The National Assembly calls on compatriots and soldiers to support compatriots in the Central region.

The National Assembly calls on compatriots and soldiers nationwide and our compatriots abroad to continue supporting and helping the people of Central Vietnam to soon stabilize their lives and production.

At exactly 9:00 a.m. this morning (October 20), the 2nd Session of the 14th National Assembly opened at the National Assembly House.

In her opening speech, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized that the 2nd Session took place at a time when the people of the Central region were making efforts to overcome the serious consequences caused by storms and floods. The National Assembly shared the difficulties and losses and sent its warmest regards to the people and comrades in the affected areas; at the same time, highly appreciated the drastic direction of the Government, ministries and branches; the proactive spirit and great efforts of local Party committees, authorities, armed forces and people in timely responding to rescue, flood prevention and control, minimizing damage caused by natural disasters.

“The National Assembly calls on compatriots and soldiers nationwide and our compatriots abroad to continue to provide material and spiritual support, overcome the consequences, and help people in localities that have suffered a lot of damage to soon stabilize production and life,” said the National Assembly Chairman.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivered the opening speech at the session.

According to the National Assembly Chairman, 2016 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress. With the determination of the entire political system, the entire Party, the entire army, the entire people, all sectors, all levels and the business community have strived to urgently implement the 2016 Socio-Economic Development Plan, the 5-year Plan 2016 - 2020 and achieved many important results.

The economy grew quite well, the forecast for the whole year, although lower than planned, is still high in the region and the world. The macro economy continues to be stable, inflation is under control. Social security and major balances of the economy are basically guaranteed. Foreign affairs have achieved many positive results, contributing to enhancing the prestige and position of our country in the international arena. National security and defense are maintained.

However, our country still faces many difficulties and challenges. Domestically, prolonged drought in the South Central and Central Highlands provinces; drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta; environmental incidents and floods in some central provinces have severely affected agricultural development and people's lives. The world economy has recovered slowly and is fraught with many unpredictable uncertainties; crude oil prices have fallen sharply, remaining lower than planned, affecting state budget revenues and macroeconomic balances.

Party and State leaders donate to support people in the Central region to overcome flood consequences. Photo: VNA.

“In that situation, we need to be highly determined and have drastic and breakthrough solutions to restructure the economy, transform the growth model, control public debt, handle bad debt, restructure the state budget, restructure the banking system, focus on commercial banks, improve the investment and business environment with the aim of stabilizing the macro economy, maintaining reasonable growth, ensuring social security, improving people's lives; maintaining political stability, consolidating national defense and security, ensuring social order and safety, creating momentum for development in the following years,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized.

Referring to the content of this session, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said that the National Assembly will consider and approve a number of draft laws and resolutions and give opinions on 12 draft laws, including many important laws and resolutions regulating areas of special public interest such as: Law on Associations, Law on Beliefs and Religions, Law on Property Auctions, Law on Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Penal Code No. 100/2015/QH13, Resolution Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of Resolution No. 55/2010/QH12 on Exemption and Reduction of Agricultural Land Use Tax, etc.

The National Assembly also reviewed many important reports such as the assessment of the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget in 2016; the decision on the socio-economic development plan, the state budget estimate and the allocation of the central budget in 2017; the economic restructuring plan for the 2016-2020 period; the 5-year financial plan, the medium-term public investment plan for the 2016-2020 period; the goals and orientations for mobilizing and using loans and managing public debt for the 2016-2020 period.

The National Assembly will also consider work reports of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuracy; Government reports on crime prevention and control, law enforcement, and corruption prevention and control in 2016, and a number of other thematic reports.

On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan respectfully requested National Assembly deputies to uphold their responsibility, promote the spirit of solidarity and intelligence, focus on research, discuss democratically, and have many quality opinions, contributing to the success of the session, meeting the expectations of the people.

According to VOV