NA’s session kicks off debating agenda to overcome difficulties 

The National Assembly (NA)’s 8th legislature on Wednesday kicked off its ninth ordinary session opening the floor for members of the parliament to debate agendas to address difficulties the country is facing, notably those caused by COVID-19 outbreak.
In her opening remarks, NA President Mrs Pany Yathotou said Laos, like other countries in the region and around the world, is facing a new challenge – the outbreak of COVID-19 which has caused the nation to suffer heavily over the past six months.

Attending the opening session were Party Secretary General and state President Bounnhang Vorachit and cabinet members.
Mrs Pany stated the pandemic has directly impacted socio-economic development and political stability, among other concerns.
In addition to the impact of the outbreak, the country has also encountered ongoing economic and financial difficulty, accumulated debt, natural disasters and issues relating to social ills.
Amid the circumstances mentioned above, the one-week session will focus its debate on reviewing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and budget and currency plans over the first five months, and plans for the remainder of 2020.
In his address at the opening session, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith proposed the parliament consider and approve lowering targets for gross domestic product (GDP) growth, revenue and expenditure for 2020 as the pandemic’s severe impact had made it virtually impossible to reach the original goals approved previously by the NA.
The government projected that GDP would grow at just somewhere between 3.3-3.6 percent, lower than the original plan of 6.5 percent that was approved by the NA.
PM Thongloun called for all sectors and members of the parliament to engage in pushing for realising the so-called 10 policies and nine measures the government has enacted to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on the Lao economy.
The policies included tax and tariff exemptions, extending repayment periods for bank loans, and the provision of 100 billion kip for small and medium enterprises to borrow via commercial banks.
“It is hoped that the 10 policies and nine measures will be supported and implemented by all sectors. Importantly, it is hoped that members of the National Assembly and local people’s councils will engage and monitor them closely,” PM Thongloun said.
The government has been proactive with the early response to COVID-19, enabling Laos to avert fatalities from the disease and contain the outbreak quickly.
There had been no new cases of COVID-19 for 73 consecutive days as of June 23.
Representing the parliament, Ms Pany praised and highly valued the dedication and hard work of frontline medical staff, officials, police officers, soldiers and all personnel taking part in the mission against COVID-19.
She also highly valued the close guidance of the Party Central Committee, the great importance attached by the government, the participation of all walks of life and all sectors, and the support and assistance extended from friendly countries and international organisations, that made the prevention and control progress over the COVID-19 outbreak possible.
During the session, four ministries – the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare are scheduled to address the assembly.
NA members will debate and approve draft amendments to five laws – Law on National Assembly; Law on Provincial People’s Council; the law on election of members of the NA and provincial people’s council; the law on tariffs; and law on the amendments of some articles of law on environmental protection, and law on water and water resources.     
An inspection report of the NA’s standing committee on mineral surveys and excavation management is also set to be presented at the session.
The session was scheduled to consider and approve the election of a member of the NA’s Standing committee and chairman of the planning, finance and audit committee of the NA.
The session will hear a report on the performance of the NA’s standing committee over the first six months and plan for the rest of the year.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 25, 2020)