The National Assembly closely follows the realities of people's lives.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivers the closing speech at the seventh session of the 14th National Assembly. Photo: Van Diep/TTXVN.

After 20 days of work conducted in a democratic, serious, and responsible manner, the 7th Session of the 14th National Assembly has completed its entire agenda. The session continues to mark significant innovation, thereby improving the quality and effectiveness of the National Assembly's operations.

Responsibility to the people

The 7th session of the 14th National Assembly was the mid-year session of 2019 – the fourth year of the term, and the beginning of the preparation process for organizing Party congresses at all levels, leading up to the 13th National Congress of the Party. As is customary, the 7th session, in its mid-year agenda, focused 60% of its total working time on legislative work, a crucial and fundamental function of the highest state power organ and the highest representative body of the people.

Based on thorough and comprehensive discussions and reviews, the National Assembly passed seven laws to further institutionalize the 2013 Constitution, perfect the legal system on economic development, ensure human rights, fundamental rights and obligations of citizens, and maintain national defense and security. The National Assembly also provided feedback on nine other draft laws, serving as a basis for drafting and reviewing agencies to continue researching, revising, and perfecting them for submission to the National Assembly for approval at the next session.

The draft laws considered and passed at the Session were discussed and debated frankly, responsibly, with dedication and intelligence by National Assembly deputies, and were approved with a high percentage of votes in favor. This provides an important legal basis for promptly addressing issues arising from real-life situations, contributing to rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, and improving the quality of life for the people.

Many important draft laws with a wide-ranging impact on social life have been thoroughly discussed with a high sense of responsibility, such as the amended Education Law, the amended Labor Code; or the draft Law on Prevention and Control of the Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer.

Get to the bottom of the social issues of concern.

The National Assembly's supreme oversight activities have always been an important issue, attracting the attention of voters and the people nationwide. At this session, the National Assembly reviewed a thematic oversight report on the implementation of policies and laws on land planning, management, and use in urban areas from the time the 2013 Land Law came into effect until the end of 2018. This is a "sensitive" area, especially given the issues in land management and use over the past period. The oversight results have provided comprehensive information, presenting an overall picture so that policymakers and relevant agencies can adjust mechanisms and policies accordingly, thereby improving management capacity in the land sector.

National Assembly representatives from Nghe An province participate in a debate at the National Assembly. Photo: Thanh Loan

Based on listening to the opinions and suggestions of voters and considering the proposals of the National Assembly delegation and National Assembly deputies on prominent issues that have caused much concern in the past, the National Assembly has decided to choose the topic "the implementation of policies and laws on preventing and combating child abuse" for supreme supervision in 2020.

Questioning and answering sessions are always a special part of each session, attracting the attention of a large number of voters and people nationwide. The two-and-a-half-day question-and-answer session helped to clarify many issues in management and administration, address many concerns and questions, and meet the aspirations and expectations of voters.

Two and a half days of questioning have confirmed the effectiveness of continuing to innovate the questioning method, helping to increase the number of delegates asking questions while avoiding duplication of content.

The reforms also require ministers and heads of departments to conduct in-depth research and have a firm grasp of the issues in order to provide concise, succinct answers that directly address the content of the questions.

During the questioning sessions, more than 230 delegates participated in questioning and debating, focusing on four main areas: security and social order; construction; transportation; and culture, sports, and tourism. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan assessed that the selected topics for questioning stemmed from pressing issues in daily life, aiming for practical and effective solutions that meet the demands of voters and the people.

After two and a half days of questioning and answering, many important issues closely related to the socio-economic life of the country have been thoroughly addressed, and have been acknowledged and highly appreciated by National Assembly deputies, voters, and the people.

Efforts to innovate

A highlight of the 7th Session was the application of advanced technology. According to the Secretary General of the National Assembly and Head of the National Assembly Office, Nguyen Hanh Phuc, this session marked the first time that software supporting National Assembly deputies was used.

With this software, National Assembly deputies will be provided with information on the agenda items quickly and promptly, gradually reducing the need for paper documents so that deputies no longer have to carry stacks of thick papers to sessions. At the same time, this software provides deputies with a rich, multi-dimensional data system that can be conveniently and quickly searched, thereby making a practical contribution to improving the quality of the work of National Assembly deputies and the National Assembly.

This innovation received high praise from National Assembly delegates. According to delegate Nguyen Quang Tuan (Hanoi), the application of Industry 4.0 technology and continuously updated documents brings many advantages and conveniences to delegates.

"Previously, each delegate had to carry dozens of kilograms of documents, but now it's much lighter thanks to convenient software. Searching and referencing documents is also much faster and easier," a delegate commented with satisfaction.

The positive and multifaceted results of the 7th Session continue to affirm the responsibility, efforts, and high determination of the National Assembly, constantly innovating, improving, and enhancing the quality and effectiveness of its operations. Through each session, the National Assembly's activities have become increasingly closely linked to the people and closely followed the realities of life. The National Assembly is increasingly perfecting and improving the quality of draft laws and resolutions passed, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of its supreme oversight activities and its decision-making on important national issues, clearly demonstrating its role and responsibility as the highest representative body of the people, the place where voters and the people nationwide entrust their faith and expectations.../.