Decision No. 04/2004/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in March 2004

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in March 2004

On March 31 and April 1, 2004, the Government convened its regular monthly meeting in March to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Minister of Construction present the project on Developing the Real Estate Market.

Developing and managing the real estate market effectively will play a significant role in promoting economic and social development, increasing capital for investment in development. In recent years, activities related to buying and selling real estate, especially housing and land in urban areas and regions undergoing urbanization, have formed and developed rapidly. Alongside positive aspects, these activities have shown many complex developments: spontaneous nature, buying and transferring without registration to evade taxes, speculative behavior regarding houses and land has become quite common... leading to artificial increases in house and land prices, affecting production, investment, finance, credit, and improving living conditions for the people, increasing production costs, and reducing the competitiveness of the economy.

To develop the real estate market, comprehensive and consistent measures are needed to ensure that the real estate market develops healthily and in the right direction; meet the requirements of transparency in buying and selling activities, with state management; fully leverage the role of real estate, stimulate production development, and increase revenue for the budget. At this stage, the State should focus mainly on high-value real estate assets and sectors with many concerns such as housing, land for housing, and construction land for production purposes. In the near future, efforts should be concentrated on completing the issuance of Certificates of House and Land Use Rights in urban areas; intensify detailed planning work to provide a basis for management and promote the operation of the real estate market.

The Ministry of Construction is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, incorporate opinions from government members, draft a Resolution of the Government on measures to promote healthy development of the real estate market, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

2. The Government heard the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment present the project on Land Use Planning until 2010 and the Land Use Plan until 2005.

Land use planning and plans are the foundation for implementing the process of restructuring land use structures in sync with labor structure, investment structure, creating reasonable steps to restructure the economy and implement industrialization and modernization of the country; they are important tools of the State for levels and sectors to manage, utilize, and exploit land resources efficiently for the purpose of economic and social development.

In recent years, with the attention of the Party and the State, the establishment of land use planning and plans has been well implemented by ministries, sectors, and localities and gradually becoming routine. However, the establishment of land use planning and plans in recent times has not been comprehensive and sustainable, not in line with the requirements of land management and utilization in the long-term strategy for economic and social development of the country.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is tasked to lead, coordinate with relevant agencies, incorporate opinions from government members, finalize the draft Land Use Planning until 2010 and the Land Use Plan until 2005, report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision, and submit to the National Assembly.

3. The Government heard the Minister of Finance report on the Finalization of the State Budget for 2002; heard the State Auditor General report on the Results of Auditing in 2003, the Fiscal Year 2002 State Budget.

In 2002, financial work completed all tasks assigned by the National Assembly and the Government comprehensively beyond expectations. Revenue exceeded the plan, and the budget deficit was below the level allowed by the National Assembly. The structure of budget revenue and expenditure showed significant positive changes; investment spending for economic development, education, healthcare, culture-information, science and technology increased; support spending for localities, mountainous areas, remote regions, ethnic minority regions for economic and social development and poverty reduction received more attention; spending for national defense and security was ensured; the national reserve fund and cushion for 2003 increased significantly.

The results of auditing the fiscal year 2002 show that the implementation of regulations on budget revenue and expenditure at various levels, sectors, and budget-using units has made significant positive changes. However, scattered investment, wastage, and inefficient use of the budget still exist in many places and sectors, particularly serious in some areas and fields. Budget revenue forecasting and estimation were not accurate enough; tax arrears remained relatively large; financial management in many state-owned enterprises was not strict, with arbitrariness and misrepresentation of business results; financial management at commune and ward levels was weak; financial management of public funds and project budgets had many unresolved issues.

The Ministry of Finance is tasked to lead, coordinate with the State Audit Office, incorporate opinions from government members, complete the above reports. The Minister of Finance, authorized by the Prime Minister, shall submit the Report on the Finalization of the State Budget for 2002 to the National Assembly.

4. The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment report on the Implementation of the Economic and Social Development Plan in March and the First Quarter of 2004, main solutions in the near future; heard the Ministers of Trade and Finance report on the Market Price Situation in the first three months and measures to stabilize market prices for the remaining nine months.

In March and the first quarter of 2004, the national economy continued to maintain a higher growth rate compared to the same period of the previous year. Notably, industrial production maintained a high growth rate for two consecutive years, with significant increases in production capacity and competitiveness; the domestic market was expanded, export turnover exceeded the planned target; poverty reduction, job creation... continued to achieve results from the previous year, making many advances. However, due to the widespread occurrence of avian influenza, prolonged cold weather and drought, domestic food and commodity prices, particularly essential goods that must be imported such as steel products, fuel, plastics, fertilizers, raw materials for medicines... saw sudden increases, adversely affecting production, construction, tourism, and services, leading to an increase in consumer price index, slowing down the implementation progress and disbursement of investment capital. The quality of some service activities has not been improved, costs remain high. Traffic accidents and crime, especially drug-related crimes, have shown an increasing trend.

To successfully implement the 2004 plan, ministries, sectors, and localities need to intensify the implementation of Resolution No. 01/2004/NQ-CP on economic and social management measures for 2004 and promptly implement the Government's Action Program to implement the Resolution of the 9th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Party (Term IX); develop specific plans and strongly direct to exceed the plan from the second quarter of 2004; implement monthly reporting systems to timely guide and resolve emerging issues.

The Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to proactively review products and industries with potential to create conditions for faster growth; organize the domestic market well, promote exports, and take measures to stimulate consumption among farmers and rural areas; improve the management of budget-funded construction projects, accelerate the disbursement of ODA funds; reform administrative procedures and financial policies related to investment; vigorously develop service activities, especially tourism, in a direction to fully exploit and develop domestic potential; closely monitor domestic and international markets, take flexible measures to control the sudden price increases of essential goods for production and people's lives; strengthen market management, prevent speculation, and unfair profiteering through price hikes; continue to maintain preventive measures to prevent the recurrence of avian influenza, while planning to quickly restore poultry flocks.

5. The Government heard the General Inspectorate of the State present the draft Decree guiding asset declaration for candidates for People's Council representatives at all levels; heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office report on issues requiring the Government's opinion on this draft Decree.

Entrust the General Inspectorate of the State to lead, coordinate with relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions of Government members, perfect the draft Decree, and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance.

Based on the content of the Decree approved by the Government, the Ministry of Home Affairs guides localities to urgently implement related tasks to serve the election of People's Council representatives at all levels well.

6. The Government heard the Minister of Justice present the draft Ordinance on Judicial Appraisal; heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office report on the synthesis of opinions of Government members on this draft Ordinance.

In recent years, judicial appraisal work has made important contributions to litigation activities, positively contributing to the fight against crime, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the State and citizens. Alongside these achievements, judicial appraisal work still has many limitations, failing to meet the requirements of litigation activities, especially those requiring high professional expertise and advanced technology... The promulgation of the Judicial Appraisal Ordinance will provide a legal basis for improving the organizational system and material infrastructure of judicial appraisal, strengthening state management, and enhancing the quality of judicial appraisal to ensure accurate, objective, and lawful resolution of cases.

Entrust the Ministry of Justice to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, incorporate the opinions of Government members, perfect the draft Ordinance; the Minister of Justice, authorized by the Prime Minister, submits the draft Ordinance to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

7. The Government heard a report on some issues regarding the reform of state administrative management, presented by the Secretary-General of the Government's Steering Committee for Administrative Reform.

The overall administrative reform program of the Government has been approved and is being implemented. In recent times, many important regulatory legal documents have been issued. The Government has clearly defined the functions, tasks, organizational structure of Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies; clearly delineated authorities and responsibilities among ministries and sectors, addressing overlapping situations; separated administrative organizations from public service units. There have been many innovations in the work of building and developing cadres and civil servants. Administrative reform according to the "one-stop" mechanism, decentralization in managing public service units is being piloted in some ministries, sectors, and localities... However, during the implementation process, administrative reform at the grassroots level still faces many difficulties, with very slow progress.

The Government requests that ministries, sectors, and localities thoroughly understand and intensify the implementation of the administrative reform program within their respective ministries, sectors, and localities; link administrative reform with combating bureaucracy, corruption, and negative practices, tightening discipline, and purifying the administrative apparatus; promote socialization of public services, establish management mechanisms for public service units towards autonomy, eliminating paternalism; accelerate modernization of the administrative system, innovate working styles, improve the quality and effectiveness of services provided by state administrative agencies.

The Steering Committee for Administrative Reform is assigned to lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Office to monitor and report on the progress and results of the administrative reform program of ministries, sectors, and localities at regular meetings of the Government.

8. The Government will consider the Report on the Implementation of the Work of Electing Deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2004-2009 term, presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Following the Government's directives, ministries, sectors, and People's Committees at all levels in localities have closely coordinated with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other social organizations in the preparation for electing deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2004-2009 term in various localities. To date, the preparatory work for the election has basically completed the steps of nominating candidates through consultations, ensuring compliance with prescribed procedures and formalities. Many localities have established the required number of electoral units, the number of candidates, and officially announced the list of candidates; material conditions, publicity for the election day, security, and social preparations have been fully and safely made.

The Government requests that ministries, sectors, and localities continue to provide guidance and promptly resolve difficulties so that the election of deputies to People's Councils at all levels proceeds successfully.