Hanoi (VNA) – The 10th sitting of the 14th National Assembly began on October 20, with discussions held online.

Before the opening ceremony, lawmakers devoted one moment of silence to commemorate officials and soldiers who died during search and rescue missions as well as dead victims of floods. They made donations to support flood victims in response to the appeal by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

The NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presented an opening speech at the opening session, which was broadcast live on Radio The Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television and the National Assembly TV channel.

In the morning, the NA heard several important reports, including one delivered by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the implementation of the socio-economic development plans for 2020 and 2016-2020, the plan for 2021, and main targets and solutions for socio-economic development during 2021-2025.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man introduced a summary of opinions and petitions submitted by voters and people to the legislature’s 10th sitting.

Head of the NA Standing Committee’s Ombudsman Committee Duong Thanh Binh reported on the NA’s supervision of the settlement of voters’ petitions submitted to the legislature’s 9th sitting.

In the afternoon, more reports were presented on the NA’s external activities during the year Vietnam chaired the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the implementation of the State budget in 2020 and the national financial plan for 2016-2020, the budget estimates for 2021, the five-year financial plan for 2021-2025, and the mid-term public investment plan for 2021-2025.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung reported to the NA on the implementation of the NA’s resolutions on economic restructuring, mid-term public investment plan, and investment in national target programmes during 2016-2020.

On October 21, the NA is scheduled to discuss online contentious issues in the draft law on residency (revised), and the draft border guard law.

The NA’s 10th sitting is scheduled over the course of 19 days in both teleconference and in-person forms. The former convenes from October 20 – 27 while lawmakers will gather at the NA building in downtown Hanoi for plenary meetings from November 2 – 17./.