Decision No. 04/2006/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in March 2006

RESOLUTION

Regular Government Meeting in March 2006

On February 28 and 29, 2006, the Government held its regular meeting for March 2006 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment present the Supplementary Report on the Implementation of Tasks and Plan for 2005 and the Deployment of Tasks and Plan for 2006; the Minister of Finance present the Supplementary Report on the Evaluation of the Implementation of State Budget for 2005; the Deployment of State Budget Tasks for 2006 and the Finalization Report of State Budget for 2004.

At the eighth session of the eleventh National Assembly, the Government submitted to the National Assembly the Report on the Implementation of the Plan for 2005 and the Development Plan for 2006 and the Report on the Evaluation of the Implementation of State Budget Tasks for 2005. Looking back at the past year, besides basic advantages, the national economy had to face many difficulties and challenges. However, with the whole people's efforts, the enterprises' dynamism and creativity, the Government's resolute guidance and flexible management according to the Party's and National Assembly's resolutions, the national economy achieved a growth rate of 8.43%, the highest in nine years; service and tourism activities improved significantly; the economic structure made positive changes; export turnover exceeded the plan, import surplus decreased significantly compared to 2004; various types of enterprises developed strongly, especially private enterprises contributing positively to economic growth; capital mobilization for development reached a good level, especially foreign direct investment and capital from the community; state budget revenue exceeded the estimate and increased significantly compared to 2004, contributing to increasing investment spending and implementing other important tasks; the budget revenue and expenditure structure continued to improve; budget deficit was within the limit, ensuring national financial security. Social fields made many progress. Anti-corruption, thrift, anti-waste, administrative reform tasks were further promoted. The process of international economic integration achieved new successes.

To complete the tasks and budget for 2006 according to the National Assembly's resolution, it is necessary to focus on overcoming difficulties, promoting industrial and agricultural production; improving the business investment environment, enhancing the quality of development and competitiveness of the economy; continuing to restructure state-owned enterprises, developing services strongly; improving the efficiency of investment capital use, strictly checking and correcting investment management work; actively and proactively integrating into the international economy; continuing to promote administrative reform, strictly implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Corruption, the Law on Thrift and Anti-Waste.

The Minister of Planning and Investment, the Minister of Finance, upon receiving opinions at the meeting, shall perfect the Supplementary Report on the Implementation of Tasks and Plan for 2005 and the Deployment of Tasks and Plan for 2006; the Supplementary Report on the Evaluation of the Implementation of State Budget for 2005, the Deployment of State Budget Tasks for 2006; the Finalization Report of State Budget for 2004 and acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, submit these reports to the eleventh National Assembly, ninth session.

2. The Government heard the Minister of Education and Training present the Project on Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System for the period 2006-2015.

In recent years, teaching and learning foreign languages in the national education system have achieved encouraging results. However, the proficiency level of foreign languages among students, university students, cadres, and civil servants in general is still low, the effectiveness of using foreign languages and communication skills is limited, the ability to research and work independently in an international integration environment is weak. The reasons for this situation are: the organization of teaching and learning foreign languages at different educational levels still has many limitations; a part of foreign language teachers are weak in professional capacity and outdated in methods; material resources and means serving teaching and learning foreign languages are still poor and insufficient... The requirements of the country's industrialization and modernization and the process of international economic integration are placing urgent demands for fundamental reforms in the process of teaching and learning foreign languages for the younger generation.

The project on teaching and learning foreign languages needs to clearly reflect the contents regarding the selection of a foreign language as a formal subject for primary school students starting from a certain age and encouraging the study of additional foreign languages at higher levels but ensuring continuity in teaching and learning foreign languages between different educational levels; preparing a good teacher workforce, renewing curricula, textbooks, and teaching methods; combining state budget resources with socialization, diversification of resources, and various forms of organization for teaching and learning.

The Ministry of Education and Training, in collaboration with the Government Office, shall take the lead in incorporating opinions received at the meeting, perfect the Project on Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System for the period 2006-2015, report to the Prime Minister for submission to the Central Committee's Secretariat and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for comments before making a decision.

3. The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment present the draft Decree guiding the implementation of the Bidding Law; heard the Chairman of the Government Office report on some issues requiring the opinions of government members in the draft Decree; heard the Minister of Justice present the Audit Report on the draft Decree.

The Bidding Law took effect on April 1, 2006. Therefore, the Government needs to urgently promulgate the Decree guiding the implementation of the Law to ensure consistency in bidding-related legal regulations; guarantee the unity of the legal system on construction and bidding so that these legal provisions can quickly be implemented in practice and have high feasibility.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Construction, the Government Office, and relevant agencies to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the draft Decree guiding the Implementation of the Bidding Law, submit it for comments from members of the Government, and present it to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance.

4. The Government listens to the Minister of Foreign Affairs presenting the Project of the Ordinance on Signing and Implementing International Agreements; listens to the Minister and Head of the Government Office reporting the consolidated opinions of Government members regarding the Ordinance project.

The Law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties was passed by the National Assembly, the seventh session of the eleventh term, and took effect from January 1, 2006. However, this Law only regulates the signing, joining, and implementation of international treaties on behalf of the State and the Government, not international agreements on behalf of central state agencies, provincial People's Committees under the central government, political-social organizations, social organizations, and occupational social organizations. Given the increasing need for international cooperation and the close coordination between the foreign affairs activities of the Party and the State with the people's foreign affairs activities, it is necessary to issue the Ordinance on Signing and Implementing International Agreements.

The Ordinance on Signing and Implementing International Agreements must institutionalize the Party and State's policy and guidelines according to the principle that Vietnam is ready to be a friend and a reliable partner of countries in the international community; comply with the principles of respecting national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs of each country, and other fundamental principles of international law, and be consistent with international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the Ordinance project on Signing and Implementing International Agreements, report for comments from the Central Committee Secretariat before submitting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on presenting to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

5. The Government has reviewed the Report on the economic and social situation and production, business, service, and investment results in March and the first quarter of 2006 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment; the Report on the trade situation in March 2006 presented by the Ministry of Trade.

The economic and social situation in March and the first quarter of 2006 maintained stable growth rates: industrial production continued to achieve high growth rates; agriculture, despite droughts and natural disasters, still ensured planting schedules and effectively prevented and controlled diseases; services developed quite well; export turnover grew significantly; investment capital reached a good level, attracting foreign direct investment continued to increase; state budget revenue and expenditure were on schedule; monetary and credit activities were stable, consumer price index was contained. Some aspects of social activities made progress.

The difficulties that emerged include: many economic indicators achieved lower levels than the annual plan and the target set for the first quarter of 2006; agricultural production results were low; disbursement of government bond funds was slow; corruption and social evils were not effectively curbed; strikes at some enterprises with foreign investment had negative impacts on the investment environment; traffic safety order remained complex...

Along with the vigorous implementation of Resolution No. 01/2006/NQ-CP on key measures to guide the implementation of the socio-economic plan and the state budget for 2006, the Government requests ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses to focus on promoting production and business, reducing production costs, enhancing product competitiveness; promoting exports; mobilizing and improving the efficiency of investment capital use, strictly organizing inspections and supervision, rectifying investment and construction management work according to the Directive No. 496/CĐ-TTg dated March 28, 2006 of the Prime Minister; developing specific action programs to implement the Anti-Corruption Law and the Law on Thrift and Combating Wastefulness; properly handling citizens' complaints and denunciations; resolutely fighting crime, ensuring social order and safety, and containing traffic accidents.