Decision No. 03/2006/NQ-CP of the Government's regular monthly meeting in February 2006

 RESOLUTION

Regarding the regular monthly meeting of the Government in February 2006 

On February 27 and 28, 2006, the Government held its regular monthly meeting in February to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Minister of Trade present the Project on Export Development for the period 2006-2010.

Over the five years from 2001 to 2005, the scale and growth rate of exports of the national economy have expanded significantly and grown at a relatively high level, achieving the set targets; the structure of export goods has made positive changes; the task of developing export markets has achieved many important results; the subjects participating in exports have continuously expanded, diversified, and operated more effectively. However, the scale of exports remains small, the average export turnover per capita is still low compared to other countries in the region and worldwide; although export growth is rapid, it is not yet stable; the product structure of exports is still unreasonable; the ability to proactively grasp favorable opportunities to penetrate and exploit export markets is limited; competitiveness is still weak.

During the period 2006-2010, efforts should be concentrated on developing exports with high and sustainable growth rates, serving as a driving force for GDP growth, structural transformation of the economy, labor structure, and employment; promoting production and export of goods with competitive advantages, improving the efficiency of exports. The export structure should shift towards increasing the export of products with high added value, high knowledge content products, and gradually reducing the proportion of raw material exports. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to continue reforming export mechanisms and policies, intensifying trade promotion activities and market information dissemination, upgrading infrastructure for exports; drastically reforming administrative procedures; professionalizing and enhancing the effectiveness of industry associations' operations, gradually improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods.

The Ministry of Trade is tasked with incorporating comments made during the meeting, perfecting the Project on Export Development for the period 2006-2010, and submitting it to the Prime Minister for approval.

2. The Government discussed the draft Law on Sending Workers Abroad presented by the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs; the draft Law on Notarization presented by the Minister of Justice; the draft Law on Dike Regulation presented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; the draft Law on Residence presented by the Minister of Public Security; and listened to the Deputy Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of Government members on the above draft laws.

a) In recent years, the activity of sending workers abroad has achieved significant results: providing employment for a portion of the workforce, improving the income of workers, and contributing to national construction; expanding the overseas labor market, gradually improving the quality of the labor force; increasingly complete legal documents in this field... However, the achievements obtained have not been commensurate with the potential of the domestic labor force; the development of sending workers abroad has not been stable; the skill levels, language proficiency, discipline awareness, and work ethics of Vietnamese workers remain low; the selection, vocational training, and orientation education for workers have not been satisfactory; negative phenomena have occurred in the process of sending workers abroad and managing them overseas...

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs is responsible for leading, coordinating with the Government Office and related agencies, incorporating comments from the meeting, perfecting the draft Law on Sending Workers Abroad; the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs will submit this draft law to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on behalf of the Prime Minister.

b) Regarding the draft Law on Notarization, it is necessary to clearly reflect the policy of reforming notarization activities according to the direction of administrative and judicial reforms and the policy of socializing auxiliary judicial activities; create necessary legal frameworks for the reform of notarization organization and activities; clarify and simplify the procedures and formalities of notarization, facilitating citizens and organizations in notarization activities.

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for leading, coordinating with the Government Office and related agencies, incorporating comments from the meeting, perfecting the draft Law on Notarization; the Minister of Justice will submit this draft law to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on behalf of the Prime Minister.

c) The implementation of the Dike Regulation Ordinance in 2000 has achieved certain results: dike management and protection have been strengthened and reinforced, especially inspections and supervision of law enforcement and handling violations concerning dikes; the dike system has gradually become more solid... However, the implementation process has revealed some limitations and inadequacies regarding the granting of long-term land use rights within the dike protection zone, using river banks to build structures and houses in urban and residential areas along the dike; handling houses and structures within the dike protection zone and on river banks and riverbeds; division of responsibilities, decentralization, and socialization of dike management and protection. The draft Law on Dike Regulation must address these limitations, while provisions on flood discharge corridors and riverbank usage must be consistent, ensuring scientific and practical feasibility; construction projects along dike lines and riverbanks must comply with planning, ensuring flood discharge and dike safety.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for leading, coordinating with the Government Office and related agencies, incorporating comments from the meeting, perfecting the draft Law on Dike Regulation; the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development will submit this draft law to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on behalf of the Prime Minister.

d) Freedom of residence is one of the fundamental rights of citizens, recognized in the Constitution and many other legal documents. In recent times, the management of residence has contributed to the struggle against crime and the understanding of population dynamics. However, previous regulations on registration and management of residence issued during the planned economy period with cumbersome administrative procedures have led to dispersion, lack of concentration, and inconsistency in residence management; many legal documents regulating residence are scattered, overlapping, and not in line with current reform requirements. Therefore, the Draft Law on Residence must clearly reflect the spirit of administrative reform, creating a legal framework for state management of residence for Vietnamese citizens and foreigners, respecting the rights and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens and foreigners in Vietnam; ensuring effectiveness, transparency, and convenience in residence registration and management work, facilitating Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese, and foreigners residing in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, incorporate opinions from the meeting, and finalize the Draft Law on Residence; the Minister of Public Security, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, shall submit this Draft Law to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. The Government listens to the report of the Minister, Head of the Government Office on the results of soliciting opinions from members of the Government on the draft Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 57/2002/ND-CP dated June 3, 2002, detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Fees and Charges; listens to the report of the Minister of Trade on some issues that need attention in negotiations for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

a) The Government agrees to approve the draft Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 57/2002/ND-CP detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Fees and Charges. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office to promptly complete the draft Decree and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and promulgation.

b) The Ministry of Trade shall take the lead, urgently draft a document announcing the Prime Minister's opinion on the contents of tasks that need to be completed to conclude negotiations for joining the WTO for ministries and sectors to implement. Ministers and heads of relevant agencies shall directly direct the immediate resolution of issues related to their respective fields of responsibility to conclude negotiations for joining the WTO with partners according to the agreed schedule and roadmap.

4. The Government has reviewed the Report on the economic and social situation in the first two months of 2006 and the results of production, business, service, and investment meetings in February 2006 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment; the Report on the trade situation in February 2006 presented by the Minister of Trade.

The economic and social situation in February and the first two months of the year maintained a relatively high growth rate: industrial production continued to maintain a growth rate; in agriculture, despite droughts and natural disasters, planting progress was ensured; services continued to develop; exports developed well; investment capital reached a satisfactory level; budget revenue and expenditure were on schedule, consumer goods and service price indices were lower than the same period last year. All levels and sectors organized activities well for the people to celebrate the Lunar New Year joyfully, healthily, thriftily, and better cared for policy beneficiaries. Political security and public order and safety during the Tet holiday were basically stable.

The difficulties that emerged included droughts, floods, pests, and the aftermath of avian influenza, which posed challenges for agricultural production and people's livelihoods; prices of some industrial products and services tended to increase; footwear, one of the main export products, faced anti-dumping duties from the EU; traffic order and safety continued to be complex, with many serious traffic accidents occurring...

The Government requests all ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the solutions in Resolution No. 01/2006/NQ-CP, focusing on overcoming difficulties, promoting agricultural production; boosting exports; controlling inflation within the State's control range; practicing thrift, combating corruption and waste; accelerating administrative reform; strengthening traffic safety work; striving to achieve the socio-economic plan for 2006 right from the first quarter./.