Press Release No. 21, 9th Session, 15th National Assembly

Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly continued its twenty-first working day at the National Assembly House, Hanoi, under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh speaks. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

In the morning, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the hall to conduct the following activities:

- Content 1: Under the direction of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh, the National Assembly discussed the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Planning.

Thirteen National Assembly delegates spoke at the discussion session. The majority of delegates agreed with the need to amend and supplement the Law on Planning and many contents in the Verification Report of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee.

In addition, in order to continue perfecting the draft Law, delegates focused on discussing: the purpose and scope of amendments and supplements; explanation of terms; national planning system; national resource use planning; procedures for adjusting national and inter-regional planning; main contents of national, regional and provincial planning; state management responsibilities for planning; planning implementation plans; planning implementation and adjustment; planning tasks; planning procedures; planning consultancy organizations; decentralization of authority to organize planning, appraisal, decision or approval, adjustment of planning, and planning implementation plans; planning appraisal council, establishment of planning appraisal council; storage of planning records; application of information technology in planning activities and publication of planning information.

Some delegates suggested continuing to review to ensure consistency with the Investment Law, the Public Investment Law, the Law on Investment under the public-private partnership model, land use planning, road traffic, and environmental protection to ensure consistency and conformity with the orientation and policy of amending the Planning Law, avoiding conflicts and difficulties in the implementation process.

At the end of the discussion session, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang spoke to explain and clarify a number of issues raised by National Assembly delegates.

- Content 2: Under the direction of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan, the National Assembly discussed the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy.

At the discussion session, 8 National Assembly deputies spoke. The deputies basically agreed with many contents of the Report on explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Law of the National Assembly Standing Committee; at the same time, the deputies discussed and contributed some additional contents on: issues related to the transparency of energy labeling for vehicles, equipment and construction materials; specific regulations on management, sanctions for violations, strengthening post-inspection; supplementing regulations on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in applying saving and efficient solutions; synchronizing technical standards in accordance with international commitments and conventions; incentives and tax support for activities using energy economically and efficiently; ESCO Energy Service Company model and solutions to promote the transition to green energy; Fund for promoting the use of energy economically and efficiently; developing a set of monitoring criteria and strengthening socialized solutions; mechanism to encourage individuals and organizations to have initiatives to overcome traffic congestion in urban areas. In addition, some delegates gave specific comments on legislative techniques according to the innovative thinking of law-making work.

At the end of the discussion session, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long spoke to explain and clarify a number of issues raised by National Assembly deputies.

In the afternoon, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the hall to conduct the following activities:

- Content 1: Under the direction of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh, the National Assembly discussed the draft Resolution of the National Assembly amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Regulations of the National Assembly session issued together with Resolution No. 71/2022/QH15 of the National Assembly.

At the discussion session, 10 delegates expressed their opinions; in which, the basic opinions agreed with the necessity of issuing a Resolution to ensure consistency and synchronization with the laws and resolutions of the National Assembly that have just been issued; at the same time, promptly institutionalize the Party's policies, contributing to innovation and improving the quality of the National Assembly's activities.

In addition, in order to contribute to the completion of the draft Resolution, the delegates focused on discussing: responsibilities of National Assembly deputies; National Assembly session agenda; documents serving the National Assembly session, archiving documents serving the National Assembly session; information about the National Assembly session; collecting opinions of National Assembly deputies by ballot; responsibilities of the Chair, the person assigned to run the session at the National Assembly session; responsibilities of National Assembly deputies when discussing and debating at the session; discussing at the plenary session of the National Assembly; synthesizing, explaining, and accepting opinions of National Assembly deputies at the sessions; deciding to establish and abolish agencies; establishing, dissolving, merging, dividing, and adjusting administrative boundaries of provinces, centrally run cities, and special administrative-economic units; procedures for the National Assembly to consider and decide on important socio-economic issues at the next session; application of information technology at the National Assembly session; inviting citizens to attend public sessions of the National Assembly; implementing provisions.

At the end of the discussion session, National Assembly Standing Committee member Le Quang Tung spoke to explain and clarify a number of issues raised by National Assembly deputies.

- Content 2: Under the direction of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, the National Assembly discussed the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on reducing value added tax. At the discussion session, 4 National Assembly deputies spoke; in which opinions agreed with the necessity of reducing value added tax to support increased purchasing power, stimulate consumption, domestic tourism, and special goods, which significantly contribute to promoting production, business, and socio-economic development.

In addition, delegates focused on discussing: the scope of the Resolution; the list of goods and services eligible for VAT reduction; the policy application period; the mechanism for periodic assessment and adjustment according to practical situations; the impact on revenue estimates and budget deficit of the VAT reduction policy; and the policy's impact.

Some delegates suggested that the Government should issue specific instructions for timely implementation in practice when the Resolution comes into effect; at the same time, there should be a report assessing the results of the reduction of value-added tax in the previous period.

At the end of the discussion session, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang spoke to explain and clarify a number of issues raised by National Assembly delegates.

Thursday, May 29, 2025, morning: The National Assembly held a plenary session in the hall, discussing the following contents: (i) the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Credit Institutions; (ii) the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on piloting the People's Procuracy in initiating civil lawsuits to protect the civil rights of vulnerable groups or to protect public interests.

Afternoon: The National Assembly held a plenary session in the hall, carrying out the following contents: (i) voting to pass the Resolution of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for social housing development; (ii) discussing the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality.

VNA/News and People Newspaper

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/thong-cao-bao-chi-so-21-ky-hop-thu-9-quoc-hoi-khoa-xv-20250528210254317.htm