Decision No. 05/2008/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in January 2008

RESOLUTION

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN JANUARY 2008

On January 30, 2008, the Council of Ministers held its regular meeting for January 2008 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment present the draft Law on Biodiversity; and heard the Chairman of the Government Office report on the consolidated opinions of the members of the Council of Ministers regarding the draft Law.

The Council of Ministers generally agreed with the content of the draft Law on Biodiversity.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is assigned to take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of the Council of Ministers' members, perfect the draft Law. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, will submit this draft Law to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

2. The Council of Ministers heard the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam present the draft Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Civil Code (pertaining to interest rates for deposits and loans of credit organizations).

The State Bank of Vietnam is assigned to take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related agencies to fully implement all procedures according to the Working Regulations of the Council of Ministers, perfect the draft Law, and seek opinions from the members of the Council of Ministers; consolidate and report to the Prime Minister to decide on submitting the draft Law to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister of Public Security present the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Ordinance on Entry, Exit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam; and heard the Chairman of the Government Office report on the consolidated opinions of the members of the Council of Ministers regarding the draft Ordinance.

The Council of Ministers agreed to approve the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Ordinance on Entry, Exit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. The Ministry of Public Security is assigned to take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of the Council of Ministers' members, perfect the draft Ordinance. The Minister of Public Security, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, will submit this draft Ordinance to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

4. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister of Transport report on the initial results of implementing Resolution No. 32/2007/NQ-CP of the Council of Ministers.

The implementation of Resolution No. 32/2007/NQ-CP of the Council of Ministers on urgent measures to curb traffic accidents and congestion has enhanced the responsibility of state management over traffic safety at all levels and sectors; mobilized the strength of the entire political system from central to local levels and throughout society. The work of publicizing and disseminating laws on traffic safety has been carried out uniformly, creating positive changes in the self-discipline of citizens in complying with traffic laws. The enforcement of mandatory helmet wearing for motorcyclists and cyclists has been widely supported and effectively implemented. The number of traffic accidents, deaths, and injuries have significantly decreased.

To more effectively curb and reduce traffic accidents, the Council of Ministers requests that ministries, sectors, and localities continue to implement the measures stipulated in Resolution No. 32/2007/NQ-CP of the Council of Ministers, focusing on enhancing mobilization and education to raise public awareness of traffic laws, while intensifying patrols and strict penalties for violations, regardless of whether the violator is walking or operating a vehicle.

The Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are instructed to direct relevant agencies to complete by June 30, 2008, the review and issuance of regulations on safety conditions, registration, and license plate issuance for various types of non-motorized vehicles as prescribed by the Road Traffic Law; not to issue new permits for three-wheeled motor vehicles; for existing three-wheeled motor vehicles currently in operation, to issue regulations prohibiting their circulation (including imported three-wheeled motor vehicles) within city centers, urban areas, and national highways (except for rickshaws serving tourism, garbage collection vehicles for environmental sanitation, and vehicles used by war invalids and disabled persons as means of transportation); to specify other areas and times when three-wheeled motor vehicles and non-motorized three- or four-wheeled vehicles may be allowed to circulate, in accordance with the specific circumstances of each locality. Self-made vehicles used solely as means of transportation by war invalids and disabled persons (without carrying additional passengers or goods) are permitted to circulate until December 31, 2008. Relevant ministries, agencies, and provincial and centrally-administered city people's committees must strictly enforce the Prime Minister's directives on the production, assembly, and circulation of three-wheeled vehicles and motorized vehicles for disabled persons as stated in Circular No. 1992/TTg-CN dated December 21, 2007.

The Council of Ministers assigns:

The Ministry of Transport:

- To guide and inspect localities in implementing the prohibition on the circulation of self-made agricultural transport vehicles as stipulated in Directive No. 46/2004/CT-TTg dated December 9, 2004 of the Prime Minister and Resolution No. 32/2007/NQ-CP of the Council of Ministers;

- To prescribe deadlines for ceasing the circulation of inland waterway vessels without engines with total weight from 1 to 15 tons or passenger capacity from 5 to 12 people, and vessels with engine power up to 15 horsepower or passenger capacity under 5 people; organize administrative registration for inland waterway vessels without original documentation but confirmed by village authorities as having no ownership disputes.

The Ministry of Finance is to provide guidance on fee and tax policies for the inspection of various types of inland waterway vessels; study and provide guidance on general policies to support vessel owners who are prohibited from circulating so they can transition to alternative means of transportation or occupations by the first quarter of 2008. Provincial and centrally-administered city people's committees are to promulgate specific support policies for occupational transitions or replacement of non-permitted transportation vehicles before December 31, 2008.

The Ministry of Public Security shall coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Information and Communications to strengthen propaganda and inspection of the mandatory wearing of motorcycle helmets for motorcyclists; impose administrative penalties on the act of not fastening helmet straps as if it were the act of not wearing a helmet at all.

In the short term, all levels and sectors need to direct the implementation of Directive No. 03/2008/CT-TTg dated January 17, 2008, issued by the Prime Minister on enhancing traffic order and safety, improving the quality of passenger transport services during the Tet holiday and the Spring Festival in 2008.

5. The Government heard the Report on the economic and social situation in January 2008 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment, the Report on the implementation of administrative reform work in January 2008 presented by the Minister of Home Affairs, the Report on anti-corruption efforts, inspection activities, and complaint resolution in January 2008 presented by the Chief Inspector General; the Report on the implementation of the monthly program of work in January 2008 and the resolutions of the Government from the December 2007 session presented by the Minister, Head of the Government Office.

The economic and social situation in January continued the growth momentum of December 2007. Ministries, sectors, and localities have actively implemented the allocation of economic and social plans and state budget for 2008, creating favorable conditions for units and bases to be proactive in production and business. Industrial production continued to achieve high growth rates; agricultural, forestry, and fisheries production remained stable. Trade activities were further promoted, export turnover increased significantly, ensuring supply sources for the Tet holiday period. Total retail sales of goods and service revenue in the domestic market increased compared to the same period in 2007. Tourism, service, passenger and postal, telecommunications transportation activities basically met social needs. State revenue met the requirements for regular spending, investment development, debt repayment, and social policy implementation. Administrative reform and anti-corruption efforts, thrift, and waste prevention received attention and guidance from ministries, sectors, and localities, showing significant progress. Food hygiene and safety control measures were intensified.

However, domestic and international market prices continue to show an upward trend; prolonged drought and severe cold weather, production and trade of fake and low-quality goods, and unsanitary and unsafe food issues remain uncontrolled and ineffective. To successfully fulfill the tasks for 2008, the Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to closely guide from the beginning of the year to overcome the limitations and weaknesses identified at the end of 2007; promptly complete the allocation of plans to units and bases; implement Resolution No. 02/2008/NQ-CP dated January 9, 2008, of the Government on key measures to guide and manage the implementation of the socio-economic plan, state budget, and the Government's annual work program. Pay special attention to the following main contents:

a) Strictly manage and control to maintain macroeconomic stability, improve the quality of price and market situation analysis and forecasting, balance foreign trade, energy, stock market... The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the State Bank of Vietnam to monitor and compile the situation, propose solutions to maintain macroeconomic stability, and report monthly to the Government.

b) Promptly implement production and investment tasks from the start of the year. Focus on disbursement of construction investment funds, especially those from the state budget and government bonds. Continue to resolve administrative procedure obstacles to attract investment capital, but carefully review and only grant permits to projects that meet environmental standards and provide high economic returns. The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall soon issue specific criteria for environmental protection and land use of projects as a basis for investment approval.

c) Vigorously implement the Program to improve educational quality, with measures to bring dropouts back to school; focus on training human resources according to the needs of enterprises and society; enhance socialization in mobilizing funds for student loans for higher education; effectively implement poverty reduction programs, particularly for ethnic minorities, mountainous areas, remote regions.

d) Promptly complete and submit to the Government for issuance decrees defining the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies; continue to implement administrative reform to create a transparent business environment for citizens and businesses. Strengthen coordination between ministries, sectors, and localities in inspection, supervision, timely, strict, and lawful handling of corruption and waste prevention cases. Consolidate specialized inspection work of ministries to improve the quality of inspections and promptly and correctly resolve citizen complaints and reports.

đ) Regarding information dissemination work, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall direct to improve the quality of information work of mass media; promptly reward and strictly handle according to the Law any news agencies and individuals who disseminate false information.

To ensure that the people celebrate the Year of the Rat Tet joyfully, healthily, safely, and thriftily, the Government requests all Ministries, sectors, and localities to pay close attention and strictly direct the work of inspecting and auditing food safety; combating speculation, smuggling, fake goods, and low-quality products; ensuring adequate supply of goods to serve travel and cultural, sports, entertainment, and tourism activities well for domestic citizens and overseas compatriots returning home to celebrate Tet and enjoy the spring festival. Care should be taken to organize Tet for policy households, those who have rendered meritorious service, poor households, social groups; ethnic minorities in remote areas and those affected by natural disasters; ensuring political security, public order, and social safety; preventing and combating fires and explosions. The Ministry of Public Security shall closely cooperate with local authorities to effectively organize inspections, controls, and strictly handle acts of producing, trading, transporting, storing, and setting off fireworks. /