Resolution No. 02/2003/NQ-CP on certain policies and main measures to focus on directing the implementation of tasks for economic and social development in 2003.

RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT

On some main guidelines and solutions that need to be focused on directing the implementation of economic and social development tasks in 2003 The year 2003 is a pivotal year for the five-year plan (2001-2005). The achievements and results obtained in 2003 will make a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

In order to implement the Resolutions of the Eleventh National Assembly, Second Session regarding the tasks and state budget estimates for 2003, and to concretize the policies and guidelines already proposed, the Government has identified some main guidelines and solutions that need to be focused on directing in 2003 as follows:

Promote structural transformation, enhance efficiency and competitiveness of the economy

I. 1. Promote the transformation of the economic structure to accelerate industrialization and modernization, adapt to market demands and mechanisms, leverage competitive advantages, continuously improve the efficiency of the economy.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Fisheries should proactively coordinate and guide localities in implementing the transformation of the agricultural and rural economic structure towards creating concentrated specialized production areas with high productivity and quality, applying new scientific and technological advances, increasing the proportion of value from livestock, fisheries, and service industries, reducing the proportion of value from crop cultivation, diversifying industries to increase the proportion of industrial production value in the rural economic structure.

The Ministry of Industry should direct the adjustment of the industrial product structure to form industries and products playing a driving role within each group of products to promote the development of industrial production, primarily those products currently having export potential as well as those with potential such as shipbuilding, small engines, passenger cars, light trucks, new carriages.

In 2003, continue to effectively organize and implement the Program for Developing Agricultural Crops, Forestry Seedlings, Livestock Breeds, and Aquatic Seedlings to ensure sufficient good seeds at reasonable prices for farmers' production needs; diversify agricultural extension methods, forestry extension, fishery extension, support technology transfer, provide market information to reduce input costs for agricultural products.

Encourage localities with appropriate conditions to consolidate land plots, exchange land use rights, change land use purposes according to planning and laws on land to create suitable land scales for large-scale agricultural production oriented towards concentration, specialization, intensive farming linked with processing facilities and consumption markets, ensuring the goal of producing one million tons of high-quality rice for export.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should direct and guide localities to implement specifically.

3. Ministries, sectors, and localities should urgently review plans, primarily land use plans, water surface plans, industry development plans, industrial park plans, export processing zone plans, open economic zones, high-tech zones, important transportation route plans, tourism infrastructure plans, urban plans, commercial center plans, border economic zones... to adjust or develop new plans to fully utilize the advantages of each sector, region, and locality in achieving economic development goals and objectives. For some important specialized plans where domestic experience is lacking, it is necessary to hire foreign experts and consultants to implement them.

From 2003 onwards, the approval of projects from all sources of capital, the allocation of land, forests, and water surfaces to producers must comply strictly with the provisions of the Land Law and must follow approved plans with appropriate timeframes to ensure that people and businesses can invest and produce with confidence. Ministries, sectors, and local authorities may only allow the implementation of projects that conform to approved plans.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and other ministries and sectors managing production should cooperate with Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City to complete industry plans and state-owned enterprise restructuring in the first quarter of 2003 to optimize the utilization of assets and capabilities of enterprises belonging to various economic components operating in the same industry and area.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall specify the detailed public announcement of construction plans and investment projects, particularly the investment policy for newly initiated projects and decisions approving feasible project proposals (excluding projects or project information not to be publicly disclosed) through mass media so that organizations and citizens can participate in providing opinions and monitoring during the implementation of the projects.

5. Government agencies and local authorities at all levels have the responsibility to support and facilitate convenient and effective linkages between farmers and businesses, scientific and technological institutions, financial organizations in production and product sales, ensuring harmonious benefits for all parties and promoting the initiative and creativity of producers.

6. Continue to regard exports as a key task in 2003. Encourage and support exports for products with competitive strength through various means: export credit, export incentive awards, trade promotion, brand registration... while limiting imports of products that can be produced domestically to reduce the trade deficit. The Ministry of Trade shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and related agencies to guide specific implementation.

In adjusting tax rates and fees, the Ministry of Finance should focus on measures to encourage exports and the use of domestically produced products.

6. Continue to regard export as a key task in 2003. Encourage and support exports for products with competitive strength through all forms: export credit, export incentive awards, trade promotion, product brand registration... while limiting imports of products that can be produced domestically, reducing the trade deficit. The Ministry of Trade shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and relevant agencies to guide the implementation in detail.

In adjusting tax rates and fees, the Ministry of Finance focuses on measures to encourage exports, using domestically produced products.

7. Continue to create favorable conditions for investors from various economic sectors to access capital sources for investment in production, equipment renewal, and technology to improve product quality, reduce production costs, thereby enhancing competitiveness at the product level, especially those products with production advantages, market demand, and those products included in the integration roadmap with countries in the region.

The State Bank of Vietnam shall coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to propose specific measures by the first quarter of 2003.

8. Ministries managing production and provincial people's committees shall direct the evaluation of business operations of enterprises under their management; implement specific measures to reorganize production, enhance enterprise and product competitiveness to proactively integrate according to the agreed tax reduction and non-tax reduction schedules.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade shall clearly announce the schedules and coordinate with ministries managing production to guide enterprises to implement them starting from January 2003.

9. Implement increased state control over monopolistic business activities, reduce protectionism, and regulate prices of certain state-monopoly products to foster competition, enabling enterprises to develop independently. Study and summarize the experiences of some enterprises not operating in monopoly sectors but successfully ensuring operational conditions under market economy mechanisms and producing competitive products compared to foreign products, to gradually eliminate current business monopolies.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall conduct a summary in the second quarter of 2003.

10. Accelerate financial restructuring of enterprises to complete the transition of state-owned enterprises holding 100% equity to single-member limited liability companies and partial privatization of state-owned enterprises where the state does not need to hold 100% equity by 2005.

Focus on improving organizational structures and management mechanisms for state-owned corporations and enterprises; simultaneously accelerate ownership conversion for small, loss-making, and state-owned enterprises where the state does not need to hold 100% equity to joint-stock companies approved by competent authorities. Strictly handle, including replacing or dismissing positions, officials who fail to strictly implement the enterprise restructuring plans approved by higher authorities.

In the third quarter of 2003, the Ministry of Finance together with the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall submit to the Government a specific model regarding the representation of state-owned capital, clarifying the functions of state management agencies and the role of state representatives, ensuring the autonomy in production and business operations and financial independence of state-owned enterprises.

11. Implement intermediary institutions in the financial sector such as financial investment companies, debt purchasing and ownership transformation support companies, financial consulting and asset valuation companies, etc., to create additional tools for investment method innovation, financial restructuring of enterprises, promoting the privatization process, and diversifying ownership of state-owned enterprises according to Resolution No. 3 of the Ninth Central Committee.

12. Do not convert government budget debts and debts originating from the budget, bank loans into capital for state-owned enterprises. Profitability in production and business operations must be considered one of the main criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of enterprises.

13. Suspend commencement of projects lacking investment procedures. Concentrate state investment funds on important projects directly impacting economic structure transformation goals, projects that can be completed and put into operation within the year. Units with many unfinished projects and prolonged construction periods shall not commence new projects. Stop advance funding for projects not approved by competent authorities, including those managed by central agencies.

14. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall study amendments and supplements to the BOT investment regulation applicable to domestic investments. Allow implementation of domestic BOT projects if the enterprise's share of ownership is less than 30%, using state budget funds within the allocated budget to ensure the maximum 30% as stipulated in Decree No. 77/CP dated June 18, 1997 of the Government.

15. The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance shall study and issue regulations granting the right to collect tolls for a limited period for bridges and roads permitted to charge tolls. Initially, apply this to National Highway 51, National Highway 5, National Highway 10, and La Long - Hoa Lac Road.

16. Pilot allowing domestic private enterprises granted long-term land use rights to lease land to foreign investors within the granted period. By the second quarter of 2003, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall submit to the Prime Minister specific management mechanisms for implementing and supervising this pilot program.

II. Mobilizing Resources for Developmental Investment

1. Investors and localities must mobilize the maximum resources from both domestic and foreign economic sectors to increase investment capital for development, considering this as one of the key solutions to promote and expand production to achieve the 2003 development targets.

2. Enterprises directly investing in new sectors, producing important products, high-risk sectors, information technology development sectors, software, modern and advanced world-standard information network development services to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises and the economy, in addition to the incentives enjoyed according to regulations, shall also be considered for guarantees to import equipment directly serving the investment project. The Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam shall provide detailed guidance on implementation.

3. State credit investment capital needs to be concentrated on key areas and sectors, important projects directly serving the goal of restructuring the economic structure, promoting economic growth. Expand the scope of post-investment incentives, narrow the range of direct borrowing from the Development Support Fund.

4. Encourage investment in projects capable of recovering capital through the issuance of construction bonds.

The Ministry of Finance shall urgently study and submit to the Prime Minister the issuance of foreign currency bonds to mobilize foreign currency within the country for the purpose of restructuring national debt and investing in key state projects.

5. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall guide the diversification of forms of capital contribution for development and infrastructure business; encourage and provide appropriate support from the state budget for the construction of rural infrastructure projects, infrastructure outside industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech parks belonging to all economic sectors.

6. Localities in key economic regions with borrowing conditions and repayment capacity shall be allowed to issue investment bonds to raise domestic capital for building socio-economic infrastructure to create conditions for attracting investment and long-term development in their respective areas, following the principle of self-borrowing and self-repayment, ensuring the stability of the national financial situation.

The Ministry of Finance shall provide guidance, inspect, and supervise the implementation of this policy.

7. Summarize and evaluate the allocation and use of central government support funds for localities according to specific goals such as developing socio-economic infrastructure, tourism infrastructure, aquaculture infrastructure, craft villages... to ensure compliance with investment policies and objectives, promote industry development, address employment issues, and contribute to increasing the economic growth rate of each locality and the entire economy.

The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and localities to summarize and report to the Prime Minister the results of implementation in the third quarter of 2003.

8. Continue to improve the investment environment to attract foreign direct investment, particularly creating favorable conditions for the rapid development of supporting industries; accelerate administrative reform, procedures for handling, reviewing, licensing, and post-licensing state management of foreign investment projects, clearly defining the responsibilities of each agency, level, and sector in reviewing and adjusting foreign investment regulations, coordinating in compiling lists of investment solicitation projects, and promoting foreign investment. Diversify forms of foreign investment. Accelerate the implementation of measures to reduce investment costs, narrow, and eventually eliminate differences in input service prices, and reduce tax rate disparities between domestic and foreign-invested enterprises.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall specify the contents to guide implementation in the second quarter of 2003, while planning to intensify activities to promote foreign investment, focusing on potential areas.

9. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall prepare the content and measures to implement pilot programs allowing foreign investors to establish joint-stock companies and convert some operating foreign-invested enterprises into joint-stock companies.

10. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall specify measures to create better harmonization of procedures between Vietnam and sponsors to enhance attraction and improve the efficiency of using ODA funds; accelerate land clearance, land allocation according to schedule, and allocate sufficient counterpart funds to implement projects, especially those to be completed in 2003 and 2004, to expedite disbursement of project implementation according to signed agreements.

12. Study the establishment of regulations on conditions, capabilities, and responsibilities of individuals and consulting agencies in project investment and design; authority and responsibility of the investor; responsibility of organizations and individuals in tendering, contracting, construction, supervision, acceptance, warranty, and maintenance of works. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Construction shall promulgate specific regulations.

13. Study early amendments to the bidding rules, revisions and supplements to construction cost norms and unit prices, innovation in inspection and supervision mechanisms for construction quality and construction cost monitoring during investment, promptly identifying organizational and acceptance violations in construction. If violations are detected, construction must be halted to address them. Supervisory organizations must have an independent position from the investor and the construction organization; address the situation where supervisory and construction organizations belong to the same management body to prevent collusion and compromise in supervision, acceptance, and settlement affecting construction quality, causing waste and loss in construction investment. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Construction shall urgently study and submit to the Prime Minister.

Study to amend the Bidding Regulation soon, revise and supplement provisions on construction norms and unit prices, innovate inspection and supervision mechanisms for construction quality, supervise construction costs in investment projects in a timely manner to detect any violations in construction organization and project acceptance. If any violations are detected, construction must be suspended to implement corrective measures. Supervisory organizations must have an independent position from the investor and the construction contractor; eliminate the situation where supervisory organizations and construction contractors belong to the same management agency to prevent collusion and compromise in supervision, acceptance, and settlement affecting project quality, causing waste and loss in construction investment. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Construction urgently study and submit to the Prime Minister.

The person with decision-making authority at each stage shall be responsible for decisions made at that stage. The head of the unit shall be held accountable for any waste or loss occurring in investment and construction projects within their management scope.

13. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, together with relevant agencies, to propose policies to adjust bidding mechanisms and basic construction investment to reduce loopholes in the bidding process and significant waste in basic construction investment.

III. Finance and Currency

1. Ministries, central agencies, provinces, and centrally-administered cities shall assign revenue and expenditure tasks to units from January 2003. Revenue targets should exceed the budget estimates set by the Prime Minister, while expenditure must adhere to the allocated budget estimates. Publicly announce the allocation and assignment of revenue and expenditure budgets according to regulations.

2. Implement tax revenue collection tasks in accordance with legal provisions. Strengthen pre- and post-VAT refund inspection work, strictly handle violations, recover occupied refund funds; resolutely combat revenue loss, smuggling, commercial fraud, tax evasion, and overdue tax payments.

3. Ensure the 2003 state budget to implement salary reform as per the National Assembly's Resolution. Local budgets must allocate at least 50% of the increase in revenues in 2002 compared to the People's Council's approved budget; 50% of the increase in the 2003 budget estimate compared to the 2002 budget estimate assigned by the Prime Minister; implement a 10% reduction in regular expenditures (excluding salaries and salary-like expenses) of the 2003 budget estimate; retain 35-40% of collected revenues under the regime of public institutions and administrative units; proactively reserve 50% of the 2003 revenue increase relative to the assigned budget to fund the 2003 and subsequent year's salary reform. If these measures still fall short, the central government will supplement to ensure adequate funding for the new salary system.

4. Implement targeted supplementary transfers from the central budget to local budgets instead of the return investment mechanism based on local revenue forecasts.

5. Launch the issuance of "education bonds" to implement the Program for School and Classroom Reinforcement. Continue mobilizing contributions from businesses and society for this Program.

6. Starting from 2003, do not provide free audio equipment to ethnic minorities living in remote areas but use these funds to support localities in developing radio and community broadcasting stations in mountainous and ethnic minority regions. The Ethnic Committee shall lead, coordinating with the Ministries of Finance, Planning and Investment, Culture, Sports and Tourism to provide detailed guidance on implementing this policy.

7. Ministries, central agencies, and people's councils at all levels shall promptly complete the transfer of autonomy rights regarding organizational staffing, personnel, salaries, and finances to public institutions in accordance with Government Decree No. 10/2002/NĐ-CP dated January 16, 2002. The Ministry of Finance shall coordinate with related ministries and sectors to provide specific guidance on implementation steps and establish strict management, monitoring, and supervision mechanisms for units after they have been granted autonomy.

8. Implement a bonus mechanism for local budgets:

For special consumption taxes on domestically produced goods: award 100% of the excess revenue over the allocated budget estimate to the central budget.

For the portion of excess revenue over the allocated budget estimate from export taxes, import taxes, and special consumption taxes on imported goods: award 100% of the excess up to 20 billion VND and 50% of the excess above 20 billion VND, with a maximum total award of 50 billion VND.

For shared revenue portions: award 20% of the actual central budget revenue in 2003 exceeding the actual revenue in 2002.

The bonus for excess revenue in Hanoi City shall be implemented according to the Law on Hanoi Capital No. 29/2000/PL-UBTVQH dated December 28, 2000 of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

The aforementioned bonus revenue shall be used to supplement infrastructure investment, address urgent and emergent tasks arising locally, and reward lower-level budgets.

9. Organize the implementation of the 2003 state budget:

a) For the state budget:

Any increase in revenue over the budget estimate (if applicable) shall be used to reduce the state budget deficit, increase debt repayment, increase development investment, supplement the source for implementing the new salary system, increase the financial reserve fund, and increase the budget reserve to proactively respond to natural disasters and handle emergent tasks.

If revenue falls significantly below the budget estimate, proactively develop adjustment plans to submit to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for consideration and decision. Maintain the state budget deficit at no more than 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

b) FOR THE LOCAL BUDGET:

Any increase in revenue over the budget estimate (if applicable) shall be used to increase debt repayment, increase development investment, supplement the source for implementing the new salary system, increase the financial reserve fund, and increase the budget reserve to proactively respond to natural disasters and handle emergent tasks.

If revenue falls short of the budget estimate, corresponding reductions in spending must be made in non-critical expenditure categories.

10. The Ministry of Finance shall organize the review of the implementation of the Value Added Tax Law, Special Consumption Tax Law, Corporate Income Tax Law, Agricultural Land Use Tax Law, and draft new tax laws to encourage and create conditions for enhancing competitiveness, aligning with integration progress.

11. The Ministry of Finance shall study and submit to the Government for promulgation a Decree detailing strict, clear, and transparent spending authority for budget funds; specifying what and how much a unit head can spend; and defining the right of finance and treasury officers to veto unauthorized expenditures when discovered.

12. Maintain the stability of the Vietnamese currency value, ensure the control of inflation not exceeding 5% to guarantee overall balance and promote economic growth. Improve and innovate monetary policy management towards enhancing analytical and forecasting capabilities to proactively regulate the money market through indirect monetary policy tools.

13. Credit organizations are authorized to independently select, decide, and bear responsibility for lending without requiring collateral as stipulated in the regulations on loan guarantees. The State Bank of Vietnam shall study and promulgate provisions regarding the amount of loans without collateral for borrowers who are cooperatives, large-scale agricultural households producing goods, having feasible projects, and capable of repaying bank debts.

14. Credit organizations may use their raised capital to contribute to establishing a credit guarantee fund for small and medium-sized enterprises. Provincial and centrally-administered city authorities must allocate budget funds to contribute to the registered capital of the Fund in accordance with Decision No. 193/2001/QĐ-TTg dated December 20, 2001 of the Government Prime Minister.

15. Focus and take positive measures in handling outstanding debts; supplement the registered capital of state-owned commercial banks and policy banks; implement the project to consolidate, complete, and improve the health of the credit organization system.

16. Expand and develop modern banking utility services to meet the requirements of the economy. Perfect legal mechanisms for check and bank card payments; develop an inter-bank electronic payment system to expand cashless transactions in the economy.

17. The State Bank of Vietnam shall study and promulgate regulations on export credit insurance, discounting bills of exchange loans; increase the maximum proportion of short-term raised capital of commercial banks used for medium and long-term loans.

18. The Securities Commission needs to take specific measures to continue consolidating and developing a stable, safe, and solid securities market; encourage and create conditions for increasing the quantity of quality goods, large reputable enterprises, joint-stock commercial banks, and some foreign-invested enterprises to participate in listing on the securities market; at the same time, focus on directing to promptly put the Securities Trading Center in Hanoi into operation.

IV. Some social sectors

1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall concentrate on implementing solutions to reform teaching programs and textbooks; incorporate feedback on first-grade and sixth-grade textbooks to adjust, supplement, and perfect them; effectively compile second-grade and seventh-grade textbooks; timely and adequately provide teaching equipment to schools; improve programs, enhance the quality and effectiveness of education in ethnic minority boarding schools so that graduates from these schools have sufficient qualifications (abilities) to participate in village and commune management work. Implement well the regulations on preschool development and the program to reinforce school buildings.

2. Focus on doing well the university and college admissions work, making significant changes in vocational education. Continue to rectify additional teaching in general education schools and the expansion of non-formal education training scale. Promote socialization alongside strengthened management in the education and training sector, strengthen management of quality in part-time training, distance learning, and training by private school systems. Only allow new training facilities to be opened when all conditions concerning infrastructure, faculty, and training programs are fully prepared. The Ministry of Education and Training shall build plans and immediately implement them in the first quarter of 2003.

3. The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Finance shall study and submit to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2003 the establishment of a National Science and Technology Development Fund. Develop a mechanism for collaboration between research and training institutions and production and business units; policies and mechanisms to create incentives for scientific research, training, and human resource utilization activities.

4. Concentrate on directing the implementation of information technology, biotechnology, new materials technology, automation technology programs, building the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park, and national key laboratories; develop a strategy for marine science and technology and space technology development.

5. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall urgently complete the National Environmental Protection Strategy Project, submit it to the Prime Minister for approval; at the same time, prepare conditions to direct and guide the implementation of the "Comprehensive Plan to Address Severe Polluting Facilities" immediately after the Prime Minister's approval.

6. Actively and quickly resolve diseases, preventing major outbreaks; do well the work of managing and caring for people's health. Organize the implementation of the establishment of a health examination and treatment fund for the poor. Strengthen educational efforts on environmental hygiene and food safety.

In the second quarter of 2003, the Ministry of Health shall submit to the Government the mechanism and solutions to implement the National Strategy on Reproductive Health Care and the National Nutrition Strategy; simultaneously, effectively implement the national targets for preventing and controlling social diseases, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and malnutrition among children nationwide. Implement proactive policies and measures to train medical staff in difficult areas, remote regions. Implement pilot projects to grant hospitals autonomy over their salary funds.

7. Study and perfect the mechanism for integrating the use of resources from poverty reduction programs and projects. Continue to implement the mechanism for agencies and localities with better conditions to assist poor communes in poverty reduction. Encourage and create conditions for the development of craft villages and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Direct the development of pilot models for linking between the State Corporation and households, poor communes to develop raw material areas, consumption contracts for products; build farming models on terraced fields to ensure food security in highland communes; build aquaculture development models linked with poverty reduction in coastal and beach communes; build housing models linked with residential clusters in the Mekong Delta region; build commune models organizing and supporting poor people to work abroad. Focus on directing economic and social development in the Central Highlands provinces, the Mekong Delta provinces, and the particularly difficult mountainous provinces in the North according to the Prime Minister's Decisions. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the National Ethnic Committee, in accordance with their assigned functions and tasks, coordinate with relevant agencies to guide the implementation of this policy in detail.

8. Ensure sufficient capital and vigorously implement the activities of the Social Policy Bank; direct the effective implementation of the integration of production, business, structural transformation programs, selection of crops, livestock, trades, technology transfer programs, industrial promotion, agricultural extension, forestry extension, fisheries extension, market guidance with the use of credit from the Social Policy Bank; combine economic programs with infrastructure construction programs and cultural-social programs to support borrowers to use loans for their intended purposes, effectively and minimize risks.

9. Vigorously promote the mass movement "All People United to Build a Cultural Life"; build civilized and healthy lifestyles; create conditions for the people to enjoy and participate in cultural activities and cultural creativity. Socialize cultural activities, encourage and create conditions to mobilize resources for cultural development, viewing investment in culture as investment in human beings and sustainable economic and social development.

V. Restore traffic order and safety on roads; maintain and ensure social order and safety

1. Declare 2003 as the year to establish traffic order and safety nationwide. Urgently implement the Resolution of the second session of the Ninth National Assembly regarding the mobilization of all citizens to participate in maintaining traffic order and safety. Local authorities at all levels must proactively build specific goals and contents suitable to the requirements and characteristics of each locality to coordinate with political and social organizations in implementing the campaign, creating real changes both in awareness and actions of each citizen in improving compliance with traffic laws.

2. Ministries, sectors, and localities, according to their functions and authority, must proactively implement well the nine urgent measures of Resolution No. 13/2002/NQ-CP dated November 19, 2002, of the Government on measures to control the increase and gradually reduce traffic accidents and congestion. Chairmen of provincial, city, and town People's Committees directly serve as Heads of Traffic Order and Safety Steering Committees at the local level. Each locality must develop specific action programs and strictly direct the implementation of measures to control the increase and gradually reduce traffic accidents and congestion.

3. The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transport cooperate with localities, primarily the cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Da Nang, to develop plans and specific measures to handle, prevent, and reduce road traffic accidents; simultaneously propose measures to limit the increase in the number of motorcycles in urban areas.

4. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security supplement traffic police forces to ensure adequate manpower to maintain traffic order and safety suitable to the conditions of each locality, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Implement penalties for all traffic violations (including pedestrians) with reasonable fines, carried out continuously and regularly. The Ministry of Public Security coordinates with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance to specifically regulate strict handling of traffic law violations.

5. Develop and implement mechanisms for cooperation among units and organizations in mobilizing volunteer forces to join traffic police forces to establish traffic order and safety in 2003. Initially, this involves cooperation between the Communist Youth Union and the authorities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hue, and Can Tho. Pilot implementation in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to define the specific authority and responsibility of each level of government in organizing and managing the restoration and maintenance of traffic order and safety in districts according to the Prime Minister's directive in Document No. 1640/CP-CCHC dated December 19, 2002.

6. Continue to direct legal agencies to thoroughly investigate, prosecute, and publicly try those who commit crimes, regardless of position. Crack down, suppress, and promptly arrest organized crime, corruption, smuggling, drug-related crimes, and eliminate social evils and drug trafficking. Strive to significantly reduce the number of criminal cases and social evils in 2003 compared to 2002, especially serious cases. Attack and suppress criminal activities according to specific topics, along routes and key areas such as Hanoi and adjacent provinces; the northern and northeastern border areas; the central and Central Highlands regions; Ho Chi Minh City and provinces in southeastern and southwestern Vietnam.

7. The Government shall strengthen its guidance and inspection of the proper fulfillment of responsibilities and authorities by heads of state administrative agencies at all levels in handling citizens' complaints. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities must allocate sufficient time to address citizens' complaints and denunciations, ensuring that they are examined and resolved in accordance with regulations on complaints and denunciations. Complaint resolution must be conducted openly, democratically, and in compliance with the law, following the principle that state administrative agencies at all levels, particularly at the grassroots level, must directly examine and resolve citizens' complaints; higher-level administrative agencies must intensify supervision, focus, and promptly resolve cases thoroughly where lower-level agencies have already processed them to rectify wrongful decisions; simultaneously, they must promptly handle officials who commit violations, where lower-level agencies fail to strictly comply with or correctly implement directives from higher-level administrative agency heads.

The State Auditor General shall develop and submit to the Government a project for resolving citizens' complaints and denunciations, clarifying specific contents regarding receiving citizens, handling letters beyond jurisdiction, enforcing decisions on handling, and resolving cases that have become legally effective according to the above principles.

8. Study and propose to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to promulgate regulations on resolving mass complaints, enforcement of decisions on resolving complaints that have become legally effective, and handling individuals who exploit their right to complain and denounce to incite others to file complaints, disrupt public order, or obstruct public servants in the performance of their duties.

VI. Strengthening Discipline in the Administrative System of the State

1. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels shall base themselves on the Government's Work Regulations to direct reviews and amendments to the Work Regulations of their ministries, sectors, and localities. The spirit of this regulation is to clearly define division of labor based on the principle that each task shall be assigned to one person or organization responsible for it; clearly define the responsibility for urging, inspecting, and implementing deep and thorough directives from leaders; each level of leadership and each individual shall perform their functions and tasks properly, using their authority appropriately, not overstepping or shirking responsibilities; reduce and improve the content of meetings, dedicating more time to grasping situations, inspecting, and guiding subordinates in implementation.

2. Issue a Government Decree on the delegation of administrative management between the central government and localities based on the principle that work should be delegated to the level that can perform it effectively and conveniently for the people and businesses, while ensuring the unity of the institutional framework for state administration; responsibilities and authorities in work must be accompanied by responsibilities and authorities in organizational structure, personnel, and budget utilization. In 2003, implement the delegation of management of staff quotas for provincial and centrally governed city levels. Reform the salary management mechanism towards socialization. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall cooperate with relevant agencies to urgently prepare proposals for the Government's consideration and approval for implementation in the first quarter of 2003.

3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities must plan inspections and audits of the implementation of laws in their respective sectors, fields, and localities under their charge, viewing this as an important, regular task and as part of the inspection content by higher-level administrative agency heads over subordinates.

4. Implement the principle that heads of state administrative agencies at higher levels have the authority to temporarily suspend the work of subordinate officials who violate the law, lack responsibility, or fail to complete tasks regardless of which level they are directly managed by, and transfer them to the personnel management agency for review and administrative disciplinary action. Heads of state administrative agencies have full authority and responsibility in managing and directing their agencies and bear joint liability for violations of the law by organizations and civil servants under their charge.

5. By the first quarter of 2003, amend Decree No. 97/1998/ND-CP dated November 17, 1998 on disciplinary measures and material responsibility for civil servants, adding joint liability for leaders and managers for corruption and malfeasance incidents occurring in units under their charge.

Local governments at all levels must firmly and within their authority implement the recovery of land areas allocated to state-owned enterprises but not used or used for improper purposes, severely punish forced orders. Enforce disciplinary measures against civil servants who violate state regulations on land management and use, especially those involving encroachment on public land or coercing people to hand over land, illegal land transfers; violations in basic construction investment, building headquarters, and purchasing equipment beyond standards.

By the second quarter of 2003, the State Audit Office shall complete the proposal for reforming citizen reception work and strengthening inspection and supervision by the state administrative system, along with the Inspection Law draft, for the Government's consideration and submission to the National Assembly.

VII. Implementation Organization

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government shall immediately concretize and implement the Government's Work Program for 2003.

2. Starting from 2003, all agencies, from central to local levels, shall publicly disclose all their activities (excluding those classified as state secrets) so that the people can know, provide opinions, and supervise their implementation. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Security shall provide detailed guidance on state secrets.

3. Ministries, agencies under the Government, and local governments at all levels shall evaluate monthly and quarterly the results of implementing their work programs, plans, and budgets; identify and find timely solutions to overcome difficulties and support prompt resolution of issues by subordinates and grassroots levels; for matters exceeding their authority, they shall aggregate and propose solutions, reporting to higher levels for decision-making.

4. The Government maintains specialized coordination meetings to review the situation, propose measures to enhance the implementation of the State's quarterly plans and budget, and make relevant decisions./.