Decision No. 05/1997/NQ-CP On the content of the regular final-year session of the Government

RESOLUTION

Regarding the content of the regular annual meeting of the Government at the end of 1996

1. Reviewing the guidance and management of the Government in 1996 and the Program of Work of the Government for 1997;

2. Some main issues regarding the implementation of the plan in December and throughout 1996; measures to manage the first quarter of 1997 plan;

3. Commodity policy and mechanisms for managing exports and imports in 1997;

4. Providing opinions on draft laws and ordinances: The Penal Code (revised), Ordinance on Combating Corruption, Ordinance on Thrift and Prevention of Waste, Ordinance on Public Service Labor Duty and Mobilization of Resources for National Construction;

5. Other tasks of the Government.

Based on reviewing reports on the topics and discussions at the meeting, the Government;

Pursuant to …;

I. Approved the "Report on the Review of Guidance and Management of the Government in 1996 and the Program of Work of the Government for 1997".

Directed the Government Office, based on incorporating the opinions of the Government at this meeting and the opinions of local leaders at the Conference to Implement the Plan for 1997 held in Ho Chi Minh City from January 13 to 15, 1997, to finalize the Report and send it to Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, agencies under the Government, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities within January 1997.

II. While comprehensively implementing the Program of Work for 1997, the Government will focus on directing efforts to create significant changes in the following key areas of work:

1. Directing production development, preventing and mitigating disaster damage; striving to achieve and exceed the economic growth rate decided by the National Assembly; completing the State budget revenue task well to meet all planned expenditure needs promptly and increase reserves; ensuring food safety; stabilizing people's lives, especially in disaster-stricken areas.

2. Completing the overall planning for all industries, regions, and localities. Accelerating the preparation and implementation of detailed plans and projects.

3. Strengthening and diversifying forms of resource mobilization for national industrialization and modernization. First and foremost, mobilizing the people's strength to build economic and social infrastructure (especially transportation and water conservancy...).

4. Creating strong changes in the field of foreign economic relations towards improving quality and effectiveness, actively and proactively preparing conditions to participate in the process of international integration: promoting exports, controlling import surpluses, reforming management mechanisms and accelerating disbursement of ODA funds, proactively preparing conditions and improving procedures to attract foreign investment, increasing our share in joint ventures.

5. Improving credit quality. Directing the strict implementation of the Law on State Budget, fundamentally changing budget management and state asset and resource management to combat corruption and waste.

6. Summarizing the activities of the Government during the Ninth National Assembly term. On this basis, building the organizational structure of the Government for the new term towards being streamlined and effective, strengthening individual responsibility, clearly defining responsibilities, and having a coordinated mechanism.

7. Improving the working style of the Government, strictly implementing the Working Regulations already issued. In the short term, focusing on directing legislative work, organizing meetings to handle tasks, internal government information, and informing the public about decisions made by the Government and local authorities.

8. Promoting administrative reform, concentrating on investment approval procedures, land allocation, construction permits, land use right transfer, ownership rights of housing, import and export, household registration, residence registration, enforcement of judgments, administrative reform in each administrative agency..., summarizing and expanding the "one-stop, one-stamp" model.

9. Continuing the struggle to restore order in cultural and social fields; focusing on combating smuggling and illegal drug use, taking effective measures to address child abuse.

10. Strengthening direction in the fields of security and defense; combining economic development with reinforcing national defense and ensuring security; reorganizing economic organizations of the armed forces; approving and implementing the National Program on Crime Prevention.

III. Approved the report "Some Main Issues Regarding the Implementation of the Plan in December and Throughout 1996, Measures to Manage the First Quarter of 1997 Plan".

Directed the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the General Statistics Office to accurately review the figures and implementation of the 1996 plan to be presented to the Ninth National Assembly, Eleventh Session.

The Government decides on some policies and measures to manage the first quarter of 1997, aimed at overcoming difficulties, promoting production development, curbing inflation, stabilizing people's lives from the beginning of the year, especially during the Tet holiday of Year of the Ox:

1. Regarding the implementation of the plan and the budget estimate for 1997:

Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, agencies under the Government, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall base themselves on the assigned plan targets and budget estimates (Decision No. 985/TTg dated December 30, 1996 of the Prime Minister) to detail the allocation to lower levels and grassroots units for immediate implementation from the start of the year.

2. Regarding agricultural production:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Fisheries shall coordinate with relevant sectors and localities to quickly direct the restoration of disaster damage. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall coordinate with relevant sectors and localities to ensure sufficient seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and guide farmers to plant crops according to the appropriate season and develop animal husbandry; paying attention to the dissemination and management of high-yield, high-quality crop and livestock breeds resistant to diseases.

Regularly inspect to ensure strict compliance with state regulations on forest protection, exploitation, and wood export. Develop plans to prevent and control forest fires. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead in coordinating with related agencies and localities to study and develop a comprehensive proposal on closing natural forests to be submitted to the Prime Minister for decision at the beginning of the second quarter of 1997.

There shall be policies to support forest growers, long-term industrial crop growers for export purposes, and distant-sea fishing boat owners.

3. On industrial production:

It is necessary to address the imbalance and poor coordination between production, circulation, and import-export of goods such as sugar, cement, steel, oil products, paper, and fertilizers.

To specifically implement state policies aimed at encouraging non-state economic sectors to invest in production development; measures must be taken to resolve difficulties and promote industrial development at a faster pace, particularly in major cities that are key centers for industrial production.

The Ministry of Finance, together with relevant ministries, shall examine tax regulations on imported steel billets and fishing net yarn, taxes on vertical cement kiln factories, beer, soft drinks, etc., to ensure production development and meet market demands.

The Ministry of Industry shall coordinate with the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province and related agencies to strictly enforce the Prime Minister's decisions regarding the restoration of order in coal mining and trading in Quang Ninh Province, stop violations, and report the results of handling to the Prime Minister by the end of January 1997.

4. On basic construction investment work:

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and related agencies shall organize regular meetings on the implementation of basic construction plans to ensure timely capital disbursement from the beginning of the year; in cases where budget revenue is not yet sufficient, the Ministry of Finance may temporarily borrow from the Bank and must fully repay within the year.

Allow the extension of payment for completed basic construction works in the 1996 plan until the completion of the final settlement according to the State Budget Law.

Implement the policy to establish a National Fund to support transportation, an Urban and Rural Infrastructure Investment Fund, and have the Ministry of Transport coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to develop a proposal for charging fees on certain sections of roads and bridges to ensure funding sources for these funds and align with societal capacity.

Promptly implement the Ordinance on Public Labor Service Obligations and Mobilize Resources for National Construction (after its approval), especially mobilizing the people's strength to build infrastructure in areas such as transportation, healthcare, education, etc.

5. On finance, currency, and prices:

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank, shall urgently study and propose solutions and mechanisms to create capital to maximize and comprehensively utilize all resources for development investment.

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with related sectors and localities, shall rigorously inspect and urge the prompt submission of budget revenues from the early months of the year, focusing on large revenue-generating sectors and regions, particularly the non-state sector and foreign-invested areas. At the same time, strengthen supervision over expenditures, improve budget expenditure control procedures, ensuring strict management without causing undue procedural burdens.

The State Bank shall strictly manage and control money supply plans, flexibly adjust interest rates and exchange rates to stabilize prices and promote production development; direct commercial banks to intensify capital mobilization to meet production needs, especially for winter-spring crops; continue to allocate short-term loans for medium and long-term lending to help enterprises update equipment and develop production; actively rectify banking system activities in terms of operations, organization, and personnel according to the Prime Minister's directives following the State Audit's conclusions.

Immediately implement Directive No. 08/TTg dated January 3, 1997, of the Prime Minister on caring for the people to celebrate the Tet holiday in 1997. Ensure adequate goods for the Tet holiday for the people, especially in major cities and industrial zones, preventing price surges; the Ministry of Finance shall promptly announce the deadline for implementing the policy of exempting temporary trade taxes on foodstuffs and other items brought into consumption in these areas.

After two years of effectively implementing Directive No. 406/TTg of the Prime Minister on prohibiting the production, transport, sale, and use of firecrackers, the Government now decides to prohibit the production, transport, sale, and use of all types of fireworks. The Minister of Interior Affairs and the Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels shall cooperate with related sectors and mass media organizations to continuously and widely publicize and propagate this decision so that the people understand and strictly comply; at the same time, strengthen inspections, controls, and severe penalties for violators. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall guide cultural and artistic units, information agencies, especially radio and television stations, to provide rich and healthy programs for the people to welcome the New Year.

The Ministry of Trade and the Government Price Control Board must constantly grasp market conditions and coordinate with related agencies to promptly propose measures to the Government to handle significant fluctuations in domestic and international market prices.

6. On social issues:

Implement the Central Resolution No. 2 on Science and Technology and Education and Training. Continue to socialize health and educational activities. Intensify efforts to combat social evils, particularly drug addiction among students and child prostitution.

IV- Approve the content of the Decision on commodity policies and management mechanisms for imports and exports in 1997. The Government Office, based on incorporating government opinions, shall complete the draft Decision for the Prime Minister to sign and promulgate. The Ministry of Trade, in collaboration with related agencies, shall urgently guide the implementation of this Decision in January 1997.

V- Approve four Draft Laws and Ordinances: the Penal Code (Amended), the Ordinance on Combating Corruption, the Ordinance on Thrift and Prevention of Wastefulness, and the Ordinance on Public Labor Service Obligations and Mobilizing Resources for National Construction.

The Ministers in charge of the Projects are instructed to incorporate the Government's opinions, urgently revise the Projects to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration before January 15, 1997, and represent the Government before the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; at the same time, they are responsible for directing and urging relevant agencies to complete the guiding documents for implementing the Law and the three Ordinances mentioned above before February 28, 1997.

VI- The Government has heard Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Khanh's report on the Conference of Heads of State and Government of French-speaking countries and our preparations for the seventh conference. The Government believes that successfully organizing this conference will affirm our organizational capacity for a major international conference, enhance our country's reputation globally, and create additional foundations for effectively participating in major international and regional activities. It is required that all Ministries and agencies under the Government, which have been assigned tasks, thoroughly prepare and organize the conference.

The Government has heard the Health Minister Do Nguyen Phuong's report on the work of preventing HIV/AIDS, collaborating with health sectors at all levels to develop the Anti-AIDS Strategy from now until 2000 for approval by the Prime Minister; organizing extensive propaganda to ensure that the entire population fully understands the danger of this disease and actively prevent it.

VII- Agreeing with the General Office of the Government's proposal to improve the working style of the Government as stated in the supplementary report of the General Office of the Government. It is required that members of the Government and heads of agencies under the Government immediately implement the following actions:

1/ Strictly implement the Working Regulations of the Government issued together with Decree 13/CP dated December 1, 1992. The General Office of the Government shall draft the Prime Minister's Directive and guidelines for handling work procedures, organizing meetings, and information and reporting systems serving the Government's and agencies' guidance and management, and establish the General Office of the Government's communication network with Ministries, sectoral agencies, and agencies under the Government, ensuring timely, safe, and accurate management.

2/ Ministers and heads of agencies equivalent to Ministries and agencies under the Government are instructed to urgently contribute, supplement, and perfect Appendix No. 2 "Proposed Agenda for Regular Meetings of the Government in 1997" and Appendix No. 3 "List of Projects to be Submitted to the Government and the Prime Minister in 1997" attached to the General Office of the Government's Report and resubmit them to the General Office of the Government before January 31, 1997, for official issuance; simultaneously, proactively advance the development of projects listed in the Government's Work Program.

3/ The Organizational-Cadre Department of the Government, in collaboration with the General Office of the Government and related agencies, shall prepare a proposal on delegating specific tasks of the Prime Minister to Ministers and heads of agencies equivalent to Ministries for submission to the Prime Minister for decision in February 1997.

This Resolution was adopted by the Government at 11:00 AM on January 11, 1997./.