The 12^th National Assembly successfully completed its work after a month of hard working.

The NA held its second meeting at the end of the year when the whole country was trying to reach its 2007’s socio-economic indicators, particularly to obtain a GDP increase of 8.5 percent as set in the NA resolution. After the opening session, the Prime Minister reported the situation to deputies regarding the Government’s guiding and managing solutions in the remaining months of this year. That report was carefully analysed by deputies in the plenary session, group discussions and Q&A sessions.

Hot issues which topped the NA forum included price increases, traffic accidents, appropriation of the State investment fund, corruption, wastefulness and floods which caused heavy losses to lives and property. In their opinions, the NA deputies shared difficulties with voters and proposed solutions to control the situation.

Vietnam joined the WTO a year ago and it has enjoyed numerous advantages but also coped with many challenges and difficulties, which required the ministries, branches and people to strive forward. Development requires the legal system to meet the need of the integration process. The laws must be complete and not contradicting each other. The contradictory opinions on the granting of land-use right certificates is a lesson in the law-making process. However, the Government has been aware of this and now only one type of certificate will be granted as set in the 2003 Land Law. Voters and deputies all believe that after reaching this agreement, Vietnam will complete the granting of land-use right certificates in the whole country.

Of the seven draft laws approved at this meeting, voters paid particular attention to the Law on Individual Income Tax. After seeking public opinion, the deputies had thorough discussions before reaching an agreement. The NA law-making process has been renewed.

According to NA deputies, the people themselves are strict supervisors. A report made by the Vietnam Fatherland Front showed this fact. More than 1,000 voters raised their voices showing their trust in the Party guidelines, and the national industrialisation and modernisation process. They also put many questions about urgent issues. A large number of voters followed the Q&A sessions through Vietnam Television and Radio the voice of Vietnam. In this meeting, the NA required cabinet members to connect their ministries’ issues with voters’ questions. Seven ministers and deputy Premier Nguyen Sinh Hung met that requirement through their answers to deputies’ questions. They admitted their responsibility, committed to solve outstanding problems and proposed feasible solutions. NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong focused on the central issues after the ministers finished answering deputies. The NA and deputies will base themselves on these issues to monitor the implementation process. The NA deputies and voters must know how the ministries will manage and overcome obstacles which are facing them. Q & A sessions are very necessary to supervise the ministries’ work for voters’ interests and national development, and is one of the NA’s three basic functions.