NA closes with state leaders elected, development targets approved
  
The inaugural session of the National Assembly (NA)’s 9th legislature closed on Friday following a five-day sitting that elected state leaders and approved development targets.
Members of the assembly approved the session’s resolutions, which elected former Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith as the President of Laos.
 The former President of the NA, Mrs Pany Yathotou, and the former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Bounthong Chitmany, were elected as vice presidents, making it the first time that Laos will have two persons holding this position. Mrs Pany is also the first woman vice president in Lao history.

The former Vice President, Mr Phankham Viphavanh, was elected as Prime Minister, replacing Mr Thongloun.  Addressing the closing session, Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane, who was elected as the new President of the NA by the inaugural session, said the entire session has been successful as targeted.
The Party Secretary General and President, Mr Thongloun Sisoulith, other state and Party leaders, retired leaders and foreign guests were present at the closing session.
The former Head of the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Committee, Ms Sounthone Sayachack, the former Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher, the former Vice President of the Lao Front for National Development, Khambay Damlath, the former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and the former Deputy Minister of National Defence, Lieutenant General Souvone Leuangbounmy, were elected vice Presidents of the NA.
The Minister of National Defence, General Chansamone Chanyalath, the Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Sonexay Siphandone, and the former Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, were elected as deputy prime ministers. The session also approved the organisational structure of the NA and organisational structure of the government and cabinet members. The government’s structure comprises 17 ministries and two ministry-equivalent organisations - the Prime Minister’s Office and the Bank of the Lao PDR.
The session elected Mr Khamphanh Phommathat as the President of the State Inspection Authority. Mrs Viengthong Siphandone was elected the President of the People’s Supreme Court, Mr Xaysana Khotphouthone was elected the Head of the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor of the Lao PDR, while Mr Malaythong Kommasith was elected the President of the SAO.
The session endorsed the report on the implementation of the 8th five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) for 2016-2020.Over the past five years, the average annual gross domestic product (GDP) touched 5.8 percent, falling short of the approved target. However, Laos successfully passed two of the three criteria required for gradation from the least developed country (LDC) status.
As of 2020, GDP per capita reached US$2,664. Poor families have declined to 62,384 representing 5.16 percent of the total number of families. The session also approved the 9th five-year NSEDP for 2021-2025, which set an average annual GDP growth target of at least 4 percent. By 2025, GDP per capita is targeted to touch US$2,880, and national income per capital to reach US$2,280. Other key average annual growth targets set for the next five-year plan are as follows:
•                  Agricultural growth of 2.5 percent
•                  Industrial and trade growth of 4.1 percent
•                  Services growth of 6 percent
•                  Customs and tax growth of 5.8 percent
The 9th five-year NSEDP is also aimed ensuring that Laos graduates from the LDC status by 2025 and strives further to become a middle to high-income country by 2030. Other documents approved by the session included reports on the implementation of the last five-year plan of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, People’s Supreme Court, State Audit Organisation, and State Inspection Authorities and their next five-year plans. The next five-year plan for the framing and amendment of laws by the NA’s 9th legislature was also endorsed.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update March 29, 2021)