Hanoi (VNA) – The14th-tenure National Assembly (NA) started its 9th session in Hanoi on May 20 inthe form of a teleconference.

Under the chair of Standing Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, NA deputies heard a report on COVID-19prevention and key measures for post-pandemic economic recovery presented by PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and another one related to socio-economicdevelopment plan and State budget in 2019 presented by Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Economic Affairs Vu HongThanh.

Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran ThanhMan presented a report collectingcomments and recommendations of voters and people to the 9th session.

Head of the NA’s Ombudsman Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai presented a report on supervisingthe solution of the voters' petitions to the 8th session of the 14th NA.

Other reports wererelated to a proposal from the State President to theNational Assembly (NA) for ratifying the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

In the afternoon, NAdeputies focused their discussion on the approval of the two agreements.

Nine deputies gaveopinions during the discussion,. Most of the opinions agreed with the contentof the President's proposal, the Government's explanatory report, and the verificationreport of the National Assembly's Committee for External Affairs on the agreements.

Participants stressed that the Government's action programme to implement theEVFTA should have more attention for policies for small- and medium-sizedenterprises, improve the transparency of the investment environment, furtherassess the impact of the trade pact on Vietnam, and build measures to improve nationalcompetitiveness.

Regarding the EVIPA, some lawmakers said the agreement will pose great challenges to domesticenterprises because of their limited competitiveness and human resources.

Based on the opinions of NA deputies,the NA Standing Committee will direct the inspecting agency to closelycoordinate with relevant agencies to revise the draft Resolution in order tosubmit to the NA for consideration and approval, Phong said.

Legislators agreed with the proposal of the State President and relevant reports presented at the session.

Concluding the discussion, Phong said joining Convention 105 needs a roadmap and thorough preparations,and affirmed that Vietnam continues to respect and protect fundamental rightsof labourers in accordance with the ILO Declaration.

The NA is scheduled to look into the PM’s proposal forthe draft Vietnam Border Guard Law and reports on the legal document on May 21morning.

Lawmakers will have an online discussion on the contents of the amended Law on Enterprises.

In the afternoon, they will mull over the Law onVietnamese Guest Workers (reviewed) and the draft lawamending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Judicial Assessment./.