National Assembly’s 8th Ordinary Session Opens.

(KPL): The 8th Ordinary Session of the 9th Legislature of the National Assembly (NA) officially commenced on November 18, chaired by National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane and attended by Party Secretary General and President Thongloun Sisoulith. Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, other Party and government leaders, retired Party and government officials, and National Assembly members were present. Representatives from the Lao Front for National Development, the Lao National Veterans Federation, mass organizations, international diplomatic corps, international organizations, educational institutions, and the business community also attended the session. According to Lao News Agency, the meeting is expected to adopt the Prime Minister's report on the implementation of the 2024 National Socio-Economic Development Plan, the 2024 state budget plan, and the 2024 monetary plan. Additionally, targets set for 2025 under the national agendas on addressing economic and financial challenges and combating dr ug abuse will be discussed. The 2025 state investment plan will also be a topic of discussion. The session will further review the progress of the "three-build" directive, which focuses on strengthening provinces as strategic units, districts as comprehensively strengthened units, and villages as development units. The implementation of strategies for education system reform and national human resource development, along with plans for future years, will also be addressed. Additionally, the enforcement of laws in cultural and social sectors, including those governing education, alcohol management, labor, and signage, will be scrutinized. The session is expected to approve reports on Vision 2040 and Strategy 2030 for Land Management and Development. The State Audit Organization's performance review and plans for 2025, as well as the final report on the 2023 state budget implementation, are also on the agenda.