Decision No. 10/2001/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in August 2001

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in August 2001

On August 29 and 30, 2001, the Government convened its regular meeting for August to discuss and adopt the following issues::

1. The Government heard the General Director of the General Post Office present the "Strategy for the Development of Postal and Telecommunications Services in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientation until 2020."

In recent years, especially in recent years, the Party and State have issued many strategic policies and guidelines for the development of the postal and telecommunications sector. The sector has made rapid progress, contributing positively to the country's economic and social development, although it has also revealed some shortcomings that need to be addressed and reformed, such as insufficient attention to human resource training, high service prices, limited service quality, and lack of competition among enterprises.

In the coming period, the construction and development of postal and telecommunications services in Vietnam must meet requirements for modern technology, ensuring competitive parity in technology and price with countries in the region, creating a foundation for successfully implementing the Party and State's goals and policies on information technology application and national socio-economic development strategy. The Strategy for the Development of Postal and Telecommunications Services in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientation until 2020 must include specific solutions to mobilize all resources of the country and various economic sectors, including capital and human resources, to develop rapidly, improve productivity and quality, and reduce service prices.

The General Post Office is instructed to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, incorporate the opinions of government members, finalize the draft decision on the "Strategy for the Development of Postal and Telecommunications Services in Vietnam until 2010 and Orientation until 2020," and submit it to the Prime Minister for review and approval in September 2001.

2. The Government approved the Program for Law and Ordinance Construction in 2002 presented by the Minister of Justice. The Ministry of Justice is instructed to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, incorporate the opinions of government members, review the progress, quality, and feasibility of each project; prioritize projects aimed at accelerating the country's economic and social development first, followed by those necessary for international integration. After completion, report to the Prime Minister for review and submission to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. The Government heard the Minister and Head of the Government Organization and Cadre Management Department report on the Draft Law on the Organization of the Government (Amendment), the Draft Law on the Organization of People's Councils and People's Committees (Amendment), and the Draft Law on the Election of People's Council Deputies (Amendment). The Government discussed and provided comments on these three Draft Laws.

The Government instructs the Government Organization and Cadre Management Department to lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related ministries and sectors, incorporate the opinions of government members, revise and complete the above Draft Laws, report to the Prime Minister for review, and submit them to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the National Assembly.

4. The Government heard the Minister and Head of the Government Organization and Cadre Management Department present the Report on the Summary of Salary and Social Welfare Policies.

The Government agrees that since 1993, salary and social welfare policies have been adjusted, promoting fair distribution, stimulating economic growth, improving labor productivity, and work efficiency. However, salary policies still reveal many shortcomings, leading to non-salary income increasingly accounting for a large proportion of total income for a portion of civil servants and employees; significant disparities in non-salary income between sectors and organizations...Social insurance policies and preferential policies for those who have rendered meritorious service also require further examination and adjustment for better alignment.

The Government Organization and Cadre Management Department is instructed to lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and relevant agencies, incorporate the opinions of government members, conduct scientific and systematic investigations and evaluations, complete the Report, and prepare to participate in drafting the salary reform plan for the 2001-2005 period, to be submitted to the Central Conference. In the short term, focus on implementing the following measures: clearly separate the administrative sector from public services to establish appropriate management mechanisms and policies; implement decentralization in personnel management and grant autonomy to institutions; implement personnel quotas and administrative costs.

5. After reviewing the Government Office's report on certain issues related to quality management and quality inspection, including motorcycle helmet quality inspection, the Government decided that motorcycle helmets are mandatory products subject to Vietnamese Standards; the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment will manage the quality of motorcycle helmets; standard quality inspection activities are services...The Government instructs the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment to coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to organize implementation.

6. At this meeting, the Minister of Trade reported to the Government on some situations regarding rice exports in 2001. In the first eight months of 2001, rice exports increased compared to the same period in 2000 both in volume and value. However, the situation in the global rice market remains sluggish, with insignificant improvements in rice prices. This situation will affect Vietnam's rice exports in the last months of 2001. Regarding the Government's policy on temporarily storing rice, by April 30, 2001, enterprises assigned by the Government to purchase temporarily stored rice had met the required quantity and time frame.

The Government decides not to extend the six-month period for temporarily storing rice for export in 2001; the rice export volume for 2001 is approximately 3.5 million tons to consume all commercial rice, with prices beneficial to farmers. The Government requests that mass media agencies learn from their experience in reporting, particularly information related to trade, to avoid negative impacts on the Government's management and guidance, business operations, and the psychology and interests of the people.

7. At this meeting, the Minister of Planning and Investment presents to the Government the "Report on the Socio-Economic Situation in August and the First Eight Months of 2001."

In August and the first eight months of 2001, despite achieving some progress such as relatively good state budget revenue, industrial production maintaining a high growth rate, making progress in the volume of basic construction investment and job creation... several sectors still face difficulties in production and consumption, such as textiles, footwear, fertilizer production...; the pace of most performance indicators is lower than the same period in 2000, especially the export turnover growth rate.

The Government requests that ministries, sectors, local authorities at all levels continue to strongly implement the measures outlined in Resolution No. 05/2001/NQ-CP of the Government in order to achieve the main targets set forth in the remaining months of 2001./.