RESOLUTION NO. 08/2003/NQ-CP OF THE GOVERNMENT MEETING IN JUNE 2003

RESOLUTION

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN JUNE 2003

On June 30 and July 1, 2003, the Council of Ministers held its regular meeting for June, discussed, and adopted the following issues:

1. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report on the review of the guidance and management of the Council of Ministers in the first six months of 2003; listened to the Minister of Planning and Investment's report on the implementation of the economic and social plan in June and the first six months of 2003 and some measures to be implemented in the last six months of the year.

In the first six months of the year, despite having to face many difficulties and complexities in the political situation, world market, and weather, with the efforts and endeavors of the Council of Ministers and all sectors at all levels, significant achievements were made: the economy continued to develop, politics and society remained stable; people's living standards improved; national defense and security were maintained; foreign relations were expanded. The adverse effects of the world market arising from the Iraq War on our country's economy were proactively addressed; the prevention and control of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) achieved high effectiveness; traffic order and safety showed positive changes... The guidance and management of the Council of Ministers always closely followed the Central Party Committee's and National Assembly's resolutions, focusing on key and urgent areas; ensuring macroeconomic balance requirements while effectively handling new situations that arose; promoting collective responsibility and emphasizing individual responsibility in resolving tasks.

However, the challenges ahead remain very large, with many potential changes in the world situation. The demands of international and regional economic integration are pressing, while our enterprises' competitive capabilities are still weak, with low productivity, quality, and business efficiency. The resources of the economy have not been effectively utilized, with significant waste. Many social issues are still pressing; administrative discipline needs to continue to be strengthened; the tasks for the last six months of the year are still very heavy.

With the determination to complete the 2003 plan, the Council of Ministers requests ministries, sectors, and localities to focus on tapping various sources of capital for investment to ensure growth targets; continue building a reasonable economic structure, promoting industrial and agricultural production; implementing disaster prevention measures; prioritizing the development of service industries, especially tourism; effectively implementing measures to boost exports and reduce the trade deficit; organizing the 22nd Southeast Asian Games well and concentrating efforts on solving urgent issues in education and training, poverty reduction and employment, healthcare, culture and information, crime prevention and social evils; maintaining traffic order and safety regularly and continuously, continuing inspections and supervision of basic construction investment and land management, emphasizing administrative discipline. The Council of Ministers will coordinate with the Fatherland Front and mass organizations, continue to implement the movement "all people unite to build a civilized life in residential areas" and launch a labor and production competition movement, improving efficiency and quality, reducing input costs, enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises.

The Council of Ministers agreed to approve the two reports above. The Ministry of Planning and Investment is assigned to lead, incorporate the opinions of Council of Ministers members and attendees, perfect the report on the implementation of economic and social tasks in the first six months of 2003, submit it to the Prime Minister for reporting to the Political Bureau.

The Government Office is assigned to incorporate the opinions from the meeting, perfect the report on reviewing the guidance and management of the Council of Ministers in the first six months, send it to ministries, sectors, and localities, and monitor the implementation.

The Council of Ministers requests ministries, sectors, and localities to review their work programs, correct working styles and methods, ensure efficient resolution of tasks, and comply with the Council of Ministers' Working Regulations.

2. The Council of Ministers heard the State Auditor General's presentation on the draft Ordinance on State Audit; listened to the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of Council of Ministers members on the draft Ordinance.

State Audit is one of the important tools to strengthen state inspection and supervision, ensuring the rational and effective use of financial resources and assets, contributing to the health of the national financial system, preventing negative behaviors, corruption, and wastage of public funds and state property, helping units accurately assess their financial status and weaknesses in economic and financial management, and promptly recommending supplements and revisions to competent authorities.

Currently, legal provisions regarding State Audit are incomplete, unclear, and scattered across different documents, necessitating the issuance of an Ordinance to clearly define the position, tasks, and powers of State Audit in accordance with the amended State Budget Law and to meet the requirements of international economic integration.

The Council of Ministers generally agrees with the content of the draft Ordinance. The State Audit is assigned to lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related agencies, incorporate the opinions of Council of Ministers members, perfect the draft Ordinance on State Audit, submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision to present to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister, Head of the Population, Family, and Children Commission's draft Decree detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Population Ordinance; listened to the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of Council of Ministers members on the draft Decree.

The Council of Ministers assigns the Population, Family, and Children Commission to lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related agencies, incorporate the opinions of Council of Ministers members and attendees, perfect the draft Decree, submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration to seek the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's opinion on the specific provisions detailed in Clause 3, Article 2 and Clause 2, Article 4 of the Population Ordinance.

4. The Council of Ministers reviewed the draft Law on Inspection presented by the State Inspectorate.

The Government Office is tasked with consolidating the opinions of the Government members on the draft Law; the State Inspectorate is assigned to coordinate with the Government Office and the Ministry of Justice to seek the opinions of the Government members on issues that still have differing views, continue to refine and perfect the draft Law, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision to present to the National Assembly.

5. The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment present the draft Decree on exercising ownership rights over state-owned enterprises; listened to the Minister and Head of the Government Office report on consolidating the opinions of Government members on the draft Decree.

To implement Resolution of the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Term IX) on continuing to reorganize, reform, develop, and enhance the efficiency of state-owned enterprises, clearly defining the rights of state agencies performing the function of ownership over state-owned enterprises is now an urgent requirement to complete the legal system ensuring that state-owned enterprises operate effectively and gradually improve the effectiveness of state management.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked with leading, coordinating with the Government Office and related agencies, incorporating the opinions of Government members, finalizing the draft Decree, and submitting it along with the draft Law on State-Owned Enterprises (Amended) for the opinions of National Assembly deputies during the fourth session of the Eleventh National Assembly term.