It is not long before the 11^th NA will accomplice its tasks with a maze of important decisions on national issues related to legislative and supreme supervisory activities.

On May 19, 2002, when the whole country celebrated the birth anniversary of the late President Ho Chi Minh, 498 deputies of the 11^th NA were elected by voters throughout the country. During their working term, they all have fulfilled heavy responsibilities as worthy representatives of people.

As a result of positive changes in organisational structure and operation, the NA has made great strides in legislative work.

At the first and second sessions of the NA, only 4 or 5 draft laws were approved during the one-month period but the figure jumped to 8 or 9 in the fifth and sixth sessions.

Then, at its seventh session, the number of adopted laws was twice as many as at the previous sessions. The adoption of 24 draft laws clearly aims to perfect the law-making process.

Notably, law-regulated documents, laws and ordinances cover every aspect of social life from culture, education, science and technology, security and national defence to issues related to State apparatus reform, anti-corruption, thrift practice and waste prevention. The NA has given priority to revising, supplementing and issuing new economic laws on business, investment, banking and credit services, trade, real estate and property business and reform of tax policies to effectively implement international commitments, thereby meeting the country’s need for deeper international integration in the wake of Vietnam’s entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The quality of legislative activities has gradually been improved. Draft laws have also been prepared very carefully. Important draft laws have been publicised to get voter opinions. Legislative activities have strictly followed the requirements of the law. Especially, the National Assembly has spent time amending and issuing new economic laws concerning enterprise, investment, banking, credit, real estate and property business, and tax policies to ensure the fulfillment of the country’s goals of development towards modernization and industrialization and international integration. Some important laws have been amended and issued, including the Civil Procedures Code and the Criminal Procedures Code. The NA has also approved laws on intellectual property, securities, and technological transfer. However, deputy Nguyen Van Tam from Can Tho City said it is necessary to have guiding documents and instructions on law enforcement.

According to legal experts, Vietnamese laws are part and parcel of a legal framework but not specific. So there must be guiding documents to help enforce the laws. Due to a lack of practicality, some newly issued laws have to be amended and supplemented, leading to a waste of time and money. It is expected that the upcoming NA session will draw on these experiences.