RESOLUTION NO. 10/2003/NQ-CP OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AT THE REGULAR MEETING IN JULY 2003

RESOLUTION

REGULAR SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS JULY 2003 

On July 30 and the morning of July 31, 2003, the Council of Ministers convened its regular session for July 2003 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development present the Program and Plan of the Government to implement the Resolution of the Politburo on continuing the restructuring, reforming, and developing state-owned agricultural and forestry farms.

The objectives of the Program and Plan are to successfully implement the Resolution of the Politburo on continuing the restructuring, reforming, and developing state-owned agricultural and forestry farms, thereby effectively utilizing land resources and forest resources; forming concentrated, specialized, and intensive large-scale production areas for agricultural and forestry products linked with processing and consumption; enhancing the efficiency of production and competitiveness of state-owned agricultural and forestry farms; creating additional jobs, increasing income for workers, protecting the ecological environment, and contributing to poverty reduction; promoting the effective application of scientific and technological advances in agriculture and forestry production.

The main content of the Program includes reviewing the functions and responsibilities of each agricultural and forestry farm, while clearly distinguishing between types of farms responsible for production and business operations from those engaged in public welfare activities or social, national defense, and security functions; resolutely dissolving or converting to other forms of ownership those farms that are not profitable and have incurred losses; reviewing and reclaiming land from farms that are using it for purposes other than intended and planning, and reforming regulations on land management and usage, as well as the contracting mechanism within state-owned agricultural and forestry farms; supplementing appropriate policies regarding science and technology, finance, labor, and decentralization of management for state-owned agricultural and forestry farms.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is tasked with leading, coordinating with the Office of the Government and relevant agencies, incorporating the opinions of government members, finalizing the Program and Plan to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance of a decision to implement.

Ministries, sectors, and localities need to fully understand the Program and Plan of the Government; develop specific plans to institutionalize the viewpoints, goals, and contents proposed into legal provisions to organize their implementation.

2. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister of Justice present the draft Ordinance on Civil Enforcement (amended), the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development present the draft Ordinances on Plant Varieties and Animal Breeds; and the Head of the Government Office report on the consolidated opinions of government members on these draft Ordinances.

The Council of Ministers discussed and reviewed the differing opinions on the contents of the above draft Ordinances.

The Ministry of Justice is tasked with leading, coordinating with the Office of the Government and relevant agencies, incorporating the opinions of government members, finalizing the draft Ordinance on Civil Enforcement (amended) to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance of a decision to submit to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is tasked with leading, coordinating with the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Government, and relevant agencies, incorporating the opinions of government members, finalizing the draft Ordinance on Plant Varieties and the draft Ordinance on Animal Breeds; the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development will represent the Government, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, to submit these two draft Ordinances to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. The Council of Ministers reviewed the report on the implementation of the socio-economic plan for July and the first seven months of 2003 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment.

The socio-economic situation in July and the first seven months of 2003 continued to show positive changes across many fields: industrial production maintained high growth rates, particularly in the non-state sector and foreign-invested enterprises; agricultural production was stable; service activities made significant progress, with some sectors affected by the SARS epidemic beginning to recover; investment capital development was carried out quite well; exports continued to maintain high growth rates; state budget revenue showed prospects of exceeding the annual estimate; prices were stable; employment, labor export, disease prevention, repaying kindness, poverty alleviation, traffic congestion, and accident prevention saw progress; educational, cultural, information, and sports activities were strengthened. However, some social issues still had complex developments such as HIV/AIDS infection, prostitution, drug abuse...

In the remaining five months of 2003, the economy will continue to face significant challenges: unpredictable weather conditions, low disbursement of state credit funds, weak competitive ability and effectiveness of businesses, new difficulties such as the export of catfish and basa fish, textile and garment products...

The Council of Ministers requests ministries, sectors, and localities to continue to vigorously implement the socio-economic development measures outlined in Resolution No. 02/2003/NQ-CP, while conducting a review of the performance of tasks over the three-year period of the 2001-2005 plan, addressing newly emerging issues, ensuring the successful completion of the socio-economic development plan for 2003 and the five-year plan for 2001-2005.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked with working with the 91 General Corporations to review their production capacity and competitiveness, proposing solutions to improve production efficiency and exports.

The Ministry of Trade is tasked with working with major exporting enterprises to find ways to boost exports, expand markets, reduce the trade deficit in 2003, and develop plans for 2004.

4. The Council of Ministers reviewed the report on inspection work, handling complaints and denunciations in the first six months of 2003.

In general, the situation regarding complaints and denunciations in the first six months of the year across the country has improved compared to the same period last year, but it has not fundamentally changed; the phenomenon of gathering in large groups and wearing banners at the Citizen Reception Office and at the residences of Party and State leaders to lodge complaints remains complex.

The Government requests that ministries, sectors, and localities strictly direct the implementation of measures already proposed in Resolution No. 03/2003/NQ-CP of the regular meeting of the Government in January 2003, focusing on directing the effective fulfillment of the responsibility to resolve complaints and denunciations by agencies and units under their management authority, particularly at the grassroots level of communes and districts; promptly review, examine, and conclude on pending cases of complaints and denunciations involving large groups, complex and prolonged cases, and those cases for which the Prime Minister has instructed to be resolved decisively.