Decision No. 03/2004/NQ-CP of the Government at the regular meeting of the Government in February 2004

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in February 2004

On February 4 and 5, 2004, the Government convened its regular meeting for February, discussed, and adopted the following issues:

1. Regarding the Draft Program on the Implementation of the Resolution of the 9th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ninth Term, presented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment: Implementing Resolution No. 34/NQ-TW dated February 3, 2004 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the Government will develop an Action Program with the goal of thoroughly implementing and directing all levels and sectors to organize the implementation of policies and solutions in accordance with the spirit of the Resolution; resolutely striving to accelerate economic growth rates in 2004-2005; improving the quality of cultural and social development in synchronization with economic growth; properly addressing urgent social issues; consolidating national defense and security; maintaining public order and social safety.

The Government's Action Program focuses on urgent, practical issues that have a significant impact on creating strong changes in the remaining two years of the five-year plan, with the main focus being: accelerating the implementation of shareholding reform of state-owned enterprises, including total companies and large enterprises; developing synchronized markets: securities, real estate, labor, and science and technology; implementing measures to attract substantial investment capital for economic growth while enhancing investment efficiency; accelerating the process of international economic integration, preparing sufficient conditions for early accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO); promoting socialization in education and healthcare fields; concentrating on solving employment, poverty reduction, and other urgent social issues; simultaneously resolving obstacles in administrative reform, enhancing the effectiveness of state machinery operations, and combating corruption.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, incorporate opinions from government members and attendees, perfect the content of the Program, and submit it to the Prime Minister for issuance.

Ministries, sectors, and localities need to urgently develop their own Action Programs to implement Resolution No. 34/NQ-TW; review, amend, and supplement mechanisms, policies, and projects according to the division of labor in the Government's Program.

2. The Government heard the report from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the results of avian influenza prevention and control work.

Avian influenza prevention and control efforts over the past period have been promptly and comprehensively implemented with high determination at all levels and sectors from central to local levels. Proposed preventive and control measures were appropriate and effectively carried out. The firm and close guidance of the Party and the Government has mobilized the combined strength of state management agencies, scientific organizations, mass organizations, and the entire population in organizing disease prevention and control. As a result, the epidemic was quickly contained, protecting the health of those directly involved in animal husbandry, those participating in disease prevention and control, and the community, minimizing losses. By the end of February 2004, the entire country had controlled and eradicated the epidemic, and it is expected that by the end of March, the epidemic can be declared over nationwide.

However, this is a newly emerging disease with complex developments, rapid spread across wide areas, causing significant losses and potentially affecting human health. Therefore, in the future, ministries, sectors, and localities need to continue focusing on implementing measures to prevent the recurrence of the epidemic; pay attention to disinfection and sterilization of livestock farms and breeding facilities, environmental sanitation; conduct comprehensive reviews to draw lessons and develop more comprehensive and proactive measures for poultry disease prevention and control, as well as other diseases; continue to maintain and develop poultry breeding bases, have plans to restore production, gradually resume slaughtering, circulation, and consumption of poultry meat and other poultry products.

3. The Government heard the presentation of the Draft Law on Forest Protection and Development by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; and the report summarizing the opinions of government members on the Draft Law by the Minister, Head of the Government Office.

The Forest Protection and Development Law, passed by the National Assembly in 1991, provided a legal basis for forest management, protection, development, exploitation, and utilization; protected natural landscape environments; conserved rare forest flora and fauna; contributed to disaster prevention. However, after more than ten years of implementation, some provisions of the Law have shown many limitations and are no longer suitable with the practical requirements of national renewal and current related laws.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office, and relevant agencies to incorporate opinions from government members, perfect the Draft Law. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, authorized by the Prime Minister, shall submit this Draft Law to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

4. The Government heard the presentation of the Draft Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Education Law by the Minister of Education and Training; and the report summarizing the opinions of government members on this Draft Law by the Minister, Head of the Government Office.

Over five years of implementation, the Education Law has contributed to the development of the education sector; the education system has been reformed and gradually improved; the level of popular education and the quality of human resources have increased. However, in response to the rapid development of educational activities and the increasing demand for training from the people, several pressing issues have emerged, which the practical situation requires such as: education quality, training systems, textbooks, teaching materials, examination organization, vocational education, socialization of education, education management... need to be specified further; many provisions in the Education Law also need to be fundamentally amended to create a legal foundation for the robust and sustainable development of the education sector in Vietnam.

Article 1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Government Office, and relevant agencies, to incorporate opinions from government members, continue to refine the draft Law, and submit it for the National Education Council's review. This is a very fundamental and sensitive Law that requires a large number of excellent experts to study, provide comments, and complete the draft Law before presenting it to the National Assembly.

5. The Government will hear the Minister of Planning and Investment present the Proposal on Foreign Borrowing and Debt Repayment until 2010.

Along with the development and diversification of international economic relations in the direction of globalization, foreign borrowing and attracting foreign capital have become increasingly important and have become part of each country's development strategy. For our country, both in reality and in many years of socio-economic development strategies, it has been affirmed that alongside domestic capital, which is fundamental, foreign loan capital and support capital from abroad are very important for national development, poverty reduction, industrialization, and modernization. In general, we have handled foreign borrowing relationships relatively well so far, effectively using capital and ensuring debt repayment capability. However, in mobilizing and utilizing foreign loans, we have not yet established a long-term comprehensive strategy to ensure balance among various sources of borrowing and between borrowed capital and domestic counterpart funds. Legal frameworks and policies for managing foreign debts are still incomplete, strict, and not fully coordinated.

The Government recognizes that the construction and implementation of this proposal must meet the requirements to contribute to successfully implementing the Socio-Economic Development Strategy until 2010, reflecting the vision up to 2020 regarding the needs for capital usage across sectors and fields, ensuring effective utilization of foreign loan capital for national development and timely debt repayment.

Article 6. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Government Office, and relevant agencies, to incorporate opinions from government members, refine the Proposal, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on presenting it to the Politburo.

6. The Government will hear the Ministry of Planning and Investment present the report on the situation and plan for socio-economic development in February and the first two months of 2004, and urgent tasks to be implemented in the near future; examine the report on the domestic market situation in February 2004 presented by the Ministry of Trade.

The socio-economic situation in the first two months of 2004 maintained growth rates. Industry continued to develop at a high level, with many products being produced and consumed strongly. Agricultural production remained stable due to proactive measures against weather conditions and drought, allowing for reasonable crop rotation. Service activities developed, exports increased. Foreign direct investment decreased in terms of the number of projects but increased in registered capital compared to the same period last year, indicating a trend towards larger-scale investments. Social sectors continued to develop steadily, with many cultural and social activities organized well, richly, and healthily.

However, due to the impact of avian influenza, complex weather conditions, and volatile global market prices, many production sectors saw lower growth rates than planned and compared to the same period last year; the progress in implementing investment capital was low; the price index of goods and services increased significantly compared to the same period last year.

The Government assesses that in 2004, there will be many difficulties and challenges, and ministries, sectors, and localities need to leverage achievements from 2003, organize and implement socio-economic development solutions effectively, especially those mentioned in Resolution No. 01/2004/NQ-CP and the Government's Action Program to implement the Resolution of the 9th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ninth Term; focus on directing the successful implementation of the election of People's Councils at all levels for the 2004-2009 term; actively monitor the situation, promptly identify difficulties to find solutions to overcome them, and promote production, services, and social work according to set goals. For basic construction projects funded by the state, it is necessary to ensure and accelerate progress, particularly key national projects. The Government will take specific measures to offset costs due to increases in construction material prices. In March 2004, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will submit to the Prime Minister decisions on solutions to overcome difficulties in basic construction.