Upholding highest sense of responsibility to nation and people

The first session of the 16th National Assembly (NA), which is set to officially convene early this week, will be the first sitting following the success of the second Plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee and the election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term.

An overview of the national conference reviewing the election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasised that thorough preparations have been made for the first session of the 16th National Assembly, ensuring timeliness and quality, and reflecting the highest sense of responsibility towards the nation, the people, and the work of the country, the NA and the Government.

Deputies’ quality meets expectations

The quality of deputies determines the quality of the NA and People’s Councils at all levels. The recent national election concluded successfully in all aspects, leaving a significant mark as “a convergence of the Party’s will, the people’s aspirations, and the nation’s development ambitions.”

This important milestone opens a new chapter in translating voters’ trust—from the ballot box of a highly successful election to the legislative chamber—into concrete actions by each deputy of the 16th tenure, thereby creating new drivers for rapid and sustainable national development.

Notably, the quality of deputies has continued to improve, with composition and structure ensuring representation across all social strata, meeting the requirements for enhancing the effectiveness of the NA and People’s Councils in the new period.

Specifically, the composition of the 16th NA reflects a reduction in deputies concurrently holding positions in executive and judicial bodies, alongside an increase in full-time deputies. The proportion of full-time deputies is expected to reach approximately 40%, the highest level to date. Meanwhile, 83.60% of deputies hold postgraduate qualifications.

According to data from the National Election Office, 247 deputies (49.40%) are re-elected or have previously served in the NA, while 253 deputies (50.60%) are first-time members. The proportion of younger deputies has also increased compared to previous terms. These figures indicate a balanced combination of experienced legislators and new, dynamic members. A higher proportion of full-time deputies is expected to help the new National Assembly sustain its spirit of innovation and effectively fulfil its legislative, supervisory and decision-making functions on key national issues.

These results also reflect the efforts of election work at all levels and localities from the early stages of nomination and candidate selection. In Ho Chi Minh City, for instance, strict requirements were applied, ensuring that the need to meet structural quotas did not come at the expense of candidate quality or public trust. Each consultative conference served as a genuine “filter,” ensuring that the final list presented to voters comprised truly qualified and representative candidates capable of shouldering responsibilities if elected.

Speaking at the recent national conference reviewing the election, Party General Secretary To Lam underscored that one of the key successes of the election lay in the quality, structure and representativeness of the elected deputies. A successful election, he noted, is not merely about filling all seats, but about selecting individuals who possess integrity, competence, courage, the ability to act, and a genuine commitment to serving the people.

According to the General Secretary, the success of an election is only truly complete when it is translated into the effective performance of the new term. The voters’ ballots do not end on election day; they must be carried forward through the quality of legislation, the effectiveness of oversight, and timely, sound decisions that meet the country’s development needs in the new phase.

Therefore, the 16th NA and each of its deputies must swiftly turn the trust of voters into action—into legislative outputs, effective supervision, and practical decisions that serve the people and contribute to national development.

Personnel work lays foundation for new term and new expectations

According to NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office Le Quang Manh, the upcoming session will lay an important foundation for institutional reform, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of supervision, and making decisions on key national issues to meet the requirements for rapid and sustainable development in the coming term.

The first session of the 16th NA is scheduled to open on April 6 and close on April 25, divided into two phases, with the primary focus on consolidating the state apparatus to ensure smooth, effective and efficient operation from the outset of the new term. Vice Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Deputy Affairs Ta Thi Yen noted that personnel preparations for the session have been conducted in a rigorous, methodical and procedurally compliant manner, under the unified leadership of the Party, ensuring stability, continuity and seamless functioning of the political system immediately after the elections. “This is not merely personnel work; it is a crucial prerequisite for ushering in a new term with renewed expectations for reform, action and development,” she stressed.

At the first session, the NA will focus on reviewing, discussing and deciding on key frameworks shaping economic development in the years ahead, including the five-year socio-economic development plan, the medium-term public investment plan, the national financial and budget plan, and macroeconomic management mechanisms. Notably, the NA is expected to adopt resolutions on the five-year socio-economic development plan (2026–2030), the national financial plan, public debt borrowing and repayment plans, and the medium-term public investment plan for the 2026–2030 period.

Pham Thi Hong Yen, a full-time NA deputy serving on the Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs, emphasised that these are particularly important decisions that concretise the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the conclusions of the second Plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee on socio-economic development planning. They will provide the legal foundation for the country to strive for an average GDP growth rate of 10% or higher, aiming to become a developing country with modern industry, high income, and among the world’s top 30 economies by GDP size. In legislative work, eight draft laws and one urgent resolution are expected to be submitted for consideration and adoption at this first session, creating a timely legal framework to promote growth and meet the demands of rapid and sustainable development.

Although lasting only 11 days, the first session will set the foundation for the entire operation of the 16th NA over the next five years. With thorough preparations and a wide range of important and urgent issues on the agenda, the session will promptly institutionalise major policies and address practical bottlenecks, contributing to the successful realisation of the goals set by the 14th National Party Congress.

NDO