14th NA’s ninth session to discuss trade deals,bd y hom nay COVID-19 impacts

A voter in Phú Yên Province discusses with the local delegation of NA deputies ahead of the 14th NA's ninth session. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Cường

HÀ NỘI — The 14th National Assembly’s ninth session that opens on Wednesday is set to adopt the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and discuss the country’s socio-economic landscape under the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The session will run from May 20 to June 18 including online meetings live-streamed from Hà Nội to 63 provincial delegations from May 20 to 29 and plenary meetings from June 8 to June 18 at the NA House.

Ten laws and five resolutions are planned to be reviewed and adopted at the sitting, according to Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, vice chairman of the NA Office.

The Law on Investment in the form of Public-Private Partnerships, the Enterprise Law (amended), resolutions on the ratification of the EVFTA, ratification of the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the Accession to ILO Convention No.105 on the elimination of forced labour are among the important documents to be reviewed and adopted.

NA deputies are also set to offer opinions on six other laws including the Law on Vietnamese Labourers going to work abroad under contracts (amended), the Law on Việt Nam's Border and the Law on Environmental Protection.

During the session, the NA will review the report on a socio-economic development plan and State budget which touches upon issues related to COVID-19 control and prevention, evaluate the pandemic's impacts and offer solutions to boost socio-economic indexes.

Deputies will assess the State budget settlement report from 2018, reports of public opinions and petitions sent to the ninth sitting, and decide adjustments to the investment policy for expressway sections on the North-South eastern route.

A resolution on the implementation of policies and laws on child abuse prevention and another on NA oversight in 2021 are expected to be adopted at the sitting.

A Q&A session will be excluded. NA deputies will have to send their questions and documents to ministers and Government members for response. — VNS