10th National Assembly closed its one month session

Ha Noi, Dec. 25 (VNA) -- The 10th National Assembly closed its month-long session this morning, Dec. 25.

During the session, the National Assembly discussed and assessed the implementation of socio-economic tasks and the State budget in 2001 and in the 1996-2000 period; passed a resolution on 2002 plan, a resolution on the five-year (2001-2005) plan, a resolution on estimation of the State budget for 2002, a resolution approving the balance of payment in 2000, and a resolution on ratification of the Viet Nam-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement.

The National Assembly also adopted a resolution on amendments and supplements to some articles of the 1992 Constitution, the Law on National Assembly's Organisation (revised), the Law on Government Organisation (revised), and the Law on Amendments and Supplements to some articles of the Law on Elections of National Assembly Deputies. A resolution on law and ordinance building programme in 2002 and a resolution on shortening the tenure of the National Assembly, 10th legislature, was also approved at the session.

In addition to the accomplishments, the National Assembly also pointed out weaknesses in the implementation of the 2001 socio-economic development tasks and the five-year (1996-2000) plan. These include failure to achieve planned economic targets, low quality of growth as well as low efficiency and competitive edge of Viet Nam's economy, slow economic restructuring, and poor performance in attracting domestic and foreign human resources, failing to meet the demand of the new situation. In the meantime, fundamental changes have not been seen in solving social and cultural negative phenomena.

The National Assembly also passed a resolution on the 2002 tasks with an overall target of "continuing to maintain a high and sustainable economic growth rate and raise the economy's competitive edge."

The National Assembly also agreed on tasks and measures as stated in the Government's report, and at the same time it has emphasized a number of tasks and measures to be prioritized in order to effectively carry out all objectives set in the Resolution on the 2002 tasks.

The NA heard Deputy Prime Ministers presenting Government reports and answering voters' questions on issues of common concern. Several Ministers, the Chief Judge of the Supreme People's Court and the Director of the Supreme People's Procuracy reported on the settlement of voters' petitions and answered NA deputies' queries.

During hearing sessions, a number of urgent issues namely measures to support farmers to market their products and to speed up the fight against hunger and poverty, the import of motorbike spare parts, the rising number of traffic accidents, tax collection losses, and negative phenomena in refunding value-added-tax payments to businesses were touched upon. NA deputies also raised questions on inspection and management of State budget spendings, legal proceedings, and settlement of citizen's petitions.

The National Assembly asked Government and relevant agencies to carry out effective measures to address the above-said issues to ensure a strict observance of laws and NA resolutions.

The NA also agreed to shorten the term of the tenth NA legislature by two months and organise the elections of the next NA legislature on Sunday, May 19, 2002, to avoid possible adverse weather conditions.--VNA