The law was passed with six chapters and 72 articles, which regulate the establishment, examination, decision, adoption, announcement, implementation, adjustment, supervision, assessment and inspection of the national planning system, alongside the obligations and responsibilities of agencies, organisations and individuals in the planning activities.
The law will take effect from January 1, 2019.
Prior to voting for the adoption of the law, legislators heard an explanation, acquisition and amendment report on the draft Planning Law of the NA Standing Committee (NASC), from Chairman of the NA’s Economic Committee, Vu Hong Thanh.
Concerning the proposal for the supplementation of airspace planning and underground space planning to the planning system, the NASC stated that all of the planning concepts in the national planning system are defined as the strategic and uniform zoning, zonal link and use of spaces, including sea space, ground space, underground space, mid-ocean space, seafloor space and airspace within the national territory. Therefore, it is not necessary to supplement airspace and underground space planning to the national planning system, as they have already been included in other planning sectors of the national planning system.
Some deputies agreed on the planning of special administrative-economic units being placed under the national planning system, but requested the clarification of the planning establishment, examination and adoption process, as the Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units has yet to be promulgated. In regards to this issue, the NASC clearly stated that the scope and organisation of the special administrative-economic units are currently under the NA’s discussion and consideration. These are the contents directly related to the planning work of the special administrative-economic units. In the draft Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units, which is being commented on by the NA at the fourth session, there is also a chapter which stipulates the planning of special administrative-economic units.
Clarifying the use of an integrated approach in planning, as regulated in Article 16 of the draft Law on Planning, the NASC said that this is the first time that planning, using an integrated approach, has been codified on the basis of learning from international experience and the planning reality in Vietnam. Accordingly, the planning process will be implemented from the bottom up following certain principles and order, requiring the involvement of the relevant ministries, sectors, localities and experts, both at home and abroad. The planning will then be sent to a focal agency responsible for planning. This agency will summarise and synchronously coordinate the component planning in the sectors and fields related to infrastructure, the use of natural resources and environmental protection, with the goal of ensuring balanced, harmonious, effective and sustainable development. After the planning is examined, decided or approved pursuant to the Law on Planning, using the top-down method, the component planning will be approved and implemented in line with the specialised law.
Earlier at the third session of the 14th NA, legislators discussed and commented for the second time on the draft Law on Planning. In general, the deputies agreed on the need to issue the Law on Planning and many contents in the draft law. However, they remained concerned with regards to the feasibility of the draft law, because the implementation of the Law on Planning would require the revision of many relevant existing laws, with the aim of ensuring synchronism and uniformity with the provisions in the draft Planning Law. Consequently, the NA had decided to delay the adoption of the Law at the third session, in order to continue finalising it and ensure the quality and feasibility of the draft bill.
Later in the morning, the NA discussed the draft revised Law on National Defence.
