Multiple laws under review for revisions

Chairman of the National Assembly Economic Committee Vũ Hồng Thanh speaks at the session on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

The legislator was speaking at the National Assembly Standing Committee's 38th session on Thursday, which centred around a legislative proposal that amends the Law on Planning, the Law on Investment, the Law on Investment in Public-Private Partnerships and the Law on Bidding, at the same time.

Chairman of the National Assembly Economic Committee, Vũ Hồng Thanh, highlighted the importance of revising these laws to ensure consistency within the legal system.

He noted that while the proposal covers key issues related to planning and investment, its accompanying impact assessment report lacked sufficient data, particularly in terms of financial implications.

The Chairman thus recommended the Government provide clearer evidence to support the revisions.

Another concern was the need to harmonise the proposal with other existing legislation, for which he urged a comprehensive review to avoid legal conflicts, especially in areas where the Law on Planning overlaps with those on geology, electricity and cultural heritage.

Other Economic Committee members discussed the potential benefits of expanding Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) opportunities by lowering the minimum investment thresholds.

While the expansion could improve private sector engagement in public projects, some members raised concerns about the potential risks to the State budget.

They said PPP projects currently operate under a 'revenue-sharing mechanism,' so broadening their scope may fuel fiscal burdens if they are unprofitable. Therefore, careful consideration was urged for the proposed changes.

Several other members raised concerns about the proposed redefinition of priority projects at national, regional and provincial levels.

They also argued that the proposal fails to clarify how to determine whether a priority project aligns with the planning frameworks outlined in laws such as the Law on Public Investment and the Law on Investment.

They said the criteria for judging whether a priority project fits into these plans are still unclear, and the necessary changes to these laws have not been addressed.

As a result, it is recommended to further review the proposal to ensure that priority projects are properly aligned with planning requirements, making the process clearer and easier to implement.

Hoàng Thanh Tùng, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Legal Affairs, recommended that the amendments focus solely on critical and urgent matters, especially in the area of PPP projects and called for a thorough review of current pilot projects before any new legal enactment.

National Assembly Deputy Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Thanh highlighted several ongoing issues in PPP projects, including difficulties in recovering state capital and public dissatisfaction with toll station locations.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình reinforced the need for legal reforms that foster economic development, pledging that the government will continue to address key issues raised by lawmakers to ensure consistency within the legal system.