Vietnam to elect new president Monday

Vietnam's National Assembly is scheduled to elect the country's new state president on Monday, the first day of the NA's eighth session, Head of the Committee for Deputy Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hai said.

Hai, speaking at a press conference on Sunday before the session, said that at the 10th conference of the 13th tenure, the Communist Party Central Committee unanimously voted to introduce a candidate for the presidency.

Hai also mentioned that additional personnel matters are on the agenda, though she did not specify the positions under consideration.

National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh added: "This is only a tentative program, only when the delegates vote and approve it will it become an official program. However, there will not be many changes because the National Assembly Standing Committee has asked for opinions from delegations many times on this content."

Vu Minh Tuan, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office, said that the eighth session will last 29.5 days, expected to close on Nov. 30. The National Assembly will consider 42 groups of contents, including 30 contents on legislative work, 12 contents on socio-economics, state budget and personnel work under its authority.

Accordingly, the 15 laws expected to be passed include Notarization (amended); Trade union (amended); Cultural heritage (amended); Geology and minerals; Prevention and human trafficking combat (amended); Fire Prevention, fire fighting and rescue; People's air defense; Urban and rural planning; Juvenile justice; Value added tax (amended); Amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy; amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army.

Also expected to be passed at this session are amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, the Law on Planning, the Law on Investment, the Law on Bidding, the Law on Securities, the Law on Accounting, the Law on Independent Audit and the Law on State Budget, the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets, the Law on Tax Administration and the Law on National Reserves.

The National Assembly will review and comment on 13 draft laws, including: Digital technology industry; Data; Electricity (amended); Public investment (amended); Chemicals (amended); Teachers; Management and investment of state capital in enterprises; Special consumption tax (amended); Corporate income tax (amended); Employment (amended); amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Supervision Activities of the National Assembly and People's Councils; amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Advertising; amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Technical Standards and Regulations.

During this session, the National Assembly will also consider and decide on the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project. Delegates will also review and decide on socio-economic issues, state budget, supervision and other important issues.