Decision No. 1249/QD-TTg on the issuance of the Operational Regulations of the National Committee for APEC 2006

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the issuance of the Working Regulations of the National Committee for APEC 2006

PRIME MINISTER

 Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Decision No. 195/2005/QĐ-TTg dated August 5, 2005 of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the National Committee for APEC 2006;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Trade, and the Chairman of the Government Office;

 DECISION:

 Article 1. Issued herewith are the Working Regulations of the National Committee for APEC 2006.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from the date of signature.

Article 3. The Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to ministries, Chairmen of People's Committees of relevant localities, members of the National Committee for APEC 2006, Subcommittees and the Secretariat of APEC 2006 shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

Working Regulations of the National Committee for APEC 2006

(Issued together with Decision No. 1249/QĐ-TTg dated November 18, 2005)

of the Prime Minister)

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

Article 1. These Regulations stipulate the powers and responsibilities of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons, Members, the Committee, and the Secretariat; they regulate the working procedures, coordination, and information dissemination of the National Committee for APEC 2006 (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) established pursuant to Decision No. 195/2005/QĐ-TTg dated August 5, 2005 of the Prime Minister.

II. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Article 2. Chairperson of the Committee

The Chairperson of the Committee directs and decides on all policies related to the preparation and organization of the APEC 2006 year in Vietnam; approves comprehensive programs and plans regarding the preparation and organization of APEC 2006 events, approves the final budget for organizing activities of the APEC 2006 year; convenes, chairs, and concludes meetings of the Committee.

Article 3. Vice-Chairpersons of the Committee

The Vice-Chairpersons of the Committee are tasked with carrying out other tasks assigned by the Chairperson of the Committee, specifically as follows:

- Vice-Chairperson (Minister of Foreign Affairs): assists the Chairperson of the Committee in directing the implementation of tasks related to politics and foreign affairs (including security issues mentioned in APEC);

- Vice-Chairperson (Minister of Trade): assists the Chairperson of the Committee in directing the implementation of tasks related to economy and trade.

Article 4. Members of the Committee

Members of the Committee represent their respective agencies in participating in Committee activities and carry out tasks assigned by the Chairperson of the Committee and are accountable to the Chairperson of the Committee and the Head of their agency for the performance of assigned tasks.

Members direct specialized Subcommittees on APEC 2006 led by their own agencies; coordinate with the Secretariat, Subcommittees, and other relevant agencies to perform assigned tasks; propose opinions to the Chairperson of the Committee.

Article 5. National Secretariat for APEC 2006

The National Secretariat for APEC 2006 (hereinafter referred to as the Secretariat) was established pursuant to Decision No. 195/2005/QĐ-TTg dated August 5, 2005 of the Prime Minister, consisting of the Secretary-General concurrently serving as the Chairman of SOM (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs), Deputy Secretary-General responsible for economic and trade issues (Ministry of Trade), Deputy Secretary-General responsible for security and political issues and other related matters (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and staff working in specialized teams.

The Secretariat is a permanent body of the Committee, directly under the leadership of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the Committee, and serves as the office of the Chairman of SOM, performing the following main tasks:

- Assisting the Committee in planning work programs, urging the implementation of tasks related to the preparation and organization of APEC 2006 meetings and activities; coordinating and harmonizing the operations of all Subcommittees to serve the organization of the APEC 2006 year;

- Organizing the High-Level Officials Meetings (SOM) and related meetings; coordinating with the Logistics Subcommittee and other Subcommittees to organize the APEC Week in Hanoi including the final SOM meeting, the Joint Ministerial Meeting (JMM), and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM);

- Coordinating with Ministries and lead agencies to organize specialized meetings such as Ministerial Meetings on trade, finance, tourism, small and medium-sized enterprises; CEO Summit and ABAC meetings, as well as related activities;

- Drafting agendas and documents for meetings (cooperating with the Negotiation Content Subcommittee to build documents such as JMM and AELM declarations); coordinating with the Content Synthesis Subcommittee to develop positions, policies, and contents of Vietnam's participation in all political, economic, and trade issues;

- Preparing materials for SOM meetings and the APEC Week (providing materials, receiving, printing, and distributing materials at meetings), storing data for Committee activities and the APEC 2006 year;

- Arranging interpretation services for senior leaders of Vietnam, coordinating interpretation with delegations and ensuring the operation of the interpretation system for JMM and AELM with the Logistics Subcommittee;

- Serving as the point of contact in relations with the APEC Secretariat and member countries for the APEC 2006 year;

- Organizing the activities of the Press Center, managing and guiding domestic and international journalists during the APEC Week.

Chairman of the SOM for APEC 2006/Secretary-General

The Secretary-General concurrently serving as the Chairman of the SOM for APEC 2006 has the following responsibilities:

- Directly leading the activities of the Secretariat; assisting the Committee leadership in managing and handling daily Committee affairs; preparing regular reports of the Committee; preparing agendas and contents for Committee meetings and other tasks assigned by the Committee leadership.

- Carrying out external activities as the Chairman of SOM (such as managing SOM activities, drafting SOM agendas, reporting to related Ministerial Meetings and AELM, coordinating country positions, urging and resolving issues within the SOM framework); preparing contents for JMM, AELM, and related bilateral meetings during the APEC Week.

- Cooperating with the SOM Chair and Deputy Secretary-General to establish and lead specialized teams within the Secretariat to perform assigned tasks.

SOM Chair of Vietnam and Deputy Secretary-General.

The SOM Chair represents the Vietnamese delegation at the SOM meetings (managing Vietnam's participation process in SOM, implementing SOM decisions, developing Vietnam's viewpoints and initiatives at SOM); coordinating with the SOM Chair to implement tasks assigned by the Committee and prepare content for APEC 2006, including bilateral consultations with countries, advocating for Vietnam's initiatives and viewpoints.

Deputy Secretaries-General are responsible for closely coordinating to assist the Secretary-General/SOM Chair in carrying out assigned tasks.

Article 6. Heads of Subcommittees of the Committee

Are accountable to the Committee Chair for assigned tasks. Organize, direct, manage the work of their Subcommittee; coordinate and mediate work with other Subcommittees; relevant Ministries, agencies, and localities. Decide on issues and contents within the Subcommittee's responsibilities in accordance with the law.

III. WORKING REGIME AND COOPERATION

Article 7. Working Regime of the Committee

The Committee meets regularly once every two months. In necessary cases, the Committee Chair may convene extraordinary meetings. During the High-Level Week, the Committee may meet frequently. Depending on the content and nature of the meeting, relevant members may be invited to attend. The conclusions of the Committee Chair at the meeting will be compiled by the Secretary-General and the Government Office and transferred in writing to members, Subcommittees, related agencies, and localities for their knowledge and implementation.

The Subcommittees and the APEC 2006 Secretary-General have the responsibility to report periodically to the Committee leadership on the progress of preparations for APEC 2006 activities. Reports sent to the Committee leadership should also be forwarded to the Secretary-General for consolidation and coordination.

Committee members and Subcommittees are responsible for closely coordinating with each other and with the Secretary-General to prepare and organize APEC 2006.

Article 8. External Information

The Secretary-General serves as the point of contact with the APEC Secretary-General and member countries. The Secretary-General is responsible for promptly transferring information to Subcommittees and related agencies and localities. Relevant Ministries and agencies hosting conferences directly work with APEC members during the preparation for the conference and activities they host.

Article 9. Administrative Documentation Work

The Committee Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Members; the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General use their respective agency seals in performing tasks assigned by Decision No. 195/2005/QĐ-TTg dated August 5, 2005, of the Prime Minister, and tasks assigned under this Charter.

Article 10. Operating Budget and Infrastructure

The budget for organizing APEC 2006 activities and ensuring the Committee's operations is provided from the state budget and from sources funding APEC 2006. Relevant Ministries, agencies, and Subcommittees responsible for material and logistical support must manage, use, and settle accounts for funds allocated for events and activities assigned in the overall approved plan according to regulations.

The Secretary-General's office is located at 16 Le Hong Phong Street, Hanoi. The Government Office will soon transfer the above location to the Secretary-General's office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretary-General's office) has the responsibility to return this location to the Government Office within two months after the conclusion of the Summit./.