Full text of the opening speech of the 4th session of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

At exactly 9:00 a.m. this morning, the 4th session of the 14th National Assembly officially opened. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivered the opening speech.

On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee, I warmly welcome the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, revolutionary veterans, National Assembly deputies, distinguished guests, representatives of diplomatic corps, and international organizations who have come to attend the solemn opening session of the 4th Session of the 14th National Assembly. I would like to send to you and all compatriots and voters nationwide my best wishes for health, happiness, and success.

Dear Congress,

Dear guests,

Dear compatriots and voters nationwide,

In recent days, storm No. 10 and floods have caused severe damage to people and property in many localities. The National Assembly would like to share the difficulties and losses and send its deepest condolences to the families of the victims; at the same time, it highly appreciates the drastic and timely direction of the Government, ministries, branches and localities; the proactive spirit and efforts of the Party committees, authorities, armed forces and people in the work of preventing and fighting storms and floods, rescuing, dealing with consequences and minimizing damage caused by natural disasters. The National Assembly calls on compatriots and voters nationwide and our compatriots abroad to promote the spirit of mutual love and support, continue to provide material and spiritual support, help people overcome the consequences of natural disasters, and soon stabilize production and life.

The 4th session of the 14th National Assembly took place with just over 2 months left until the end of 2017. Over the past time, under the leadership of the Party, the strong direction of the Government, the efforts and creativity of central ministries, branches and localities, together with the close supervision of the National Assembly and the efforts of the People, the socio-economic situation of our country has continued to achieve positive results. In the first nine months of the year, our country's economy grew quite well; the macro-economy continued to be stable; production, export and tourism continued to grow.

Administrative reforms have seen many changes, the investment and business environment has been improved. Education and training, science and technology, culture, society, and health care have continued to see changes. Social security has been ensured; national defense has been strengthened; political security, social order and safety have continued to be maintained. Foreign relations, cooperation, and international integration have achieved good results, Vietnam's position in the international arena has continued to be raised, especially with the events of APEC Vietnam Year 2017...

The National Assembly acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts of the Government, sectors and levels in implementing the National Assembly's Resolutions on the socio-economic development plan and the state budget, commended the striving spirit of the business community and people of all walks of life who have overcome difficulties, overcome challenges, achieved positive results, creating the premise to achieve and exceed the targets of 2017 according to the National Assembly's Resolution.

However, in addition to the achievements, the socio-economic situation of our country still faces many difficulties and challenges. Budget deficit and public debt remain high; handling weak credit institutions and bad debt settlement still face many difficulties. Allocation and disbursement of investment capital from the state budget are still slow. Handling of ineffective investment projects, loss-making state-owned enterprises, and prolonged losses. Equitization of state-owned enterprises has not met requirements.

Violations of environmental laws, food safety and hygiene, traffic accidents, social evils and crimes in many areas are still complicated; some serious deforestation cases still occur; corruption and waste have not been prevented and repelled as desired. The impact of climate change is increasingly severe, the weather is unusual,... All of these issues have significantly affected production and business activities and people's lives, directly affecting the completion of the socio-economic development plan.

The tasks for the remaining months of 2017 and the coming time are very heavy, requiring the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to strengthen solidarity, unify thoughts and actions, strive, overcome difficulties and challenges, continue to successfully implement the Resolutions of the 12th National Congress of the Party, especially the important Resolutions just passed by the 6th Conference of the 12th Party Central Committee; successfully complete the socio-economic development tasks in 2017, creating momentum and strength for 2018 and the next development stage.

Dear Congress,

At this session, the National Assembly will focus on the following main tasks:

Review and discuss the Government's reports on the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget in 2017; decide on the socio-economic development plan, the state budget estimate and the central budget allocation plan in 2018. Based on a comprehensive and objective assessment of the results achieved and the limitations and shortcomings, to have objective, timely and correct decisions, create high political determination, and successfully carry out the socio-economic development tasks in 2017 and 2018.

Law-making continues to receive attention with 6 draft laws to be considered and approved by the National Assembly and 9 draft laws to be submitted to the National Assembly for comments. The draft laws considered at this session are all important documents that are of interest to voters and society.

The Draft Laws continue to institutionalize the provisions of the 2013 Constitution on protecting human rights, basic rights and obligations of citizens, promoting economic development, improving the business environment, ensuring national defense and security, strengthening anti-corruption work, administrative reform, etc. Basically, the draft laws have been carefully researched and prepared by agencies, reviewed and commented on by the National Assembly Standing Committee in accordance with regulations.

Regarding supervision, the National Assembly will conduct thematic supreme supervision: "Implementation of policies and laws on reforming the state administrative apparatus in the 2011-2016 period"; review work reports of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court and the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuracy; reports of the Government on crime prevention and control, law enforcement, and corruption prevention and control; handling of complaints and denunciations and results of supervision of handling of complaints and denunciations by citizens; report on the implementation of national goals on gender equality.

In addition, the National Assembly will listen to a report summarizing voters' opinions and recommendations sent to the 4th Session and the results of monitoring the settlement of voters' recommendations sent to the National Assembly at the 3rd Session; conduct questions and answers. Some reports from agencies will be sent to delegates for study.

Along with the above tasks, in this session, the National Assembly will discuss and decide on many other important contents on: Feasibility study report of the project of land acquisition, compensation, support and resettlement of Long Thanh International Airport; Consideration and decision on investment policy to build some expressway sections on the North-South East route; Postponing the implementation of the new general education program and textbooks in Resolution No. 88/2014/QH13 dated November 28, 2014 of the National Assembly on innovation of general education programs and textbooks; Issuance of a Resolution on specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City; Consideration and approval of the Prime Minister's proposal on personnel of Government members;...

Dear Congress;

Dear guests;

Dear compatriots and voters nationwide,

In recent months, preparations for the 4th Session have been active, with drafts and reports being prepared seriously, meticulously, and in accordance with the agenda. Voters and people across the country have contributed many valuable opinions during the preparation of the session's content, with deep trust and hope that the National Assembly will fulfill its responsibilities to the People and the country.

On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee, I respectfully request that National Assembly deputies uphold their sense of responsibility and intelligence, promote the spirit of solidarity and democracy, actively discuss, contribute many ideas, contribute to the success of the session, and meet the requirements and aspirations of voters and people nationwide.

In that spirit, I declare open the 4th Session of the 14th National Assembly.

According to Infornet.vn