On the morning of 23/2, during a meeting with full-time National Assembly delegates at the Central level, officials, public servants, and employees of National Assembly agencies and the National Assembly Office, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called for early and thorough preparation for the first session of the 16th National Assembly, ensuring it is comprehensive, scientific, and effective.

The first session of a new National Assembly term must be convened within 60 days of the election day. Historically, recent terms have seen their first sessions open in July, such as the 15th National Assembly, which commenced on 20/7/2021.

Following the initial session, the National Assembly holds two regular sessions annually. The mid-year session opens on 20/5, and the year-end session opens on 20/10; if these dates fall on a holiday or a Friday, the session commences on the next working day. Additionally, the National Assembly may convene extraordinary sessions at the request of the President, the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Prime Minister, or at least one-third of the total National Assembly delegates.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaking at the meeting. Photo: Hoang Phong

In mid-2025, the National Assembly agreed to shorten the term of the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term. According to the approved resolution, the election day for delegates to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term will be on Sunday, 15/3/2026. For the new term of People's Councils at all levels, the first session must be convened within 45 days of the election day.

National Assembly Vice Chair Nguyen Thi Thanh stated that shortening the timeframe is necessary to bridge the gap between the national Party Congress in early 2026 and the first session of the new National Assembly and People's Councils term. This ensures synchronization, connectivity, stability, and continuity in assigning duties to new term members within the Party, the State, the Government, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations. Promptly consolidating the apparatus also helps Party committees at all levels implement the resolutions of the 14th Party Congress and Party congresses at all levels in a timely manner.

At the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that in 2026, the central task is to successfully direct the organization of elections for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

He also noted that 2025 was a year of outstanding success for the 15th National Assembly, which completed tasks assigned by the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Party Central Committee, and General Secretary To Lam; during which the National Assembly passed 89 laws in 2025.

The National Assembly Chairman requested the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's Party Committee and the National Assembly Standing Committee to develop specific, practical action programs to promptly implement Party resolutions. He also urged officials and public servants of National Assembly agencies to improve the quality of legislative work, supreme oversight, and decision-making on important national issues.

Son Ha