The event was attended by members of the legislature as well as top Party and government leaders, including those who have entered retirement.

Ngan said the legislature had assessed how Vietnam’s five-year socio-economic plan of 2016-20 had been implemented in the last year and the first months of 2018.

She expressed confidence that the positive outcomes gained thus far would build momentum for further fruitful results in 2018 and upcoming years.

Over the course of their 21-day working agenda, lawmakers approved a resolution ratifying the 2016 state budget balance, in which they requested that the government seek more actions to tighten financial discipline and handle violators of state regulations on economic management.

Legislators also voted to pass a total of seven bills on their agenda to “continue the institutionalization of the 2013 Constitution”, Ngan noted.

The newly adopted laws help improve Vietnam’s legal system on economic management, human rights the basic rights and obligations of citizens, and ensuring defense and security, she said.

Lawmakers also gave feedback on nine other bills, creating a foundation for bill drafters to further study, adjust and finalize the proposed legislations for submission to the assembly at the next meeting in October.

Chairwoman Ngan also noted how all draft laws deliberated and adopted at the fifth meeting had received high rates of approval from deputies.

Delegates stand for the national anthem at the closing ceremony of the fifth session of Vietnam's lawmaking National Assembly in Hanoi on June 15, 2018. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

As regards the draft law on special economic zones, which had been at the center of controversy in recent days, the chairwoman said the legislature had decided to delay its consideration until the next meeting to allow more time for research after listening to public opinions.

Q&A sessions where lawmakers posed questions for Vietnamese ministers were also conducted by the National Assembly to clarify issues of significant public interest.

Questions were concise and to-the-point while answers were straightforward, providing practical solutions to problems being brought up, Ngan remarked.

According to the chairwoman, outcomes of the fifth meeting showed that the people had become familiar with activities of the assembly and increasingly engaged in the process to improve the quality of adopted bills and resolutions.

She spoke on behalf of the National Assembly in praising the people’s patriotism and deep interest in matters of national significance while condemning actions making use of democracy to distort the truth and cause social disorder, affecting people’s lives, production, business activities, and operations of agencies and organizations.

The top legislator asked the government to increase mass mobilization works to prevent the public from being instigated into breaking the law.

The government is also asked to handle any infringement promptly and with seriousness.

She called on citizens nationwide to strengthen solidarity and obey the law while joining hands in building a happy and prosperous country.

The chairwoman asked fellow lawmakers to conduct more meetings with their constituents and listen to their aspirations.

The 487-member Vietnamese legislature convened their fifth session on May 21. Their next meeting is scheduled to take place in October.

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