During the session, NA deputies reached a high consensus on the content of the key-note speech given by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and discussed important issues such as assessing the results of the election of NA deputies for the 12^th legislature, gathering opinions from voters, deciding on the organisation of State apparatus and approving State budget for 2005.

They also discussed the socio-economic situation in the first half of this year, solutions for pushing up socio-economic development for the remaining months, amendments and supplements to some articles of the anti-Corruption Law, amendments to the ordinance-making process for 2007 and the decision to shorten the 12^th NA term.

NA deputies praised the results of the election of the 12^th NA deputies as a great success, ensuring the election was conducted in a democratic, safe and lawful manner and reached the highest ever number of voters.

This great success showed that the political awareness, civil responsibility and democratic activities of the entire population have been significantly improved, testifying to the people’s implicit trust in the Party and State.

The NA adopted the list of 493 competent and qualified NA deputies:

-          473 deputies achieve tertiary education and more (95.94 percent), of whom 164 have MA degrees (33.27 percent)

-          deputies from ethnic minorities: 87 (17.65 percent)

-          women deputies: 127 (25.76 percent)

-          non-Party member deputies: 43 (8.72 percent)

-          religious deputies: 14 (2.84 percent)

-          young deputies (under 40 years old): 68 (13.79 percent)

-          deputies from enterprises: 21 (4.26 percent)

-          re-elected deputies: 136 (27.5 percent)

The NA elected NA Chairman, four NA Vice Chairpersons, members of the NA Standing Committee and Vice Chairpersons and members of the NA Council for Ethnic Minorities, the NA Committees and the Secretariat in charge of NA session. It also elected State President, State Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court and Director of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, and approved the posts of five deputy Prime Ministers along with 22 ministers and other Cabinet members.

In addition, the NA decided to shorten its current term from five years to four years. Accordingly, the 13^th NA election is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2011.

The first session of the 12^th legislature effectively fulfilled the set key tasks. People throughout the country believe that the good start will add fresh impetus to making NA activities more effective in the future.

The 12^th NA inherited the tremendous achievements from the previous legislatures, worthy of the most powerful body of the country, which shows people’s goodwill and aspirations for a better life.