Decision No. 14/2006/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in July 2006

RESOLUTION

Regular Government Meeting in July 2006

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During two days, July 31 and August 1, 2006, the Government held its regular monthly meeting in July to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. Regarding the Action Program of the Government to implement the Resolution of the 10th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the Ninth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly on the Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2006-2010, the Government discussed and agreed that this Action Program of the Government is a specific implementation of the goals and contents of the Resolution of the 10th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the National Assembly on the Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2006-2010 into programs for drafting legal documents, mechanisms, policies, projects, and plans within the authority of the Government and the Prime Minister, with clear responsibilities assigned and a specific implementation timeline, serving as a basis for the Government's guidance and management, the execution by the responsible agencies, and the supervision and inspection by relevant agencies to actualize and ensure the successful completion of the socio-economic development plan's objectives.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked to lead, coordinate with related agencies to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the draft Resolution of the Government on the Action Program of the Government to implement the Resolution of the 10th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the National Assembly on the Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2006-2010, and submit it to the Prime Minister for issuance.

Ministries, sectors, and localities shall develop their specific Action Programs, which must concretely reflect the Government's Action Program and clearly demonstrate the programs, tasks, projects, and plans within their own authorities to effectively implement according to the established timeline.

2. The Government discussed and approved the draft Law on Product Quality, presented by the Minister of Science and Technology; the draft Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, presented by the Minister of Health; the draft Law on Vietnam's Sea Areas, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the draft Ordinance on Protection of Important Targets for National Security, presented by the Minister of Public Security.

The Government generally agrees with the contents of the draft laws and ordinances. Each ministry leading each draft law or ordinance is tasked to coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office, and related agencies to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize each draft, clarify issues with differing views, and additional matters the Government deems necessary to note, and report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on submitting these draft laws and ordinances to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

3. The Government discussed and approved the following Resolutions and Decrees:

a) Agreeing to supplement some articles of Decree No. 132/2005/NĐ-CP dated October 20, 2005, of the Government regarding the rights and obligations of state owners towards state-owned companies based on the content proposed by the Minister of Planning and Investment. The Government Office is tasked to lead, incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the draft Decree, and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance.

b) Approving the draft Decree of the Government on direct foreign investment, presented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, with the removal of Clause 2 of Article 4 of the draft. The Government Office is tasked to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the draft, and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance.

c) Approving the content of the Resolution on several measures to accelerate the progress of selling state-owned housing to tenants as stipulated in Decree No. 61/CP dated July 5, 1994. The Government Office is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the draft Resolution, and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance.

d) For the draft Decree on science and technology enterprises: The Ministry of Science and Technology is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and related agencies to incorporate opinions from the meeting, continue to finalize the draft Decree, send it for comments from members of the Government, and report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

4. The Government heard a report on the results of negotiations for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), presented by the Minister of Trade.

The Government instructs relevant ministries and agencies and the Government's negotiation team to focus on resolving remaining issues, intensify multilateral and bilateral negotiations with partners to conclude negotiations as planned by the Working Group on Vietnam's Accession to the WTO. The Government instructs the Minister of Trade, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, to report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on the results of multilateral negotiations, propose a timeline for accession, and request the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to consider and include the approval of the negotiation results in the agenda of the Tenth Session of the National Assembly; to lead, coordinate with related agencies to prepare the Government's report on this matter, submit it to the President for review and submission to the National Assembly at the Tenth Session; and to lead, coordinate with related ministries and agencies to develop an action program to implement WTO commitments, to be submitted to the Government for approval at the October 2006 meeting.

The Government agrees in principle to publish comprehensive information on multilateral and bilateral commitments so that the public and businesses can be informed. The Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and related agencies are instructed to urgently implement this. Relevant ministries and sectors need to have plans to mobilize, coordinate, and effectively utilize foreign technical assistance to implement WTO accession commitments.

5. The Government discussed the Report on the Review of Work on Drafting and Issuing Detailed Regulations and Guidance for Implementation of Laws and Ordinances, presented by the Government Office.

In recent years, the work of drafting and promulgating detailed regulations and guidance for the implementation of laws and ordinances has achieved positive results, contributing to the promotion of economic and social development and strengthening management across all fields. However, this work is still slow, with low quality, causing some laws and ordinances to be delayed in entering into force.

To promptly address this situation, the Government requests that ministries and sectors consider this as a key ongoing task that needs continuous focus and direction. The Government basically agrees with the solutions proposed by the Government Office; it assigns the Government Office to take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to soon submit to the Prime Minister for issuance of a Directive on enhancing the work of drafting and promulgating detailed regulations and guidance for the implementation of laws and ordinances; at the same time, submit to the Prime Minister for the regulation on reforming the procedures and processes for drafting and promulgating legal documents within the authority of the Government and the Prime Minister.

6. The Government has reviewed the report on the socio-economic situation, the report on production, business, service, and investment in July and the first seven months of 2006, submitted by the Ministry of Planning and Investment; the report on trade in July 2006, submitted by the Ministry of Trade; the report on inspection and resolution of complaints and denunciations in the second quarter of 2006, submitted by the Government Inspectorate.

In July and the first seven months of 2006, the economy continued to develop. Industrial production value continued to increase, higher than the same period last year; agricultural production developed steadily, avian influenza was effectively controlled; foot-and-mouth disease in livestock was limited. The total retail sales of goods and service revenue, tourism activities, cargo and passenger transport, postal and telecommunications services... all increased significantly compared to the same period last year. Export turnover continued to rise; among which, key products had a much higher growth rate compared to the same period in 2005. The import surplus ratio decreased compared to the same period. Foreign direct investment attraction continued to increase significantly; state budget revenue and expenditure ensured progress. The monetary and banking sector continued to stabilize. Consumer prices maintained a lower growth rate compared to the same period. Social order maintenance, security, and defense continued to be maintained. Educational and training activities, healthcare, employment resolution, culture, sports, care for war veterans, poverty reduction; inspection, complaint, and denunciation resolution continued to be implemented according to the plan set out at the beginning of the year and showed positive changes.

However, in July and the first seven months of 2006, there were still some difficulties and issues such as: the disbursement progress of capital sources, especially government bonds and investment credit, was slower than planned. Import prices of essential materials for production fluctuated significantly. Unusual weather and disease outbreaks affected production and people's lives; traffic accidents, although reduced, still resulted in high casualties. Smuggling, commercial fraud, corruption, waste, and social evils have not been effectively curbed.

To strive to complete the socio-economic development plan for 2006, the Government requests that ministries, sectors, and localities closely follow actual developments, strictly and thoroughly implement Resolution No. 01/2006/NQ-CP dated January 16, 2006 of the Government on major measures to guide and manage the implementation of the socio-economic plan and state budget for 2006, Resolution No. 13/2006/NQ-CP dated July 7, 2006, and other Government Resolutions; accelerate production, practice thrift, reduce production costs, enhance the competitiveness of products and services; promote exports, control market prices, curb inflation; improve investment management and budget utilization; strengthen inspection, supervision of project implementation, administrative inspections, thrift practices, anti-waste, and anti-corruption; curb the increase in traffic accidents; proactively prevent natural disasters; guard against the recurrence of avian influenza. Ministries, sectors, and localities need to pay attention to social work, particularly preparing well for the new school year; promptly resolve complaints and denunciations; prevent complex, prolonged, and escalated complaints. Continue to promote administrative reform, implement the WTO accession roadmap, and prepare well for the successful organization of the APEC Summit at the end of the year.