Vietnam’s 15th National Assembly for the 2021-2026 term opens its fifth session today [May 22].

Overview of the 4th session of the National Assembly last November. Photo: quochoi.vn

According to the scheduled agenda, the National Assembly is expected to hold a meeting in the morning and afternoon to discuss personnel matters.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy head of the National Assembly's Committee for People's Affairs, said earlier that the main topic of discussion will be the appointment of a new Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for the 2021-2026 term.

Tran Hong Ha has served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment for the past four months. The National Assembly approved him for the position of Deputy Prime Minister for the 2021-2026 term in early January.

In addition, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly will submit a decision to terminate the deputy duties and dismiss the Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, Nguyen Phu Cuong. A new person will then be elected to replace him.

On May 16, Cuong submitted his resignation letter, relinquishing his duties as a National Assembly member and stepping down from his elected positions in the National Assembly. This came one day after the Central Committee approved his resignation as a 13th Party Central Committee member.

During today's session, the National Assembly will discuss various issues, including the review of the government's report on the updated assessment of the socio-economic development plan and the execution of the state budget for 2022.

The 5th session of the National Assembly will be divided into two phases, spanning 22 working days. The first phase will last for 17 days, from May 22 to June 10, while the second phase will be five days long, from June 19 to June 23.

During this session, the National Assembly will focus on several important legislative matters. They will review and adopt amendments to various laws, including the revision of the Law on Consumer Rights Protection, the Law on Bidding, the Law on Prices, the Law on Electronic Transactions, the Law on Cooperatives, the Law on Civil Defence, the Law on People's Public Security, as well as the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.