Hanoi (VNA) – The immediate and long-term tasksof the country and the National Assembly (NA) require the legislative body tocontinue to reform to enhance efficiency, thus contributing more to nationaldevelopment and international integration, and realising the 13th National Party Congress’ resolution, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hassaid.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, the toplegislator said that 2021 is an important year as it is a transition year to anew tenure and the first year of implementing the 13th NationalParty Congress’s resolution.

Also this year, the election of deputies to the 15th NA and People’s Council at all levels for the 2021-2026 will be conducted, shenoted, adding that 2021 is also the first year the country implements the socio-economicstrategy for the next 10 years as well as the socio-economic development planfor the 2021-2025 period.

The NA leader called on the entire people, voters at homeand Vietnamese abroad to continue to promote solidarity and work together toovercome difficulties and contribute to the national construction and defence,while continue to giving their ideas for the country’s development.

Regarding the outstanding outcomes of the NA’s operationlast year, Ngan said that despite great difficulties in the year due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, climate changes and global economicdepression, Vietnam managed to gain remarkable achievements, becoming a bright spotin both COVID-19 control and economic recovery and development. This is theresult of the great national solidarity, she underlined.

For the first time in the 75-year history of the NA, two NAsessions were held in both online and in-person formats, showing the lawmakingbody’s quick adaptability to any circumstances and reality’s requirements, saidthe NA leader.

Last year, the National Assembly adopted 17 laws and debated10 bills, Ngan said, adding that the legislature also approved resolutionsratifying the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-VietnamInvestment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), elevating the bilateral ties to a new level.

The NA passed a resolution that gives the green light to aninvestment plan for the national target programme on socio-economic developmentin ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas for 2021-2030.

“This is considered a decision of special significance tospur sustainable socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited andmountainous areas in particular, and the country in general, and it holdspolitical and humanitarian values,” she continued.

During the year 2020, the NA successfully fulfilled its roleas Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) with the organisationof the online AIPA-41 as the highlight.

The result, together with the country’s good performance asa non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 andChair of the ASEAN in 2020, has contributed to consolidating and advancingVietnam’s position and prestige in the international arena.

Regarding relations between the legislature and voters andpeople, Ngan said question & answer sessions at NA meetings have shown thatNA deputies have kept close bonds with the people and timely reflected thepeople’s concerns and aspirations. The deputies have also worked hard to urgethe Government, ministries and agencies to deliver on their promises after hearingsessions.

It can be said that over the past 75 years, the NA hasaccompanied the nation and become the symbol of the great national unity bloc,Ngan said, stressing that in any circumstances, the legislature has completedits mission as the highest representative body of the people and the mostpowerful State agency of the country./.