Through Resolution on issuing Government bonds

Continuing the program of the 6th Session, 13th National Assembly, on the afternoon of November 28, the National Assembly worked in the hall to pass the Resolution on the plan to issue Government bonds for the period 2014-2016 and discussed the draft Law on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

National Assembly delegate of Nam Dinh province Nguyen Anh Son speaks. (Photo: An Dang/VNA)

Approval of Resolution on additional issuance plan and use of government bond capital

With 83.94% of the delegates in favor, the National Assembly officially passed the Resolution on additional issuance and allocation of government bond capital for the 2014-2016 period. Thus, the total amount of additional issuance of government bond capital for the 2014-2016 period is 170,000 billion VND to invest in four groups of projects and works. Projects to renovate and upgrade National Highway 1A and Ho Chi Minh Road through the Central Highlands is 61,680 billion VND; unfinished projects included in the government bond capital portfolio for the 2012-2015 period after review but still lacking capital is 73,320 billion VND; the National Target Program on New Rural Construction is 15,000 billion VND; Counterpart capital for projects using ODA loans is 20,000 billion VND.

Agree to promulgate the Law on Entry, Exit and Residence

Delegates Nguyen Anh Son (Nam Dinh delegation), Nguyen Minh Kha (Can Tho delegation), and Luu Thi Huyen (Ninh Binh) agreed with the necessity and guiding viewpoints for drafting the Law on Entry, Exit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam as stated in the Government's Submission as well as in the Verification Report of the National Defense and Security Committee (National Assembly).

According to delegate Nguyen Minh Kha (Can Tho delegation), collecting opinions on the draft Law on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam at this session is necessary and meets the requirements of state management of foreigners.

Delegate Pham Truong Dan (Quang Nam delegation) assessed that the promulgation of this Law project will be an important legal basis to overcome difficulties and shortcomings in the past and improve the quality of management of foreigners entering Vietnam in the coming time.

However, delegates also said that the draft Law on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam not only has political and legal significance, but also has a direct impact on socio-economic development, ensuring national defense, security and social order and safety.

Therefore, the drafting of the Law must fully grasp the principles of ensuring national sovereignty and equality in international relations; closely and harmoniously combine the requirements of economic development, foreign expansion with ensuring national security and social order and safety; and overcome the limitations and shortcomings in the current regime.

Simplify administrative procedures in entry and exit activities

Regarding visa duration, delegates Nguyen Thi Phuong Dao (Ben Tre delegation) and Luu Thi Huyen (Ninh Binh delegation) suggested that the Drafting Committee should separate and regulate the visa duration as well as the temporary residence duration of foreigners in Vietnam. At the same time, it is necessary to regulate the visa duration longer than 12 months to create favorable conditions for investors when investing in Vietnam.

According to delegate Luu Thi Huyen, the draft Law should have stricter regulations for foreigners entering Vietnam for the purpose of working and the purpose of visa issuance should not be changed after foreigners have entered Vietnam.

Delegate Huyen also said that the draft Law needs to clearly define the rights and obligations of foreigners when entering and residing in Vietnam; at the same time, it must clearly define the responsibilities of agencies in sponsoring foreigners to enter Vietnam. In addition, it is necessary to specify the conditions, visa issuance time as well as the temporary residence period to be consistent with the provisions promulgated in the Investment Law.

Delegate Nguyen Minh Kha (Can Tho delegation) proposed that children under 14 years old who are accompanied by adults (father, mother) do not need to do separate procedures. Regarding the temporary residence declaration of foreigners in Vietnam, delegate Nguyen Minh Kha suggested that the Drafting Committee should add that hotels, motels, and accommodation establishments with foreigners residing there must be "connected" to the immigration management agency in the province/city.

Regarding the transit issue, delegates Nguyen Minh Kha (Can Tho delegation) and Nguyen Kim Hong (Dong Thap delegation) said that in reality, foreigners enter Vietnam not only by air but also by road, inland waterways, and sea. Therefore, they suggested that the Drafting Committee should not only stipulate visa exemption conditions for foreign visitors transiting through Vietnam's international airports.

In addition, National Assembly deputies also discussed some contents of the draft Law on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam such as the scope of the Law; explanation of the term "transit"; prohibition of exit...

According to the program of the 6th session of the 13th National Assembly, on the morning of November 29, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Law on Bankruptcy (amended) and voted to pass the Law on Land (amended)./.

According to VNA