Decision No. 12/1998/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in September 1998

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in September 1998

On September 21 and 22, 1998, the Government convened its regular meeting in September 1998 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government generally agreed with the contents of the Report on the plan for stabilizing and developing the economy and society in 1999 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment; the Report on the implementation of the state budget in 1998 and the draft state budget for 1999 presented by the Minister of Finance.

In 1998, the Government focused on directing ministries, sectors, and localities to implement many synchronized measures to enhance internal strength, resolve difficulties for units and bases, and accelerate the execution of assigned tasks. Therefore, in general, the economy and society maintained stability and experienced growth. However, due to inherent weaknesses in the economy and organizational implementation, along with severe impacts from natural disasters and the expanding financial and monetary crisis, the growth rate slowed down and decreased, failing to meet many planned targets; cultural and social areas still faced pressing unresolved issues.

The Government affirms the need to objectively assess the economic and social situation, analyze current and future advantages and challenges, and make necessary adjustments to goals, growth rates, investment structures, and major economic balances. At the same time, it must propose appropriate policies for the year 1999 and subsequent years. It is necessary to continue promoting the reform process, effectively implementing action programs to implement resolutions of the Party, National Assembly, and Government, focusing on tapping all resources, overcoming difficulties, mitigating negative impacts of the crisis, curbing the decline in growth rates, maintaining economic and social stability, while particularly emphasizing industries and fields with potential for rapid development to create stronger growth momentum in the coming years. Based on this spirit, the Government has resolved to actively and decisively implement Plan I; at the same time, prepare necessary preventive measures to proactively switch to Plan II if worse scenarios occur.

To achieve these objectives, it is necessary to further clarify some policies regarding land, investment, markets, finance and banking, employment resolution, poverty alleviation, administrative reform; from there, formulate specific and resolute solutions to be implemented in 1999 to provide impetus for production and business, especially in agriculture, aquaculture, industry, and exports.

The Government requests that ministries, agencies, localities, and state-owned enterprises take the most decisive measures to strictly manage expenditures, thoroughly implement savings, prioritize capital for production and business to contribute to overcoming the current difficult situation.

The Government assigns the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to incorporate opinions from the meeting, supplement and complete the Report, submit it to the Politburo, and report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to prepare for submission to the 6th Plenary Session of the Central Committee and the National Assembly's fourth session of the tenth term.

2. The Government heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report on the results of consolidating opinions from government members on five Draft Ordinances: Library Ordinance, Goods Quality Ordinance (amended), Consumer Protection Ordinance, Measurement Ordinance, and Village Police Ordinance.

The Government assigns the Ministers of Science, Technology, and Environment, Culture, Information, and Public Security to cooperate with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office to incorporate opinions from government members to perfect each of the above Draft Ordinances, report to the Prime Minister before submitting to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. At this meeting, the Government Office sent the Report on assessing the implementation of the Government Work Regulations in the third quarter and the first nine months of 1998 to government members.

In the third quarter of 1998, the implementation of the Government Work Regulations showed some positive changes; the Government and ministries, sectors solved a large volume of work, focusing on key tasks in the Government's program. However, there were still some shortcomings that needed to be addressed. The Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to continue improving administrative discipline, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of leadership and management, strictly adhering to information reporting systems, strengthening coordination to promptly and effectively resolve assigned tasks, fully and properly implementing all provisions of the Work Regulations./.