Opening of the First Session of the 16th National Assembly
The first session of the 16th National Assembly officially opened this morning (April 6th). This is the first session of the 16th National Assembly's term, held immediately after the election, and therefore has special significance in consolidating the state apparatus for the new term.
Preparations for the first session of the 16th National Assembly were carried out meticulously. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly devoted considerable time to discussing the session's agenda. The National Assembly Office intensified its leadership, proactively coordinated with relevant agencies, and actively implemented, reviewed, and refined measures to further improve the quality of service for the session.
According to the planned agenda, the total working time of the session is approximately 11 days, divided into two phases (phase 1, from April 6-12; phase 2, from April 20-23, with April 24 and 25 reserved as contingency days) to consider and decide on organizational and personnel matters; legislative work; socio-economic issues, the state budget, and many other important contents.
Organizational and personnel matters are the central focus of this session. The National Assembly will dedicate approximately 2.5 working days to considering and deciding on organizational and personnel issues.
Accordingly, the National Assembly will elect and approve a large number of key state leadership positions in accordance with the Constitution and laws. The National Assembly will elect the Speaker, Deputy Speakers, and members of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the State Auditor General.
The National Assembly also approved appointments to positions such as Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, members of the Government, and several other positions within its authority. In total, 39 positions were elected and approved by the National Assembly at its first session, encompassing all high-level leadership positions at the central level and ensuring the comprehensive restructuring of institutions for the new term.
Regarding legislative work, at this session, the National Assembly will consider and pass 8 laws and 1 resolution related to legislative work, including: the Law on Civil Registration (amended); the Law on the Capital City (amended); the Law on Access to Information (amended); the Law on Beliefs and Religions (amended); the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Notarization; the Law on Representative Agencies of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad; the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Legal Aid; the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Emulation and Commendation; and the National Assembly Resolution on coordination mechanisms and specific policies to improve the effectiveness of preventing and resolving international investment disputes.
In addition, the National Assembly will consider and decide on the following economic, social, financial, budgetary, and oversight-related issues: the supplementary report assessing the results of implementing the socio-economic development plan for 2025; the situation regarding the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in the first months of 2026; the supplementary report assessing the results of implementing the state budget in 2025 and the first months of 2026; the approval of the state budget settlement for 2024; the adoption of the Resolution on the National Assembly's oversight program for 2027; and several other important issues.
Specifically, at this session, the National Assembly will consider and approve resolutions on: the 5-year socio-economic development plan for the period 2026-2030; the 5-year national financial plan for the period 2026-2030; the public borrowing and debt repayment plan for the period 2026-2030; and the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2026-2030, which will serve as development orientations for the next five years.
The National Assembly's consideration and adoption of resolutions on socio-economic development and the state budget for the next five years, with its major orientations and comprehensive solutions, is of great significance. It demonstrates the high determination of the National Assembly and the Government in socio-economic development; building a solid financial foundation; identifying overall resources and allocating capital rationally to sectors and fields according to strategic goals in each period. This will not only help achieve socio-economic goals successfully but also promote rapid and sustainable national development in the new era.
According to the planned agenda, on the first working day of the session, the National Assembly will hear: the opening speech of the session by the Chairman of the 15th National Assembly; the directive speech of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam; the report of the National Election Council summarizing the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term; and the report on the results of the verification of the qualifications of deputies to the 16th National Assembly. Following this, the National Assembly will proceed with personnel matters.
