National Assembly revises law on international pacts
National Assembly’s Standing Committee members on October 13 agreed that the revised law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties must serve as a strong legal framework.
NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son speaks at the Standing Committee's meeting (Photo: VNA)
National Assembly’s Standing Committee members on October 13 agreed that the revised law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties must serve as a strong legal framework.
Chairman of the NA's External Relations Committee Tran Van Hang said the existing law, which was approved in 2005 and took effect in 2006, needed revisions to fix shortcomings and better align with last year's revisions to the Constitution.
The need is urgent because Vietnam wants deeper international integration, and the nation, along with 11 other Trans-Pacific Partnership member countries, reached a final consensus on the world's largest free trade agreement earlier this month, according to Hang.
He added that Vietnam signed more than 100 international treaties and conventions in all fields in a year.
When assessing the draft revised bill, the NA's External Relations Committee applauded the shortened process for signing and ratifying international treaties.
"The shortened process will help to save resources, show the country's determination in administrative simplification and hasten the treaty's implementation," Hang said.
However, the committee called for bill compilers to review content relating to the supervisory role and competence of the National Assembly, NA Standing Committee and State President in signing international treaties.
The move would help to prevent an overlap with the existing Law on National Assembly Supervisory Activities, Hang said.
Head of the NA's Ombudsman Committee Nguyen Duc Hien said the bill should have regulations for complaints during the implementation of treaties in Vietnam.
Vice Chairman of NA's Law Committee Le Minh Thong said that according to the Law on Public Debt Management, the negotiation and signing of overseas development assistance (ODA) is subject to the law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties.
However, the draft bill did not have any article on ODA, which could cause a gap in ODA negotiations, Thong said.
Thong said there was no need to have two agencies – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice – to assess an international treaty before the country is ready to sign the treaty.
"Two agencies are assigned to do the same work, which is evidence of a cumbersome administration and causes difficulty in identifying responsibility," he said.
He also said the bill should have a chapter explaining the content of treaties to avoid misunderstandings.
Under the existing law, the NA Standing Committee and Government are in charge of explaining treaties.
The revised law now has nine chapters with 90 articles. Compared to the current law, the draft bill retains 10 articles, erases 24, amends 73 and adds 20 new articles, making it practically a brand new law.
Also on October 13, Chairman of the NA Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc announced that preparations for the NA meeting on October 20 were completed.-VNA
An international conference in Hanoi on August 24 discussed the National Assembly’s role in supervising the enfenforcement of international pacts regarding commercial laws and human rights.
The issuance of a new law on international treaties is significant to both internal and external activities of the country, especially in the current international integration period.
The 42nd session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee is scheduled to open on October 12, focusing on preparations for the 10 th sitting of the 13 th legislature to kick off on October 20.
The National Assembly Standing Committee convened its 42nd session on Oct. 12, expected to give opinions on a national electoral council as well as the date for the NA and People’s Council elections.
Promoting production at home is crucial to reducing the trade deficit, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said at the 42nd ongoing session of the 13th NA Standing Committee.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son speaks at the Standing Committee's meeting (Photo: VNA)
