Press Release No. 19, 8th Session, 15th National Assembly

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the National Assembly entered its nineteenth working day (8th Session, 15th National Assembly) at the National Assembly House, Hanoi, continuing to question and answer questions from National Assembly deputies and some other contents under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

In the morning, under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the National Assembly conducted questions and answers from National Assembly deputies.

From 8:00 to 8:30: Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan continues to answer questions on the second group of issues in the health sector. Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long also participates in answering questions and explaining related issues.

From 8:30 to 8:40: National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivered a concluding speech on the second group of issues, stating: The question-and-answer session on the health sector took place enthusiastically with 41 delegates questioning and 8 delegates debating.

Through the question and answer session, the Government, Prime Minister, Minister of Health, and relevant ministries are requested to carry out the proposed tasks and solutions, focusing on the following tasks:

Firstly, continue to effectively implement the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; Resolution No. 99/2023/QH15 dated June 24, 2023 of the National Assembly on thematic supervision of the mobilization, management and use of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Implement well the planning of the medical facility network in the national sector planning, regional planning, and provincial planning for the period 2021-2030. Develop a plan to organize the purchase and storage of drugs, chemicals, and medical equipment, and be ready to distribute and support units and localities.

Second, improve the licensing appraisal process in a streamlined, transparent and time-saving manner. Accelerate digital transformation, upgrade the national system for managing medical examination and treatment practices. Strengthen inspection and examination of medical examination and treatment facilities, and strictly handle violations.

Third, focus on implementing the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy, the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance when passed by the National Assembly to remove difficulties and obstacles, ensure drugs, vaccines, medical equipment, medical examination and treatment, health insurance and develop the pharmaceutical industry. Strengthen management, inspection and examination in the production and trading of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and functional foods, especially on e-commerce trading floors and social networks. Strictly handle violations, step up propaganda so that people have the right understanding when using functional foods.

Fourth, urgently propose to add to the National Assembly's law and ordinance development program the amendment of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. Study and report to the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee on the policy of developing appropriate documents to manage and prevent the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other new tobacco products. Strengthen propaganda and raise awareness, especially among young people and adolescents, about the harmful effects of alcohol, beer, tobacco, electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

From 8:40 to 11:30: The National Assembly questioned Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung on the third group of issues in the field of information and communications.

At the question and answer session, National Assembly deputies raised questions focusing on the following contents: Solutions to improve the quality of press activities in the current period of social media explosion, especially the role of revolutionary press in promoting socio-economic development. Management of advertising activities in the press and online environment. Investment, development and improvement of the quality of telecommunications infrastructure, especially in remote areas, remote areas, and ethnic minority areas.

The session was televised and broadcast live on Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and Vietnam National Assembly Television.

Afternoon, content 1: Under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the National Assembly continued to question and answer questions from National Assembly deputies.

From 2:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.: Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung continues to answer questions from National Assembly deputies on the third group of issues in the field of information and communications. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang also participate in answering questions and explaining related issues.

From 14:50 to 15:00: National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivered a concluding speech on the third group of issues, stating: The question-and-answer session on the information and communications sector took place enthusiastically with 36 National Assembly deputies questioning and 9 National Assembly deputies debating. Through the question-and-answer session, it is requested that the Government, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and relevant ministries and branches effectively implement the proposed solutions, focusing on the following contents:

Firstly, continue to review, revise and supplement regulations on information and communication to ensure unity, synchronization, effectiveness, efficiency and development. Direct research to revise and supplement the Press Law to ensure quality. Soon issue a Plan for developing the network of press, radio, television, electronic information and publishing establishments for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

Effectively implement the Digital Transformation Strategy for Journalism to 2025, with a vision to 2030. In 2025, establish and connect the digital transformation network for journalism. Strengthen professional training, skills, professional principles and political qualities for reporters, editors and press leaders. Inspect and handle violations in journalism activities.

Second, improve the capacity of staff, invest in means and technical tools to perform information management tasks in cyberspace. Develop a monitoring system, focusing on promoting the application of artificial intelligence technology to scan and detect advertising violations on digital platforms.

Promote the development and recognition of Vietnam's digital platform for measuring readership data to publish data for advertising in the press. Strengthen the fight, negotiation, and request cross-border platforms and advertising networks to comply with Vietnamese law. Inspect, examine, and strictly handle violations in advertising activities in the press and online environment.

Third, continue to solidify telecommunications infrastructure, build mobile information transmission and reception stations at district and commune levels. In 2025, provide mobile telecommunications coverage to villages with electricity outside disadvantaged areas. Coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to provide telecommunications coverage immediately after deploying grid electricity to villages without electricity. Strengthen supervision and regularly urge businesses to improve the quality of telecommunications services.

From 3:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reports to clarify related issues and answers questions from National Assembly deputies, focusing on the following contents: solutions to promote decentralization and delegation of power; highlights in institutional reform; digital transformation issues; progress of implementation of important national projects; handling of slow-progressing projects; solutions to complete the elimination of temporary housing, response to natural disasters and climate change; green development issues, circular economic development; building management institutions, developing cyberspace...

From 4:20 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivered a closing speech for the question and answer session, stating that after two days of serious work and high responsibility, with a spirit of innovation, accompanying the Government, agencies and organizations in the entire political system, determined to overcome difficulties and challenges, striving to achieve the highest socio-economic development goals in 2025 and the following years, the National Assembly has completed the entire program of the question and answer session at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly on three groups of issues under the main responsibility of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Information and Communications.

During the question and answer session, 136 delegates questioned and 18 delegates debated. Through practical activities, the National Assembly delegates grasped the situation, carefully studied the reports, raised issues, and debated briefly and clearly, with specific questions, hoping that the Government, ministries, and branches would continue to have more timely and effective solutions.

Ministers and heads of sectors have demonstrated high responsibility, firmly grasped the functions, tasks and current situation of the sectors and fields under their charge, clearly answered many difficult and complicated issues, frankly, without avoidance, and clarified many issues raised by National Assembly deputies; at the same time, proposed many solutions to overcome limitations in the coming time.

Based on the questions of National Assembly deputies and the responses of Government members and heads of sectors, the National Assembly Standing Committee will direct relevant agencies to prepare a draft resolution and submit it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the closing session of this Session.

The question and answer session was a great success with strong commitments in direction, management and operation; requesting Ministers and Heads of sectors with the spirit of "saying goes hand in hand with doing and doing immediately", promoting the achieved results, promptly overcoming limitations and difficulties, and having new solutions to more effectively implement the set goals and tasks.

The session was televised and broadcast live on Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and Vietnam National Assembly Television.

Content 2: From 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Under the direction of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, the National Assembly will conduct the following contents: The National Assembly will listen to Member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Chairman of the National Assembly Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh present the Report on explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Resolution on the Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2025.

Then, the National Assembly voted to pass the Resolution by electronic voting, with the following results: 426 delegates participated in the vote (equal to 88.94% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), 424 delegates approved (equal to 88.52% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), and 2 delegates did not vote (equal to 0.42% of the total number of National Assembly delegates).

The National Assembly listened to the following contents: Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, authorized by the Prime Minister, presented the Report on adjusting the investment policy of Long Thanh International Airport Project in Resolution No. 94/2015/QH13 of the National Assembly; Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh presented the Report on examining the adjustment of the investment policy of Long Thanh International Airport Project in Resolution No. 94/2015/QH13 of the National Assembly.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024: In the morning, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the hall, carrying out the following contents: voting to pass the Resolution on the 2025 state budget estimate; listening to the Submission and the Verification Report on the investment policy of the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis; watching a video clip on the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis; listening to the Submission and the Verification Report of the draft Resolution on piloting the implementation of commercial housing projects through agreements on receiving land use rights or having land use rights.

After that, the National Assembly discussed in groups: investment policy for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis; adjustment of investment policy for the Long Thanh International Airport Project in Resolution No. 94/2015/QH13 of the National Assembly; draft Resolution on piloting the implementation of commercial housing projects through agreements on receiving land use rights or having land use rights.

In the afternoon, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the hall, conducting the following contents: voting to pass the Resolution on the Central budget allocation plan for 2025; discussing the investment policy for the National Target Program on Drug Prevention and Control until 2030.

After that, the National Assembly met separately, listened to the Report, the Inspection Report and discussed in groups the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on specific mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties and obstacles for projects and land in the inspection, examination and judgment conclusions in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City and Khanh Hoa Province.