Newly elected officials at a National Assembly meeting in Hà Nội on July 21. - Photo courtesy of the National Assembly

HÀ NỘI — Reducing administrative costs, overseeing the implementation of newly introduced laws, ensuring the timely reception and handling of citizens' complaints, and the reorganisation of local government bodies are the top priorities of the new National Assembly, heard a NA's meeting on Wednesday in Hà Nội. 

A number of deputies have asked the NA's Standing Committee to build a long-term oversight priority list for the years to come and made a number of recommendations on how to improve the NA's oversight functions and efficiency. 

Deputy Trần Hoàng Ngân from HCM City raised concerns about how the COVID-19 pandemic will hinder the NA's oversight function and the deputies' ability to move around the country. He said there is a need for a flexible schedule to allow deputies to fulfil their duties. 

The deputy also raised an issue over the quality of local government reports, stressing the importance of clearly defined responsibilities for local officials in the submission of these reports to NA deputies. 

Deputy Lê Hoài Trung from Thừa Thiên-Huế Province said the NA's oversight priorities must reflect the country's current matters of urgency, particularly how the novel coronavirus will affect national socio-economic development. 

"The NA's oversight function must be able to point out what is causing problems for businesses and citizens as well as for government bodies," he said. 

Deputy Hoàng Đức Thắng from Quảng Trị Province asked the NA to start reviewing its oversight priorities on a yearly basis to better stay on top of what is happening in the country. 

Top posts elected

National Assembly deputies cast their votes earlier on Wednesday to elect a number of top officials for the NA's key committees and other governmental offices. 

Bùi Văn Cường, a member of the Party Central Committee and the 14th NA's General Secretary was elected the 15th NA's General Secretary. 

Trần Sỹ Thanh was elected Head of the Vietnam State Audit.

Y Thanh Hà Niê Kđăm was elected Chairman of the 15th NA's Ethnic Council.

Hoàng Thanh Tùng was elected Head of the 15th NA's Committee on Legal Affairs.

Lê Thị Nga was elected Head of the 15th NA's Committee for Judicial Affairs.

Vũ Hồng Thanh was elected Head of the 15th NA's Economic Committee.

Nguyễn Phú Cường was elected Head of the 15th NA's Finance and Budget Committee.

Lê Tấn Tới was elected Head of the 15th NA's National Defence and Security Committee.

Nguyễn Đắc Vinh was elected  Head of the 15th NA's Culture and Education Committee.

Nguyễn Thúy Anh was elected Head of the 15th NA's Social Affairs Committee.

Lê Quang Huy was elected Head of the 15th NA's Technology and Environment Committee.

Vũ Hải Hà was elected Head of the 15th NA's Foreign Affairs Committee. — VNS