Hanoi (VNA) – The second phase of the ninth session of the 15th National Assembly (NA) started on June 11 with many important issues high on the agenda, including the reorganisation of provincial-level administrative units.
In the morning, lawmakers listened to a proposal and a verification report on the reorganisation of provincial-level administrative units in 2025.
According to the Government's proposal, 52 provincial-level administrative units will be reorganised to form 23 new ones. Following this move, there will be 34 provincial-level administrative units nationwide, including six centrally-run cities and 28 provinces.
They will also look into a draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on National Defence, the Law on Officers of the People's Army, the Law on professional soldiers and national defence workers and employees, the Law on Military Service, the Law on Vietnam Border Defence, the Law on People's Air Defence, the Law on Military Reserve Force, the Law on Civil Defence, the Law on Management and Protection of National Defence Works and Military Zones, the Law on Militia and Self-Defence Forces, and the Law on National Defence and Security Education.
After that, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh will give a presentation about the role and significance of an international financial centre. Legislators will then listen to a proposal and a verification eport on a draft NA resolution regarding the international financial centre in Vietnam.
They will later work in groups to discuss those issues in the remaining time in the morning.
In the afternoon, they will engage in a plenary sitting to scrutinise the draft law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations and the NA’s draft resolution on agricultural land use tax exemption.
The second phase, scheduled to last until June 30, will focus 🐎on finalising important issues, including a second reading and adoption of the constitutional amendments, reviewing the plan for merging provincial-level administrative units, conducting question-and-answer sessions, and voting on 34 laws and 21 resolutions. The first phase took place from May 5 to 29./.
In his closing remarks, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man highlighted that this session dealt with a huge workload and issues which are both urgent and long-term, strategic. Some issues are new, requiring coordination between agencies for the settlement.
More than 280 million opinions from individuals, agencies, and organisations have been collected on the draft resolution on amending specific articles of the 2013 Constitution. With an approval rate of 99.75%, the process reflects strong alignment between the Party’s guideline and public sentiment.
Attention must be paid to reviewing regulations related to the establishment of a fund for promoting efficient and economical use of energy in the draft law, and financial incentives to ensure consistency with the Law on State Budget, the Law on Public Investment, and the Law on Taxation, the top legislator said.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
