Opening Speech

by H.E. Mr. Thongsing THAMMAVONG

President of the National Assembly,

at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the VIth Legislature

(05 December 2007)

 

-    Your Excellency Mr. Choummaly Xayasone, Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao PDR

-    Respected Members of the Party Central Committee Politburo

-    Honorable Members of the National Assembly

-    Distinguished Guests

 

 Today, we mark the opening of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the VIth Legislature of the National Assembly (NA). Meanwhile, the 5th Plenary Meeting of the VIIIth Congress of the Party Central Committee has recently accomplished.

 

The Session expresses its heartfelt salutations to the Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao PDR, Members of the Party Central Committee’s Politburo, Members of the Government, representatives of the Party and State institutions, mass organizations, senior revolutionary cadres,  intelligentsia, business persons, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from international organizations honoring this event with their presence.

          Honorable Delegates.  

In the short period of time since the 3rd Ordinary Session in June this year, the National Assembly VIth Legislature, has strived to perform its mandate with a high degree of responsibility in order to perform monitoring and oversight over the execution of the Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) and the State Budget Plan (SBP), the Constitution and the enforcement of laws. During this time, national security, political stability and social order has been maintained. Socio-economic development has grown in a sustainable way. The political system has been reinforced and solidarity among the multi-ethnic people has been consolidated. Relationships and cooperation with countries in the region and around the world have been broadened and deepened.

Meanwhile, we have also faced some challenges in terms of the requirements of national development - mainly with the effectiveness and efficiency of the public management. For example: natural resources have not been well managed; the living conditions of civil servants and many people remain constrained. And although strong attempts have been made to solve social phenomena, to upgrade educational quality and to strengthen the political system at grassroots level, not all goals have been fully achieved … Moreover, people in certain parts of the country still live in scattered communities.

We also recognsise that the rule of law is not as effective as it should be. Enacted laws have not been widely disseminated, nor has strict enforcement and social justice been fully administered.

To further address these shortcomings and weaknesses, the Standing Committee of the NA has therefore held a joint meeting with Government members to discuss a number of critical issues.

Distinguished Delegates,

 

          This Fourth Ordinary Session is the final plenary meeting of the National Assembly this year. During the coming weeks  we will focus attention on several key matters, as follows to :

·        Consider and adopt seven new draft laws, namely:

-          The Law on Aquatics and Wildlife;

-          The Law on Intellectual Property;

-          The Law on Fire Prevention;

-          The Law on Standardization;

-          The Law on Drug Narcotics;

-          The Law on Sports;

-          The Law on Trade Unions;

·        Consider and adopt one amended law, namely:

-          The Forestry Law.

 

Finally, the Session will listen to, examine and approve the Government report on the plan of amended public expenditures for fiscal year 2007-2008, and consider the election of the President of the Central Auditing Authority.

 

Distinguished Delegates,

 

In order to ensure the Session achieves the goals and objectives set, may I call upon Members of the National Assembly and all other relevant parties to heighten their political responsibility in order to strengthen democratic representation through rational and fair deliberation and debate. This is all the more important because most of the proposed laws under consideration before this Session have been newly drafted and will have significant impacts on socio-economic development and foreign trade cooperation in the future - the Law on Intellectual Property and the Law on Standardization are two notable examples in this regard.

 

Therefore, in order to validate the substance, meaning, accuracy, preciseness and consistency of the laws placed before us, may I once again request Members of the National Assembly to enhance their political ownership, and their grasp of policy and development goals in order to energetically and carefully scrutinize and debate each law based on the spirit of unanimity in order to ensure quality in conformity with the Constitution and previously enacted laws, and in consideration of the reality of the country.

 

In addition, I urge Members of the Government, as well as representatives of the Party and State authorities, mass organizations and all parties concerned to actively participate in this Session, to provide support and to raise issues of accountability in accordance with their role and duties to ensure the proceeding this Session with fine success.

 

On this solemn and significant occasion, as Chair of the Session, may I declare the Fourth Session of the National Assembly, VIth Legislature officially open from this moment on.

 

Thank you.