The bill, which was put into discussion on May 29, calls on the National Assembly to scrutinise and decide on investment policies for all projects listed as key, whether or not they use state funds.

Legislators argued that key projects, regardless of their investment sources, have a considerable affect on the nation's socio-economic development, people's living conditions, the environment and national security, and thus they require high-level management.

 Many disagreed on the thresholds for classification of projects with different investment sources into the key status list. They proposed a common threshold of 20 trillion VND in investment, instead of 20 trillion VND for State-funded projects and 25 trillion VND for projects invested by other sources as recommended by the bill.

Deputy Tran Dinh Long from the Central Highlands province of Dac Nong and Le Xuan Than from the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa were among those who supported the idea, arguing that all investments are national assets.

Many legislators also mentioned the need for job generation for displaced tenants, especially for working-age people, in resettlement projects, saying that many of them are facing hard lives.

The bill also set concrete environmental standards, ruling that power projects fueled by nuclear energy, coal and natural gas should be stationed at a safe distance from residential quarters and food producing areas./.