The National Assembly’s Standing Committee opened its 13 th meeting in Hanoi on Dec. 11.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that at this meeting, the committee will assess results of the NA’s 4 th session and give preliminary opinions about preparations for the 5 th session.

The committee will discuss and approve programmes on external activities and international cooperation in 2013 for the NA’s committees and agencies as well as a working programme for the standing committee next year, he added.

Giving opinions on the draft amendments (second time) to the 1992 Constitution and the plan to collect suggestions from people about the draft amendments is another important issue of the meeting.

The draft guidance on how to implement the NA’s resolution on conducting votes of confidence on officials holding positions elected or appointed by the NA and People’s Councils will be tabled for discussion.

Regarding the work of law building, the standing committee will give opinions on several bills including the land law.

Two national target programmes relating to climate change and environmental pollution issues will also be discussed at the meeting.

NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu and many other members of the standing committee agreed that at the 4 th session, which ended on Nov. 23, the NA had completed a big volume of important works.

In particular, the adoption of the resolution on conducting votes of confidence position-holders elected or appointed by NA and People’s Councils has helped enhance the people’s right of mastery.

The committee also noted the longer live TV coverage of the NA’s session, saying that it helped increase publicity and transparency as well as expand democracy in the NA’s operation. They added that this was also an useful channel allowing voters nationwide to make more accurate assessments on the NA’s activities.