Resolution No. 12/1999/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in October 1999

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in October 1999

On November 1 and 2, 1999, the Government held its regular meeting for October 1999 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard Minister Tran Xuan Gia of the Ministry of Planning and Investment present a report on the implementation situation and measures to attract foreign direct investment in Vietnam; Director Le Xuan Trinh of the Management Board of Industrial Zones in Vietnam presented a report on the development of industrial zones in Vietnam during the period from 1991 to 1999.

In more than ten years, foreign direct investment along with the establishment and operation of industrial zones has made significant contributions to the development of the national economy, supplementing capital for development, exploiting and enhancing the efficiency of domestic resources, contributing to the restructuring of the economic structure, increasing production capacity, strengthening exports and solving employment for workers... However, there are still many shortcomings and limitations in the field of foreign direct investment and management of industrial zones, especially regarding planning, forecasting, and state management, which need to be promptly addressed to enhance the effectiveness of investment activities for the development of the national economy.

Foreign direct investment is closely linked to other activities and is an important part of the external economic sector. The Government instructs the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Trade, the National Committee on International Economic Cooperation, and related agencies to absorb the opinions of government members and other relevant agencies, complete reports summarizing each aspect of activity: foreign direct investment (FDI), official development assistance (ODA), international economic integration, import and export... and on this basis, complete the report summarizing the external economic sector, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and then to the Politburo.

2. The Government heard Minister Nguyen Dinh Loc of the Ministry of Justice present a proposal to the Government on the draft Ordinance on Civil Enforcement (amended); Director Duong Manh Giao of the Office of the Government presented a report summarizing the opinions of government members on this draft Ordinance. The Government instructs the Ministry of Justice to incorporate the opinions raised at the meeting, perfect the draft Ordinance, and submit it to the Prime Minister for decision on submitting it to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. The Government heard Minister Nguyen Thi Hang of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs present a proposal to the Government on the draft Ordinance on Care for the Elderly; Director Duong Manh Giao of the Office of the Government presented a report summarizing the opinions of government members on this draft Ordinance. The Government instructs the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to incorporate the opinions raised at the meeting, perfect the draft Ordinance, and submit it to the Prime Minister for decision on submitting it to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

4. Director Duong Manh Giao of the Office of the Government presented a report summarizing the opinions of government members on several draft Decrees:

a- The Government agreed to approve 11 draft Decrees:

1. Decree detailing the implementation of the Law on Water Resources, proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

2. Decree on allocating and leasing forest land to organizations, households, and individuals for long-term stable use for forestry purposes, proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

3. Decree on financial regulations for Credit Organizations, proposed by the Ministry of Finance;

4. Decree on managing gold trading activities, proposed by the State Bank of Vietnam;

5. Decree on registering security transactions, proposed by the Ministry of Justice;

6. Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 06/CP dated January 20, 1995 on labor safety and hygiene, proposed by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

7. Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 58/CP dated October 3, 1996 on issuing work permits for foreigners working in enterprises and organizations in Vietnam, proposed by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

8. Decree on securing loans for credit organizations, proposed by the State Bank of Vietnam;

9. Decree detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Protecting Transport Infrastructure for inland waterway transport infrastructure, proposed by the Ministry of Transport;

10. Decree detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Protecting Transport Infrastructure for road transport infrastructure, proposed by the Ministry of Transport;

11. Decree on cooperation with foreign countries in the fields of medical treatment, education, training, and scientific research, proposed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The Office of the Government is instructed to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to perfect these draft Decrees based on incorporating the opinions of government members, and to submit them to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance in November 1999.

b- The Government discussed some contents in two draft Decrees:

1. Decree on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens, proposed by the Ministry of Public Security. The Ministry of Public Security is instructed to take the lead, coordinating with the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and the Office of the Government to incorporate the opinions raised at the meeting to clarify the content of state management over exit and entry and the categories eligible for diplomatic passports, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

2. Decree on security transactions, proposed by the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice is instructed to coordinate with the Office of the Government and related agencies to incorporate the opinions raised at the meeting, perfect the draft Decree, and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance in November 1999.

5. At this meeting, the Government heard Director Duong Manh Giao of the Government's Organization and Cadre Department report on preparations for the election of People's Councils at all levels; Minister Nguyen Thi Hang of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs report on the implementation of the 40-hour workweek system; Minister Chu Tuan Nha of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment report on the implementation of measures to address the year 2000 computer problem (Y2K); Minister Tran Xuan Gia of the Ministry of Planning and Investment report on the socio-economic situation in October and the first ten months of 1999; Deputy Inspector General Ta Huu Thanh present a report to the Government on the inspection and resolution of complaints and petitions in the third quarter of 1999;

The Government agrees to approve these reports. Assign to the Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies to continue implementing the plan for directing, organizing, and serving the election of People's Councils at all levels for the 1999-2004 term based on their functions and tasks. Ministries, sectors, and localities need to strengthen supervision to maintain strict labor discipline, implement organizational restructuring measures and ensure economic and social activities proceed normally under the 40-hour workweek system. Strengthen efforts to disseminate and educate the public about complaints and denunciations, while inspecting the responsibility for handling complaints and denunciations at various levels, sectors, and localities to further improve the quality and effectiveness of complaint resolution. The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment needs to coordinate with the Committee for Resolving Computer Year 2000 Incidents to continue urging and inspecting the implementation of the resolution plans of key sectors and localities, and complete the National Contingency Plan, submitting it to the Prime Minister for approval by the end of November 1999.

Although there are still many difficulties, the socio-economic situation in the first ten months of 1999 has shown positive improvements: agricultural production has had a good harvest, industry has developed quite well, exports and state budget revenues have increased, but the tasks for the last two months of 1999 remain heavy. The Government requests that the Ministries and sectors continue to direct the implementation of the measures outlined in Resolution No. 08/1999/NQ-CP dated July 9, 1999, focusing on accelerating investment programs, disbursing funds from sources that are currently idle, creating purchasing power among different strata of the population, rapidly increasing exports, enhancing product consumption capacity to stimulate production development, addressing urgent social issues, particularly employment and eradication of social evils, mobilizing the comprehensive strength of the entire people to promptly take measures to mitigate the aftermath of typhoons and floods.