Vietnam’s 13th National Assembly (NA) convened its eighth session in Hanoi on Monday morning, October 20, and about two thirds of its 35 working days will be centered on legislation.

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During the session, the longest for a NA session so far, the legislature will adopt 18 bills and three resolutions, and discuss 12 other draft laws. The number of bills to be approved at this session is the largest ever for a NA session, the NA Office said.  The session will also hear reports on anti-corruption, the East Sea situation including China’s building of artificial islands in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, and many other important issues including the project to build the Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai.  Speaking to open the session this morning, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung stressed that the session kicked off in the context of a slow recovering world economy and complicated armed conflicts and epidemics in many areas in the world. In Vietnam, while the national economy is on track of recovery, many difficulties remain, threatening its sustainable development, Chairman Hung said. In addition, complex developments in the East Sea also make remarkable impacts on the country’s socio-economic development, the chairman said. During this session, the NA will cast their vote of confidence for 50 officials elected by the NA under Resolution 35. After the voting, the session’s delegates will discuss and adopt the proposed amendments to the resolution, he added. Following the chairman’s speech, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presented to the legislature the Government’s report on the country’s socio-economic performance in 2014 and the new tasks set for 2015. Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee President Nguyen Thien Nhan also delivered a report on voters’ opinions and recommendations. The agenda of the session’s first day also includes a report from the Government’s chief inspector Huynh Phong Tranh on anti-corruption activities during 2014.

This report, which has earlier been delivered to the session’s delegates for reference, emphasizes that corruption is taking place complicatedly.

“The corruption situation in the public sector is still serious, especially in the fields of finance, banking, land management and use, management and exploitation of natural resources, and public investment,” the report says.

The eighth session is scheduled to last until November 28.

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