(VOVworld) – Many National Assembly deputies have expressed their support for the construction of Long Thanh International Airport, saying that the airport will be a strategic part of Vietnam’s infrastructure for Vietnam’s economic growth.

National Assembly Vice-chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

They said that with imminent overloading at Tan Son Nhat airport, the cost for expansion will equal that of building Long Thanh airport. They added that in the long term if Vietnam manages to improve its management it will be able to compete with other transit airports in the region. However, other deputies expressed their concern that construction of the airport was beyond Vietnam’s economic ability in the context of high public debts. They added that investments could surpass the initial estimate of 18 billion USD and approximately 20,000 people would be reallocated for this project. Pham Quang Nghi is head of the delegation of Hanoi’s National Assembly deputies: “It’s true that Vietnam needs a large airport but careful calculations must be made, especially concerning funding. Uncertainties must also be factored including land clearance.”

The deputies supported Vietnam’s ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They said ratification of these conventions at the moment was important and would create the basis for increasing human rights dialogue with other countries and international human rights organizations. The deputies also discussed revisions to the Tax Law and the Law on Special Consumption.