Press Release No. 28, 8th Session, 15th National Assembly

On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the National Assembly continued its 28th working day (8th Session, 15th National Assembly) at the National Assembly building in Hanoi , under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Morning

From 8:00 to 8:30: The National Assembly holds a closed-door meeting.

* Content 1: Under the leadership of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Manh announced that the National Assembly is proceeding with the procedures to dismiss the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Transport for the 2021-2026 term.

From 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM: The National Assembly holds a plenary session in the assembly hall.

Content 2: Under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Nguyen Duc Hai, the National Assembly discussed the draft Law on Corporate Income Tax (amended) in the plenary session. During the discussion, 15 delegates delivered speeches, and one delegate participated in the debate. The delegates generally agreed on the necessity of amending the Law on Corporate Income Tax to address the shortcomings of the current law, institutionalize the Party and State's policy on reforming the tax system, meet practical requirements and the demands of innovation in socio-economic development, and align with global tax reform trends.

In addition, delegates focused on discussing, analyzing, and clarifying several issues regarding taxpayers; taxable income; tax-exempt income; determining taxable income; deductible and non-deductible expenses when determining taxable income; tax rates; tax calculation methods; and policies. Corporate income tax incentives.

Delegates suggested that attention should be paid to issues related to foreign organizations and individuals doing business on digital platforms without a permanent address in Vietnam; taxes on press agencies, financially autonomous public service units in the fields of health and education, and off-budget financial funds, start-up businesses, and some other sectors.

Some delegates suggested that the drafting committee continue to review the content of the draft law to ensure consistency and uniformity within the legal system. At the end of the discussion session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc explained and clarified some issues raised by National Assembly delegates.

Content 3: Under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong, the National Assembly heard the report presented by Le Tan Toi, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on National Defense and Security, explaining, accepting, and revising the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army; subsequently, the National Assembly voted to pass the Law electronically, with the following results: 459 delegates participated in the vote (95.82% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), 458 delegates voted in favor (95.62% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), and 1 delegate abstained (0.21% of the total number of National Assembly delegates).

* Content 4: Under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh, the National Assembly heard the report presented by Le Thi Nga, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Judicial Committee, on explaining, receiving feedback, and revising the draft Resolution on... Pilot program for handling evidence and assets. During the investigation, prosecution, and trial of several criminal cases, the National Assembly subsequently voted to pass a Resolution electronically, with the following results: 455 delegates participated in the vote (94.99% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), 450 delegates voted in favor (93.95% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), and 5 delegates abstained from voting (1.04% of the total number of National Assembly delegates).

Content 5: Under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh, the National Assembly heard the report presented by Ms. Le Thi Nga, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Judicial Committee, explaining, accepting, and revising the draft Law on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking (amended). Following this, the National Assembly voted to pass the Law electronically, with the following results: 455 delegates participated in the vote (94.99% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), 454 delegates voted in favor (94.78% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), and 1 delegate abstained (0.21% of the total number of National Assembly delegates).

The session was broadcast live on Vietnam National Assembly Television.

From 11:00 AM: The National Assembly holds a closed-door meeting.

Contents 6, 7, 8: Under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the National Assembly continued to carry out personnel work within its authority. The National Assembly voted to approve the Prime Minister's proposal to dismiss Mr. Ho Duc Phoc and Mr. Nguyen Van Thang from their positions as Minister of Finance and Minister of Transport for the 2021-2026 term, with a high percentage of votes in favor.

The National Assembly heard the following items: (i) The Standing Committee of the National Assembly's submission on the list of nominees for the National Assembly to elect members of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Secretary General of the National Assembly for the 15th term; (ii) The Prime Minister's submission on the list for the National Assembly to approve the proposed appointments of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Transport for the 2021-2026 term; (iii) The Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court's submission requesting the National Assembly to approve the appointment of Supreme People's Court judges; (iv) The National Assembly's Judicial Committee's verification report on the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court's submission requesting the National Assembly to approve the appointment of Supreme People's Court judges. Following this, the National Assembly discussed the above items in groups.

Afternoon

From 2 PM to 2:50 PM:

* Content 1: Under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, the National Assembly discussed in the plenary session the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.

During the discussion session, seven delegates delivered speeches. The delegates generally agreed on the necessity of enacting a Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, given Vietnam's participation in numerous new-generation trade agreements, including those related to technical barriers to trade; and addressing the shortcomings of the current Law. In addition, the delegates focused their discussion on the following issues: the title of the draft Law; definitions of terms; the State's policy on developing activities in the field of standards and technical regulations; the national standardization strategy; the national database system on standards and technical regulations; the responsibilities for developing, appraising, publishing, notifying, and applying standards; the procedures for developing, appraising, and publishing national standards; the responsibilities for developing, appraising, and promulgating technical regulations; and the procedures for developing, appraising, and promulgating technical regulations. The discussion covered topics such as the application of regulations in specific fields; the feasibility of a national database system for technical standards and regulations; and the socialization of activities related to the development, dissemination, and application of technical standards and regulations. At the end of the session, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat gave a speech clarifying and explaining some issues raised by National Assembly deputies.

From 2:50 PM to 3:40 PM:

Content 2: Under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, the National Assembly heard the following presentations: (i) Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, authorized by the Prime Minister, presented the Submission on the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on reducing value-added tax. (ii) Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee Le Quang Manh presented the Verification Report on the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on reducing value-added tax. Following this, the National Assembly discussed the draft Resolution on reducing value-added tax in the plenary session. Six National Assembly deputies spoke during the discussion.

The delegates generally agreed on the necessity of reducing value-added tax to help lower the cost and selling price of goods and services, thereby stimulating consumer demand, maintaining employment for workers, supporting people and businesses to continue their recovery and promote production and business activities to contribute back to the state budget and the economy.

In addition, delegates focused their discussions on the following issues: the authority to issue policies; the form of policy issuance; the scope of policy application; the reduction level; the duration of policy application; the continuity and stability of the policy; and solutions for implementation. At the end of the discussion session, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc delivered a speech clarifying and explaining some of the issues raised by National Assembly delegates.

From 3:40 PM: The National Assembly holds a closed-door meeting.

Content 3: Under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the National Assembly continued the procedures for electing members of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Secretary General of the 15th National Assembly; approving the Prime Minister's proposal on the appointment of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Transport for the 2021-2026 term; and approving the proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court on the appointment of Supreme People's Court judges.

* Content 4: Under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, the National Assembly heard the Government's presentation and the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee's verification report on a number of urgent mechanisms and solutions necessary to implement three important projects of the Central Party Office.

Content 5: Under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the National Assembly continued to carry out personnel work within its authority.

The National Assembly voted to approve the Resolution electing Mr. Le Quang Tung as a member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and Secretary General of the 15th National Assembly through electronic voting. The results are as follows: 454 delegates participated in the vote (94.78% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), 453 delegates voted in favor (94.57% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), and 1 delegate abstained (0.21% of the total number of National Assembly delegates).

The National Assembly voted to approve the Prime Minister's proposal to appoint Mr. Nguyen Van Thang and Mr. Tran Hong Minh as Minister of Finance and Minister of Transport for the 2021-2026 term, respectively, via electronic voting. The results were as follows: 452 delegates participated in the vote (94.36% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), and 452 delegates voted in favor (94.36% of the total number of National Assembly delegates).

The National Assembly voted electronically to approve the proposal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court regarding the appointment of Supreme People's Court Judges Mr. Nguyen Quoc Doan and Mr. Le Tien. The results were as follows: 451 delegates participated in the vote (94.15% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), 448 delegates voted in favor (93.53% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), 1 delegate voted against (0.21% of the total number of National Assembly delegates), and 2 delegates abstained from voting (0.42% of the total number of National Assembly delegates).

Friday, November 29, 2024, (i) Morning: The National Assembly held a plenary session in the assembly hall, voting on the following: Law on Geology and Minerals; Law on Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue; followed by a discussion on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Supervisory Activities of the National Assembly and People's Councils; (ii) Afternoon: The National Assembly held a plenary session in the assembly hall, voting on the following: Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Securities, the Law on Accounting, the Law on Independent Auditing, the Law on State Budget, the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets, the Law on Tax Management and the Law on National Reserves; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Planning, the Law on Investment, the Law on Investment under the Public-Private Partnership method and the Law on Bidding; Law on Public Investment (amended); followed by a discussion on the draft Law on Management and Investment of State Capital in Enterprises.

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