The sixth ordinary session of the National Assembly's (NA) Eighth Legislature ended with confidence in Lao government's growing achievements.

In her closing remarks, Lao National Assembly President Pany Yathotou, on behalf of all members, expressed confidence in government departments' growing achievements, and their efforts to fight undesirable conduct and break down barriers towards change for the better.

After 23 days of debate, the Lao parliament passed eight draft and amended laws - Civil Code, Law on Business Banks, Law on Radiation Safety, Law on Electronic Signature, Law on Railways, Law on Health Insurance, Law on People with Disabilities, and the Law on Lao Government Representative Offices Overseas.

The session also sounded out assembly members opinions on amendments to the Land Law, but they have yet to approve the draft, pointing out the need for further refinement to address all its deficiencies, local state-run daily Vientiane Times reported on Monday.

The session asked the government to consider the opinions of Assembly members when improving the draft, and to broaden the canvass of public opinion before submitting it to the Assembly's next ordinary session for debate.

The Assembly approved the government's midterm report and the 2018 report on the national socio-economic development plan, budget plan, monetary plan and plans for next year, as well as midterm reports, this year's report and the plan for 2019 from the State Audit Organization, Office of the Supreme Prosecutor and Supreme People's Court.

The NA members also heard responses and clarifications from 10 ministries and government bodies to NA members and public queries relating to issues of common national interest such as the quality of road repairs, the quality of healthcare at hospitals and dispensaries, and non-repayment of loans.

The session approved the appointment of Major General Vilay Lakhamfong as Minister of Public Security, and Sonexay Sithphaxay as Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR, the central bank.

They also approved the Brou as an ethnic group, including them in the Mone-Khmer family, which brings the number of ethnic groups in Laos to 50.

The session approved the midterm report, the report for 2018, the plan until 2020, and the Assembly's main activities for next year.

It also called on the NA Standing Committee to make improvements by addressing deficiencies in its legislative duties, and duties relating to the oversight of decisions on issues of national importance, and to improve coordination with departments at central and local levels.