The 11th session of the 11th National Assembly of Vietnam, the country's highest legislative body, will this month pass a revised law on organization of the legislature, consider two bills on amnesty and chemical, and review national socioeconomic performance in 2006.

The session, to last from March 20 to April 6, is also to consider an amendment to the Labor Code which will make the Kings Hung's anniversary a new public holiday, and hear five reports of the National Assembly, the state president, the prime minister, the chief judge of the Supreme People's Court, and the director of the Supreme People's Procuracy, Bui Ngoc Thanh, chairman of the top legislature's office, said at a press conference on Friday.

The assembly will discuss the implementation of laws on anti- corruption and thrift practice, and major state-funded projects, including those on construction of a hydroelectric power plant in northern Son La province and a gas-electricity-fertilizer complex in southern Ba Ria Vung Tau province.

In 2006, Vietnam posted gross domestic product (GDP) of 8.17 percent, created 1.65 million jobs, including 78,900 jobs as labor export, reduced its poverty rate to 18.1 percent, lowered the proportion of malnourished children aged under five to 24 percent, and provided clean water to 66 percent of its rural population, he said.

On May 20, local voters nationwide will select 500 deputies for the 12th National Assembly, and representatives for the People's Councils at local levels.

Source: Xinhua