The National Assembly’s 8th ordinary session ended on Friday after approving all eight laws submitted and an amendment to the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget.
Mr Thongsing Thammavong (centre) stands for the national anthem at the closing ceremony of the National Assembly's 8th ordinary session. – Photo Khamphanh
Running since November 16, the session on Friday approved the Law on Family Registration with 88 members voting for the law and four voting against. This brought the total number of laws passed to eight after seven others were approved on Thursday.
The laws approved are four new laws on tobacco control, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Committee, construction and state investment, as well as four amended laws on notary offices, the People’s Court, prosecution and family registration.
Assembly President Thongsing Thammavong brought the session to an end.
“The debate and approval of these laws has enriched the legal document system, which serves as the government’s tool for socio-economic management,” he said in his closing remarks.
The passing of these eight laws brings the total to more than 80 laws approved so far, according to assembly members.
On November 16, the assembly approved a government request for an additional 50 billion kip for its miscellaneous budget after learning this fiscal year’s allocation had already been spent on assistance to the provinces affected by tropical storm Ketsana.
The additional budget allocation will come from the government’s reserve fund.
The assembly also approved another government request for 100 billion kip to be taken from the reserve fund for recovery efforts in the flood-hit southern provinces of Attapeu, Saravan and Xekong.
In his closing remarks, President Thongsing said the session praised the government for its timely relief and recovery measures in the flood-affected provinces.
He spoke highly about people from all walks of life, including the state and private sectors, international organisations and friendly countries, who had provided invaluable assistance in cash, kind and manpower in the relief effort to help those affected by the flooding.
Assembly members asked the government to continue to mobilise manpower and funding from all sectors to restore essential infrastructure to help people resume production activities this dry season.
The session asked the government and its local agencies to work harder to disseminate state laws to ensure more people nationwide respected and observed the laws.
Head of the assembly’s Administrative Office and member of the assembly’s Standing Committee, Mr Thongtheun Xayasane, reported on the committee’s activities and achievements since the last session, which was held in June.
The closing ceremony was attended by Party politburo members, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from international organisations, teachers and students.
By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
November 30, 2009
Vientiane Times
