Decision No. 05/1999/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in April 1999

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in April 1999

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On April 28 and 29, 1999, the Government convened its regular meeting for April 1999 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the presentation by Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Xuan Gia on the project "Enhancing internal resources, increasing investment capacity, strongly stimulating production, and promoting reasonable consumption."

The contents of the project have concretized and supplemented measures aimed at continuing to intensify the implementation of government programs to implement Resolution 4 and Resolution 6 (first session) of the Central Committee of the Party, Resolution No. 06 of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party, and the Resolution of the National Assembly on tasks for 1999.

Measures to enhance internal resources, promote direct investment by the people and businesses of all economic sectors into production and business operations, and promote the synchronous development of market systems, particularly rural markets, will be a crucial step in creating additional resources for the national economy to overcome difficulties and continue developing. Increasing state investment combined with organizing mass campaigns for people's investment in water conservancy, rural transportation infrastructure, housing, and promoting reasonable consumption of goods and services will be a fundamental factor in stimulating demand and an important element to stimulate production growth.

The Government agrees that immediate implementation of short-term measures in 1999 and 2000 should be organized to mobilize additional capital for investment and production development. Longer-term basic measures need to be carefully prepared and synchronized during the process of building the five-year socio-economic development plan (2001-2005) and the ten-year socio-economic development strategy (2001-2010).

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is assigned to take the lead, coordinate with the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Transportation, Industry, Agriculture and Rural Development, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Government Office, and the Government Price Control Board to incorporate the opinions of government members, finalize the project, and submit it to the Prime Minister for review before reporting to the Political Bureau and seeking the National Assembly's opinion on matters within the National Assembly's jurisdiction. The Government requests that ministries, sectors, and localities pay special attention to concretizing measures into specific mechanisms and policies, while strengthening guidance, inspection, and supervision of their implementation with the highest determination, considering this as the key to successfully implementing the project.

2. After hearing the presentation by the State Auditor General Vu Huu Nhon on the Draft Ordinance on State Audit, and the report by Deputy Head of the Government Office Doan Manh Giao summarizing the opinions of government members on the Draft, many supplementary opinions were made by government members to clarify certain aspects of the Draft. The Government assigns the State Audit Office to cooperate with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the State Inspectorate, the Government Office, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of government members, study, and refine the Draft Ordinance, particularly clarifying the legal status, organizational activities, powers, and responsibilities of the State Audit Office; the objects, scope, and audit procedures,... to be submitted to the Government for consideration at another meeting.

Adoption of the Draft Regulation on Tendering accompanying Decrees 43/CP and 93/CP (amended), presented by Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Xuan Gia. The Ministry of Planning and Investment is assigned to cooperate with the Government Office and related ministries and sectors to incorporate the opinions of government members, finalize the Draft, and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance in May 1999; simultaneously, submit a Directive from the Prime Minister on rectifying tendering and bid approval work in ministries, sectors, and localities to address malpractices and ensure the integrity, objectivity, and effectiveness of this work.

Adoption of the Draft Decree of the Government detailing the implementation of the Law on Encouraging Domestic Investment (amended), presented by Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Xuan Gia. The Ministry of Planning and Investment is assigned to cooperate with the Government Office to complete the procedures and submit the Draft to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance in May 1999.

5. The Government heard the reports by the Director of the General Department of Customs Phan Van Dinh, Head of the Prime Minister's Task Force 670, on "Results of reviewing regulatory legal documents in export, import, and customs areas"; the State Auditor General Ta Huu Thanh on "Situation and handling of complaints and denunciations in the first quarter of 1999"; and Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Xuan Gia on the "Economic and social situation in April and the first four months of 1999."

The Government agrees with these reports and evaluates that the work of reviewing regulatory legal documents in export, import, and customs areas has been carried out promptly and actively, identifying many inconsistencies and overlaps in existing documents. The Government requires the Task Force to closely coordinate with ministries and sectors to continue reviewing and monitoring the implementation of amendments, supplements, or new issuance of legal documents in export, import, and customs areas, considering this as a regular task of management agencies at all levels. For documents that need to be abolished or amended and supplemented as recommended by the Task Force, the Government requires ministries and sectors to concentrate efforts to study, issue, or submit to the Government or the Prime Minister for issuance in the second quarter of 1999.

The economic and social situation in the first four months of 1999 still faces many difficulties, production and business operations have not shown positive changes, a portion of the population is still suffering from hunger due to severe drought impacts; the domestic market remains sluggish; anti-smuggling efforts have not shown significant progress; export-import turnover and foreign investment have sharply declined; social work also faces many pressing issues, some social evils are showing signs of becoming more complex...

The Government requests the Ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently organize the implementation of the measures that have been proposed to develop production, promote product consumption, actively implement the employment resolution program, and national programs on cultural, educational, health, and other social development issues in rural areas, especially remote and far-flung regions. In the short term, it is necessary to organize summer-autumn crop production well, accelerate dike repair progress, effectively carry out flood prevention work, and take proactive relief measures to assist the population suffering from food shortages.