Decision No. 01/2007/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in December 2006

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in December 2006 

On December 26 and 27, 2006, the Government convened its regular meeting for December to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government approved reports on: Review of guidance and management work in 2006, the Government's Work Program for 2007 presented by the Minister, Chairman of the Government Office; Economic and social situation in December and throughout 2006 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment; Trade situation in December and throughout 2006 presented by the Minister of Commerce; Issuance and investment with government bond funds presented by the Minister of Finance; Administrative reform work in 2006 and key tasks for 2007 presented by the Minister of Home Affairs; Implementation review of the Government's Action Program to implement the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption presented by the Chief Inspector of the Government.

In 2006, the Government's guidance and management demonstrated high determination, closely adhering to the Resolutions of the Party and National Assembly. The Government collective was united, dynamic, and directed deeply and comprehensively across all areas of work. As a result, positive changes were achieved in economic development and social life. The national economy maintained a high growth rate, most major economic and social targets were met or exceeded as set by the National Assembly; the economic structure continued to shift positively. Major balances were ensured; domestic trade and services continued to develop, exports and foreign direct investment reached record highs; inflation was contained. Positive changes occurred in science and technology, education and training, culture, information, vocational training, health care, physical education and sports, poverty reduction, and many other social fields; people's living standards improved. Administrative reform was further promoted towards transparency and procedural simplification; efforts to prevent and combat corruption were intensified and yielded initial results. National defense and security were secured, political and social stability maintained. Foreign affairs achieved significant accomplishments, enhancing the country's prestige and standing internationally. These achievements contributed to creating new momentum for implementing tasks in 2007, increasing public confidence in the country's renewal under the leadership of the Party and state administration.

However, in the Government's guidance and management and the administrative system, there still exist many shortcomings and weaknesses, leading to economic and social development not fully matching potential. While the quality of growth has improved, sustainability and competitiveness remain low; many pressing social issues have changed slowly; infrastructure and human resources serving economic and social development and state management do not meet practical demands...

In 2007, to fulfill the economic and social development tasks according to the National Assembly's Resolutions, in conditions of numerous difficulties and challenges, the Government determined that more vigorous efforts must be made to implement comprehensively and effectively the goals, tasks, and solutions outlined by the 10th Party Congress and the National Assembly's Resolutions, focusing particularly on ensuring continued high and sustainable economic growth; vigorously developing agriculture and rural areas, education and training, science and technology; effectively addressing pressing cultural, social, environmental, and poverty reduction issues; intensifying administrative reform and combating corruption and waste; firmly securing national defense and security.

The Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently develop action programs and concentrate on directing the implementation of 2007 tasks. In the short term, priority should be given to directing the allocation of plans and budget estimates, synchronously implementing measures to boost production and business, fulfilling international commitments; proactively preventing droughts, natural disasters, and effectively controlling animal and plant diseases, especially rice; stabilizing macroeconomic fundamentals, ensuring major balances in the economy; managing well to promote healthy development of joint-stock banks, investment funds, and the securities market; promptly implementing measures to control prices, avoiding price increases for essential goods for production and daily life based on promoting domestic trade, reducing product costs, strengthening inspections and controls, and combating smuggling and commercial fraud; implementing strong state management measures, improving infrastructure, and educating legal awareness to curb and reduce traffic accidents...

Administrative reform must be intensified, considered a breakthrough measure to promote economic growth, ensure democracy, and prevent corruption. In 2007, the Government and the entire administrative system must focus on synchronizing contents related to institutional frameworks, organizational structures, civil servants and public officials, public finance, and modernizing administration; continue to concentrate efforts on streamlining administrative procedures, which are crucial solutions to address bureaucratic practices, harassment, favoritism, and inconveniences in handling citizens' and businesses' affairs. The Government assigns ministries and agencies, according to their assigned functions and tasks, to submit to the Government in the first quarter of 2007 proposals on: adjusting the organizational structure and functions of the Government and ministries; building and implementing an electronic Government; ensuring traffic order and safety; alleviating traffic congestion in major cities. At the same time, review and abolish sub-permits, intensify the streamlining of administrative procedures in areas such as business establishment, registration, and investment activities of enterprises; construction management, housing, land; notarization, certification; household registration, civil status; vehicle registration, driving license training, examination, and issuance; customs, tax payment and collection; inspection and complaint resolution; procedures for domestic and foreign university enrollment, labor export; passport issuance, visa issuance. These procedures must be reviewed and amended uniformly towards simplification, avoiding overlap, and facilitating the people and businesses.

Anti-corruption work must become substantive, simultaneously urgently completing mechanisms, policies, and regulatory legal documents while accelerating the effective operation of specialized anti-corruption organizations at all levels and sectors. Focus efforts on effectively implementing the Resolution of the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Tenth Congress on strengthening the Party's leadership over anti-corruption and waste prevention work; comprehensively conducting both preventive and detection measures against corruption, with prevention being the main solution; establishing and implementing codes of conduct to ensure the integrity of cadres and civil servants; strictly enforcing regulations on holding leaders accountable for corruption and waste; enhancing the quality and effectiveness of inspection, audit, and corruption behavior handling, focusing on areas with high risk of corruption such as investment, land management, budget revenue and expenditure, state asset management...

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Government Office are tasked with incorporating the opinions of Government members and delegates at the session, finalizing the draft Resolution on key measures in guiding and managing the implementation of the 2007 Work Program, the Report on the Review of Guiding and Managing Work in 2006, and the 2007 Work Program of the Government to be submitted to the Government Conference with local leaders nationwide.

2. The Government agrees to establish Anti-Corruption Steering Committees at provincial and centrally-run city levels.

The Anti-Corruption Steering Committee at provincial and centrally-run city levels shall be headed by the Chairman of the People's Council of the province or centrally-run city; the Committee shall have a permanent working body operating under a dedicated system.

The functions, tasks, composition, organizational structure, and operational rules of the Anti-Corruption Steering Committee at provincial and centrally-run city levels shall be stipulated by the Prime Minister.

3. The Government agrees to assign the Ministry of National Defense to organize and implement the construction of border patrol roads through the following special mechanisms:

The Ministry of National Defense is permitted to utilize engineering forces, combined with construction enterprises within the military, to carry out construction through direct award procedures. In cases where there are insufficient construction equipment and facilities for large bridges, they may hire external construction enterprises, but must organize bidding in accordance with current State regulations.

The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for determining annual budget execution funds and managing the capital source in accordance with the State Budget Law.

Based on the approved budget estimate, the Ministry of National Defense is allowed to retain a portion of the post-tax profit from military construction enterprises and a part of the value difference from designated tender units to purchase and upgrade equipment for the engineering corps. The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of National Defense shall consider appropriate retention ratios, report to the Prime Minister for decision.

4. The Government has provided comments on the Chemicals Law draft presented by the Ministry of Industry. The Ministry of Industry is instructed to lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and relevant agencies, incorporate the opinions of Government members at the session, finalize this draft Law, submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision to be reported to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly./.