative tasks identified in Conclusion No. 19-KL/TW dated October 14, 2021 of the Politburo on the Orientation of the Law-making Program for the 15th National Assembly term and Plan No. 81/KH-UBTVQH15 dated November 5, 2021 of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

The consideration and promulgation of these draft laws are of great significance in order to remove practical difficulties and shortcomings, create consistency and unity with the legal system, especially with the Land Law (amended), as well as meet the requirements of digital transformation, ensure security, national defense, reform administrative procedures, enhance the quality of governance and management of credit institutions and perfect the legal framework in the handling of bad debts of credit institutions after Resolution 42 of the National Assembly on handling bad debts expires at the end of 2023.

With up to 20 projects and draft laws being considered, commented on and approved at this Session, including many projects and drafts with complex content, wide scope of impact, directly affecting the rights, obligations and interests of the majority of people and businesses, it is recommended that National Assembly deputies take time to study, focus on thorough discussion, assess the consistency and suitability of the projects and drafts with the Constitution and the Party's guidelines and policies, carefully consider the rationality, feasibility and impact of the proposed new policies; pay special attention to ensuring publicity, transparency, strictness, not creating loopholes for negative behaviors, corruption, group interests, local interests; ensure stability and consistency in the provisions of each project and draft and the unity and synchronization of the legal system, contributing to perfecting the development institution, promoting and creating new momentum, paving the way for innovation and sustainable development according to the goals set out in Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW dated November 9, 2022 of the 6th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee on continuing to build and perfect the socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam in the new period.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh presented the Report on the additional assessment of the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget in 2022; the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget in the first months of 2023.

Second, on socio-economics, state budget and deciding on other important issues

The National Assembly reviewed the Government's report on the additional assessment of the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget in 2022, the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget in the first months of 2023; approved the 2021 state budget settlement; at the same time, reviewed and decided on important contents on: assigning the list and capital level for the remaining tasks and projects under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program according to the Resolution of the National Assembly; assigning, adjusting and supplementing the medium-term public investment plan of the central budget for the period 2021-2025 and allocating the central budget investment plan in 2023 of the national target program; the policy of investing additional charter capital for the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development according to the Conclusion of the Politburo and the Resolution of the National Assembly; Continuing to implement the policy of reducing value added tax by 2% according to Resolution No. 43/2022/QH15 dated January 11, 2022 of the National Assembly; investment policy for the traffic project from National Highway 27C to Provincial Road DT.656 in Khanh Hoa province - connecting with Lam Dong and Ninh Thuan province; adjusting the investment policy for the Ka Pet Reservoir project, Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province.

Dear Congress,

In the first months of 2023, although the world and regional context continued to be complicated and unpredictable, our country's macro-economy continued to be stable, inflation was controlled, major balances were ensured, social security, social welfare and people's lives were basically stable, the fields of culture, society, national defense, security, foreign affairs, Party building and rectification, anti-corruption and anti-negativity achieved many important and quite comprehensive results. However, the world economic situation continued to decline, consumer demand in our country's main export markets decreased sharply due to inflation, geopolitical tensions, countries tightening monetary policies... which greatly affected the implementation of our country's socio-economic development tasks.

Economic growth is much lower than the set target; some localities have negative growth or lower than the same period; export, import and production turnover of many key industries have decreased or increased only at a low level; some bottlenecks in the markets have not been effectively resolved; many businesses are still facing difficulties, some businesses have had to cut down their scale or stop operations; the macro economy still has many potential risks; pressure on exchange rates and interest rates is high; the risk of bad debt is increasing; the situation of epidemics and natural disasters is forecast to continue to develop complicatedly...

Based on the Government's report and the inspection reports of the National Assembly's agencies, we request that the National Assembly deputies focus on specific analysis, objective, realistic, comprehensive and frank assessment of the results achieved, limitations and difficulties, especially in the implementation of socio-economic targets and targets, the completion of the annual growth target; the disbursement of public investment capital, risks in the financial, monetary and real estate markets, issues related to culture, labor, social security, etc.; clarify responsibilities, analyze objective and subjective causes in both the organization and implementation and issues related to policies, institutions and laws; difficulties and limitations within the economy; forecasting closely the situation in the coming time, thereby contributing ideas and proposing practical and timely solutions, especially effective solutions to rectify and immediately overcome the situation of loose discipline and order, and the situation of avoidance, shirking, and fear of responsibility of a number of cadres and civil servants in performing public duties, contributing to the completion of the 2023 goals, creating the premise and conditions for successfully implementing the socio-economic development tasks for the entire term of 2021-2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai presented a report on the supplementary assessment of the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget in 2022; the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget in the first months of 2023.

Regarding the approval of the 2021 state budget settlement, thoroughly grasping the requirement to innovate the process of deciding on the state budget to ensure substance, along with monitoring the implementation of the budget, it is recommended that National Assembly deputies discuss and carefully assess the situation of estimating, implementing and settling the state budget, clearly analyzing the causes of shortcomings and limitations, especially those that have not been effectively overcome over many years such as revenue estimates being far different from reality, low revenue estimates; slow allocation and assignment of budget estimates; large budget transfers; many violations in the management and use of the state budget; the implementation of conclusions and recommendations of the State Audit, Inspection, and competent financial and budget agencies is not strict or timely...; From there, contribute solutions and propose ways to continue promoting administrative reform, improve the investment and business environment, continue to tighten discipline and order of civil servants and public service, enhance accountability and handle violations, contributing to improving the quality of the National Assembly's review and approval of state budget settlement.

Third, on supreme supervision activities

The National Assembly will listen to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front report summarizing voters' and people's opinions and recommendations sent to the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly; consider the report on thrift practice and waste prevention in 2022; conduct questions and answers. At this session, for the first time, the National Assembly will discuss in the Hall the report on the results of supervising the settlement of voters' recommendations sent to the 4th Session of the 15th National Assembly.

The National Assembly will conduct thematic supreme supervision: "The mobilization, management and use of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control; the implementation of policies and laws on grassroots health care and preventive medicine." Based on the reports of the agencies, especially the report on the results of supervision, the National Assembly is requested to analyze and evaluate the achieved results, the shortcomings and limitations in the organization of implementation and legal regulations, the objective and subjective causes; propose specific and practical solutions to remove the existing problems and obstacles in the management and use of resources in COVID-19 prevention and control; the current situation and solutions to improve the quality, efficiency and completion of policies and laws on grassroots health care and preventive medicine in the coming time. Based on the results of supervision, the National Assembly will discuss and pass a resolution on this issue.

At this Session, the National Assembly will also consider and approve resolutions on the Supervision Program and establish a Thematic Supervision Team of the National Assembly in 2024. Based on careful consideration, comprehensive consideration, balance between fields and close adherence to the practical situation, we request that National Assembly deputies give their opinions and select specific contents to ensure supervision is focused on the right focus, focusing on key issues that are still stuck and inadequate in order to create positive changes in the supervised contents, especially in organizing the implementation of resolutions of the Party and the National Assembly on the Program for socio-economic recovery and development, on public investment, on key national projects, major and important issues, urgent and emerging issues that are of interest to voters and people nationwide; thereby, continuing to improve the effectiveness and practical efficiency of the National Assembly's supervisory activities.

In addition, the National Assembly will also consider a number of reports from agencies of the National Assembly, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuracy, the State Auditor General, etc. It is recommended that National Assembly deputies carefully study the reports, consider them comprehensively, consistently and cautiously, forecast major and new issues that may arise, and propose appropriate solutions for the National Assembly to consider issuing a Joint Resolution of the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly.

Fourth, about human resources work

At this session, the National Assembly will consider and decide on personnel work right at the beginning of the session, specifically considering and dismissing deputies of the 15th National Assembly, dismissing and electing members of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee; considering and approving the dismissal and appointment of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for the 2021-2026 term. We request that National Assembly deputies consider and discuss carefully so that the decision on personnel work is strictly ensured, in accordance with Party regulations and State laws, achieving high consensus and unity.

Delegation of National Assembly deputies of Hai Duong province attend the meeting

Dear Congress,

At this Session, the National Assembly will consider, comment on and approve many very important contents, attracting the attention, interest and great expectations of voters and people at home as well as our compatriots abroad. On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee, I request that the National Assembly deputies continue to promote democracy, uphold the spirit of responsibility, focus on thorough research, discuss enthusiastically, contribute many passionate, profound and quality opinions so that the National Assembly's decisions truly accompany, support and create maximum convenience for people and businesses.

With careful and thorough preparation, I believe that the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly will complete the entire program and set goals, and continue to achieve comprehensive and good results.

In that spirit, I hereby declare open the 5th Session of the 15th National Assembly.

Thank you very much, National Assembly!

According to VNA