Decision No. 04/2000/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in February 2000

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in February 2000

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 On February 23 and 24, 2000, the Government convened its regular meeting for February 2000, discussed and adopted the following issues:

1. The Government heard related reports on the restructuring and development of state-owned enterprises, including the "Program to Continue Reforming and Developing State-Owned Enterprises" presented by Mr. Nguyen Minh Thong, Deputy Head of the Central Enterprise Management Reform Board; the "Program to Address and Settle Debts" presented by Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung of the Ministry of Finance; and the "Program to Resolve Surplus Labor in the Process of Restructuring State-Owned Enterprises" presented by Minister Nguyen Thi Hang of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The Government affirms that state-owned enterprises play a significant role in the national economy, ensuring a large portion of infrastructure and social services, providing essential products for daily life and production, serving as an important source of revenue for the state budget, and contributing positively to political and social stability. However, the current business efficiency of state-owned enterprises is not high, with many enterprises but small scale, outdated technology and techniques; the surplus labor and overdue debt problems are pressing issues at present. Therefore, it is necessary to continue restructuring and developing state-owned enterprises to rationalize industry structure and region, improve operational efficiency and competitiveness, and accelerate the process of international economic integration.

The Central Enterprise Management Reform Board shall take the lead, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Government Office, and relevant ministries and sectors, to incorporate the opinions of government members, perfect the overall program on "Continuing to Restructure and Develop State-Owned Enterprises," and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and presentation to the Politburo in March 2000. The program's content must thoroughly and specifically evaluate the effectiveness of state-owned enterprises; clarify objectives, directions, measures, and implementation timelines; propose measures to resolve debts and surplus labor issues for state-owned enterprises, especially those subject to shareholding, transfer, lease, or assignment.

2. The Government reviewed the proposal on the Action Program against Prostitution for the period 2000-2005 submitted by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; and the proposal on the National Program to Prevent, Combat, and Control Drugs for the period 2000-2005 submitted by the Minister of Public Security.

Combating prostitution and drug abuse is an urgent task that requires resolute and comprehensive action. With the principle of prevention as the main focus, it is necessary to organize coordination among forces to strictly manage residential areas, enhance education and communication about the harms of prostitution and drugs; improve legal frameworks to prevent and severely handle violations; integrate anti-prostitution and anti-drug efforts with other economic and social programs to make this a regular responsibility of all levels, sectors, social organizations, and every citizen. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant ministries, sectors, and social organizations, incorporate the opinions of government members, perfect the two draft programs, and submit them to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance in March 2000.

3. The Government heard the report by Minister Tran Xuan Gia of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the Draft Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam.

The Government sets the goal of amending and supplementing the Foreign Investment Law to enhance competitiveness, attract foreign investment capital to Vietnam; improve the legal framework, promptly address difficulties hindering foreign enterprises operating in Vietnam, and ensure equality between foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, and the Government Office, incorporate the opinions of government members, perfect the draft law, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and presentation to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in March 2000.

4. The Government heard the report by Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Doan Manh Giao on the Proposal of the Government and the Summary of Opinions of Government Members on the Draft Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Petroleum Law.

The investment environment in the petroleum sector in the country has changed compared to previous years. The Petroleum Law enacted in 1993 has revealed certain limitations and needs to be amended and supplemented to suit new conditions, facilitate, and increase the attractiveness of foreign investment to develop oil and gas exploration and production in Vietnam. The Government Office shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, incorporate the opinions of government members, perfect this draft law, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and presentation to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in March 2000.

The Government heard the report by Minister Tran Xuan Gia of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the socio-economic situation in February 2000.

The economic and social situation in the first two months of the year has developed favorably and achieved better results compared to the same period in 1999. Activities serving the Year of the Dragon Tet were well organized with a spirit of thriftiness, the supply of goods for the people during Tet was abundant, consumption levels were relatively high, and prices remained stable. However, production activities in the month have not yet shown significant and consistent changes, and the progress in implementing basic construction investment projects remains slow. The Government requests that ministries, sectors, and localities actively seek solutions to improve the efficiency of production, business operations, and product consumption, increase exports, especially addressing difficulties in rice exports; closely monitor price trends and take immediate measures at the beginning of the year to prevent deflation; direct and promptly implement the Government's Decrees guiding the implementation of the Enterprise Law, continue to review various types of permits and recommend to the Government the abolition of those permits that contravene the provisions of the Enterprise Law; immediately implement measures to support famine relief for Central region compatriots affected by floods.

The Government assigns the Ministry of Planning and Investment to promptly organize a specialized conference on basic construction to identify causes, resolve obstacles, and accelerate the progress of investment capital implementation; assigns the Ministry of Public Security to cooperate with the Ministry of Transport and localities to strengthen traffic safety inspection measures, strictly enforce Decree 36-CP to ensure traffic safety nationwide. /.