Resolution No. 06/2003/NQ-CP of the Government Regular Meeting April 2003

 RESOLUTION

Regular Government Meeting in April 2003 

On April 28, 2003, the Government convened its regular monthly meeting in April to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1.The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment's supplementary report on the implementation of the plan for 2002, the implementation of the plan for April and the first four months of 2003; and the Minister of Finance's supplementary report on the implementation of the state budget for 2002 and the deployment of tasks for the state budget for 2003.

The implementation of the socio-economic plan and the state budget in 2002 exceeded the levels reported to the National Assembly at its second session of the eleventh term: GDP growth reached 7.04%; industrial production, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries all increased significantly; the economic structure continued to shift positively; export turnover increased by 11.2% compared to 2001; total social investment continued to increase; state budget revenue exceeded the estimate, ensuring timely and full payment and increasing demand according to the budget; the state budget balance was maintained, with the deficit lower than allowed by the National Assembly. Significant progress was also made in various social fields: new jobs were added, the education sector is making efforts to address the issue of three-shift classes and gradually replace makeshift classrooms; the reform of textbooks, admissions, and socialization of education has been accelerated; scientific and technological activities have been emphasized; the healthcare and public health sectors have made significant progress; many sports facilities serving directly for the 22nd Southeast Asian Games are being constructed urgently; cultural and information activities have improved; administrative reform has been implemented more strongly; national defense and security have been maintained.

The socio-economic situation in the first four months of 2003 continued to maintain a positive development trend in several areas: industrial production achieved a relatively high growth rate; agricultural production developed well but faced many difficulties due to drought; export activities, although affected by the Iraq war, still maintained a relatively high growth rate compared to the same period last year; state budget revenue continued to increase significantly; some social aspects showed positive changes, notably the containment and control of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, which was highly praised by the World Health Organization; traffic safety has improved.

However, productivity, quality, efficiency of growth, and competitiveness of the economy in 2002 and the early months of 2003 were not high; management of investment and construction was ineffective. The current drought situation in the Central Highlands and South Central regions seriously threatens production, the environment, and people's livelihoods; the Iraq War and global economic conditions have had adverse effects on our country's economy; the SARS epidemic spreading globally is strongly affecting service industries, especially tourism, aviation, goods exports, and foreign investment and labor export...; the trend of attracting foreign direct investment is slowing down both in terms of licensing and project implementation.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance are instructed to take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, incorporate the opinions of government members and attending representatives, and finalize the reports. The Ministers of Planning and Investment and Finance, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, will represent the Government to report to the National Assembly at the next session.

The Government requests that ministries, sectors, localities, and institutions quickly implement in a coordinated manner the measures outlined in Resolution No. 02/2003/NQ-CP dated January 17, 2003, of the Government on major policies and measures to implement the socio-economic development tasks for 2003, focusing in the short term on expanding export markets, enhancing the competitiveness of goods; minimizing the impacts caused by the Iraq War and effectively addressing emerging issues; concentrating all efforts to strictly control, prevent, and block the spread of the SARS epidemic into the country, limiting the impact of the SARS epidemic on the economy; using appropriate measures to effectively address the drought situation in the Central Highlands and South Central regions, implementing plans to prevent floods and storms during the upcoming rainy season; continuing to mobilize internal resources, stimulate investment and consumption to achieve the set growth targets; actively improving the investment attraction environment for foreign investors; persistently and continuously establishing traffic safety order.

2. The Government heard the Minister of Justice's draft Strategy for Developing the Legal System of Vietnam until 2010.

Over more than 17 years of renewal, our State has gradually built and perfected the legal system to create a legal framework for the operation and development of society, making a significant contribution to building a socialist-oriented market economy and a rule-of-law state. Law has truly become the main tool of the state for managing society.

However, the current legal documents system does not yet meet the demands of reality in quantity and especially in quality; it is incomplete, insufficient, not synchronized, and fails to respond promptly to practical needs; many urgent areas of life still lack laws for regulation; mechanisms to ensure the enforcement of laws are inadequate and weak; the mechanism for building and amending laws is rigid and has many shortcomings.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop a Strategy for Developing the Legal System of Vietnam, ensuring timely and comprehensive institutionalization of the Party's policies on developing a socialist-oriented market economy and building a rule-of-law state; fully leveraging internal strength, actively integrating into the international economy. The development of the legal system must start from Vietnam's reality while selectively absorbing international experience.

Direct the Ministry of Justice to take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate opinions from government members, finalize the draft Strategy for the Development of the Legal System of Vietnam until 2010, considering up to 2012, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision to present to the Politburo.

3. The Government has reviewed and provided opinions on the draft Laws Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Cooperatives submitted by the Minister of Planning and Investment; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Petitions and Complaints submitted by the State Auditor General; and heard the Minister and Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of government members on the above draft laws.

Direct the Minister of Planning and Investment and the State Auditor General to take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and related agencies to incorporate opinions from government members, finalize the draft laws, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister's authorization, and submit the above draft laws to the National Assembly on behalf of the Government.

4. The Government heard the State Auditor General's report on inspection work, handling petitions and complaints from citizens in the first quarter of 2003.

In the first quarter of 2003, the situation of citizens directly petitioning and complaining to higher levels at the central level decreased, especially in cases involving large groups; the guidance and handling of petitions and complaints made progress.

The Government requests all Ministries, sectors, and localities to continue strictly implementing Directive No. 09/CT-TW dated March 6, 2002, of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on urgent issues that need to be addressed in handling petitions and complaints currently; strengthen citizen reception work, handle cases of mass complaints and appeals beyond jurisdiction; intensify inspections of construction projects assigned by the Prime Minister.