Directive No. 15/CT-TTg Continues to Implement Resolution No. 22-NQ/TW of the Politburo on International Integration

DIRECTIVE
Continuing to implement Resolution 22-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration
internationally

Implementing Resolution No. 22 dated April 10, 2013 of the Politburo (Resolution 22) on international integration, the Government has issued an Action Program and established the National Steering Committee for International Integration comprising the Inter-ministerial Steering Committee on Politics, Security, Defense, the Inter-ministerial Steering Committee on Economy, the Inter-ministerial Steering Committee on Culture, Society, Science and Technology, Education and Training. The National Steering Committee and the Inter-ministerial Steering Committees, along with ministries, sectors, and localities, have actively implemented the programs and tasks set forth and achieved many important results, contributing positively to attracting resources for sustainable development, improving people's living standards; maintaining independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; consolidating a peaceful and stable environment; promoting and enhancing Vietnam's position and reputation in the world.

However, there are still shortcomings and limitations in implementing international integration. The understanding of ministries, sectors, and localities is not yet comprehensive and consistent; coordination in implementation is not smooth and tight. Information dissemination to businesses and the public does not meet the requirements. The process of domestication to fulfill international commitments is incomplete and inconsistent. Domestic preparations for upcoming commitments are slow and lack initiative.

The coming years are very significant for the country's development. The global situation is changing rapidly, becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable; territorial disputes, resource conflicts, ethnic conflicts, and non-traditional security challenges are emerging sharply. Asia-Pacific, including Southeast Asia, continues to be a dynamic center of development while also being a strategic competition focal point among major countries. Globalization and advances in the scientific and technological revolution deeply affect the restructuring of the world economy. Trends in economic, trade, investment, multi-tier infrastructure connectivity are increasing; new forms of cooperation, financial and monetary institutions, new-generation economic, trade, and investment agreements, including the formation of the ASEAN Community at the end of 2015, are emerging. These developments require us to continue to proactively and actively promote comprehensive international integration across all fields to seize opportunities, overcome challenges, so that international integration truly becomes an effective means to serve sustainable development and protect national sovereignty and security.

To achieve these goals, the Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Steering Committee for International Integration, issues directives on urgent tasks to be carried out over the next 2-3 years as follows:

1. The inter-ministerial steering committees for international integration on politics, security, defense, economy, culture, society, science and technology, education and training shall improve the quality of policy advice; ensure smooth and coordinated operation of the mechanism for coordination between ministries and sectors; between the working groups of the National Steering Committee and the inter-ministerial steering committees; and between the steering committees and the lead agencies for international integration at the local level.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies:

- Recognize international integration as a priority task and assign and strengthen the responsible units; promptly review and complete the assigned tasks within the deadlines set forth in Resolution No. 31/NQ-CP dated May 13, 2014 on the Action Program of the Government to implement Resolution 22 of the Politburo on international integration and Resolution No. 49/NQ-CP dated July 10, 2014 on continuing to implement Resolution of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on major policies for rapid and sustainable economic development when Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

- Concentrate resources to quickly finalize, sign, and effectively prepare for the implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs) under negotiation according to the requirements set.

- Strengthen the role of multilateral diplomacy towards actively contributing and participating in building and shaping appropriate multilateral cooperation mechanisms in line with national interests. Increase research, propose, and implement initiatives and contributions at important forums, focusing on sustainable development and addressing global challenges, to enhance Vietnam's role as a responsible member and raise its status.

- Effectively support localities, businesses, and industry associations in expanding foreign economic relations; intensify information dissemination and propaganda about the opportunities and challenges of integration, particularly regarding the ASEAN Community, new economic and trade commitments of Vietnam. Pay attention to dialogue, receiving, and processing opinions and proposals from affected entities to ensure that integration brings tangible benefits to businesses and the people.

- Strengthen reviews and full, clear, transparent, and synchronized implementation of domestication of international commitments Vietnam has joined; amend regulations that are no longer appropriate; proactively plan for domestication preparation for upcoming commitments. Proactively study and propose participation and actively contribute to the formulation of international treaties, play a role in international legal and judicial mechanisms, especially in the field of international trade disputes and the Law of the Sea.

- Proactively monitor and review the implementation of international integration commitments by other countries and timely propose appropriate policies and measures to ensure Vietnam's rights and legitimate interests. Focus on preparation, prevention, and resolution of international disputes.

- Develop and implement training and capacity-building plans to prepare human resources for international integration in their respective fields.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

- To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to study and propose measures to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation and participation in multilateral mechanisms and forums on politics-security-defense, serving effectively the national security and development goals.

- To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to develop Vietnam's multilateral foreign policy orientation until 2030, including training a cadre for multilateral work; to research and recommend incorporating the policy of "raising the level of multilateral diplomacy" into Party and State documents.

- To take the lead and advise the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the National Committee for International Integration to urge ministries, sectors, and localities to implement key multilateral diplomatic tasks according to their functions and responsibilities, including: (i) Undertaking international responsibilities and successfully hosting major multilateral events; (ii) Developing the vision for ASEAN post-2015 and enhancing ASEAN's central role in the region; improving the effectiveness of sub-regional cooperation in the Mekong River Basin; (iii) Effectively implementing international commitments; (iv) Enhancing the effectiveness of implemented FTAs and promoting the completion and implementation of pending FTAs; (v) Contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and addressing global non-traditional security challenges, promoting sustainable development; (vi) Vigorously promoting political and diplomatic efforts to have partner countries recognize Vietnam's market economy status before December 31, 2018; (vii) Improving the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation in culture, society, science, technology, education and training, and other fields; (viii) Improving inter-sectoral coordination and the quality of multilateral cadres.

- To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to implement the roadmap for preparing to host the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting and APEC 2017 activities. To vigorously promote candidacies for non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, membership in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2016-2018 term, and the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2015-2019 term.

- To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to finalize the draft Law on Signing, Joining and Implementing International Treaties (Amended) for submission to the Government for comments before the tenth session of the XIII National Assembly; to research and propose additional participation in certain United Nations human rights conventions at appropriate times; to continue implementing the project to build a legal cadre for international legal bodies during the 2012-2015 period and towards 2020, and to develop a project to identify and promote candidates for the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC); to research and propose plans to mobilize overseas Vietnamese to work for international organizations to support Vietnam's international integration.

- To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to develop a proposal for training, nurturing, and dispatching representatives to participate in international organizations, to be submitted to the Prime Minister in the fourth quarter of 2015.

4. The Ministry of National Defense:

- To develop the Strategy for International Defense Integration until 2020, vision 2030, the Strategy for ASEAN Defense Integration, and the Project for Developing the Defense Industry Cooperation over a Ten-Year Period from 2016 to 2025.

- To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to propose measures to strengthen participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations (PKO), sending personnel to work at PKO agencies, and seeking support from the United Nations and other countries to enhance Vietnam's capacity in PKO.

- To take the lead and propose measures to strengthen bilateral defense relations, initiatives to build trust, and enhance Vietnam's role in multilateral forums on defense; to develop a plan to implement arms control activities and joint exercises with a schedule suitable to our military capabilities.

- To take the lead in strengthening cooperation in border protection, sovereignty and jurisdiction over the sea, maritime security, law enforcement at sea, search and rescue, post-war consequences resolution, military technology, and military trade.

- To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to strictly manage foreign investment and business activities in areas important for national defense and security.

5. The Ministry of Public Security:

- To take the lead and propose measures to strengthen cooperation with law enforcement agencies in other countries in the fields of security, police, and intelligence; to promote security dialogue mechanisms; to develop and implement plans and projects to enhance intelligence and intelligence action cooperation with ASEAN countries and major countries; to intensify the implementation of plans to combat transnational crimes and crimes involving foreign elements.

- To take the lead in implementing commitments and proposing initiatives at the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), ASEAN Police (ASEANAPOL), and the Association of Chiefs of National Security Agencies of ASEAN (MACOSA); initiatives to promote drug control cooperation within the United Nations, ASEAN, and the six Mekong sub-region countries; to strengthen close cooperation with INTERPOL and ASEANAPOL members to ensure political security and social order, and contribute to regional and international security and peace.

- To take the lead in successfully assuming the roles of Executive Director, Police Director, and Planning Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat; to research and recommend personnel for candidacy for permanent leadership positions at INTERPOL, and to dispatch officials to work at INTERPOL's Global Complex and INTERPOL Secretariat.

- To take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to proactively propose and develop international treaties, bilateral agreements, and participate in multilateral treaties on security and order, focusing on cooperation documents on preventing and combating high-tech crimes, terrorism, drugs, money laundering; firefighting forces; rescue and disaster response and cyber security...

6. Ministry of Industry and Trade:

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to concentrate resources to complete, sign, and prepare for implementation of key economic and trade linkages, including the ASEAN Economic Community and FTAs between ASEAN and partners, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), FTAs with the European Union (EU), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA); actively implement new FTAs signed between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, and Vietnam and South Korea; emphasizing enhanced coordination among ministries and sectors; understanding localities' and enterprises' concerns and readiness levels to guide them in seizing opportunities and meeting FTA commitments in line with Vietnam's FTA participation strategy. Continue to study and propose negotiations for new FTAs aimed at diversifying markets.

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to prepare for mid-term review of the implementation of the Bogor Goals on trade and investment liberalization in 2016 and other APEC commitments up to 2016.

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to fully implement WTO commitments and actively participate in the Doha Round negotiations; proactively utilize effective multilateral mechanisms, especially those of the WTO, to organize early warnings and effectively counter anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard cases against Vietnam's exported goods; propose solutions to strengthen efforts against smuggling, counterfeit goods, and commercial fraud; protect the legitimate interests of Vietnamese workers and businesses.

- To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, related ministries and sectors, and localities to promote information dissemination and public awareness about international economic integration, particularly regarding signed, ongoing, and upcoming FTAs, the Bali Package, and the ASEAN Economic Community...

7. Ministry of Planning and Investment:

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to assess the impact of participating in and implementing new-generation FTAs under negotiation on Vietnam's socio-economic development; develop proactive policies and mechanisms to attract investment and development aid in the new situation.

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to effectively implement and fully leverage opportunities from the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan and the APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025, review the implementation of the APEC Growth Strategy 2010-2015 and the APEC Structural Reform Agenda 2010-2015.

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to research emerging issues in the global economy including blue ocean development strategies, electronic commerce, industry clusters, production value chain connectivity, and propose policies and measures for these issues.

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to proactively review, evaluate, supplement, and perfect legal frameworks related to government procurement, public-private partnerships, and bidding in line with international commitments; effectively utilize cooperation mechanisms for developing partners to enhance compliance, enforcement, and monitoring of international treaties that Vietnam has joined.

8. Ministry of Finance:

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to assess the impact of implementing international economic integration commitments on budget revenues and expenditures during the 2015-2020 period.

- To take the lead in completing legal frameworks, accelerating administrative reforms in taxation and customs in line with Vietnam's international commitments.

9. Ministry of Transport to take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and agencies to promote and strengthen the implementation of transportation connectivity within ASEAN.

10. Ministry of Construction to accelerate urban linkage work between major cities in Vietnam and major cities around the world towards sustainable urban development, improving urban quality, and preserving Vietnamese urban architectural identity.

11. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to propose initiatives to elevate Vietnam's contributions in food security and climate change adaptation, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

12. Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Confederation of Labor of Vietnam, and related ministries and sectors to participate and complete ratification of core International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions and related United Nations conventions on labor, employment, social security, women's and children's rights; study and recommend measures to address labor issues in international economic integration, and propose measures to ensure the implementation of international commitments on labor and social affairs.

13. Ministry of Science and Technology:

- To take the lead and coordinate with related ministries and sectors to strengthen access, understanding, and research on international science and technology information to serve domestic popularization and application; promote and propose measures to encourage foreign experts and scientists, overseas Vietnamese, to participate in research and training programs in science and technology.

- Proactively and effectively participate in regional cooperation programs, bilateral and multilateral agreements and arrangements on standards, measurement, and quality; closely monitor and update to ensure good implementation of international laws on intellectual property rights, enhance international cooperation in protecting intellectual property rights, implement the construction of database systems, establish a national information network on activities for protecting intellectual property rights.

14. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to adjust training programs, vocational education, and improve the quality of teachers and lecturers in accordance with regional and international standards; aiming for Vietnamese diplomas to be recognized in the region and worldwide.

15. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to implement Vietnam's Foreign Cultural Strategy until 2020, with a vision until 2030; strengthen promotional activities of the country's image and people; proactively review domestic traditional customs and festivals in line with international integration.

16. The Ministry of Health shall take the lead in actively participating in multilateral forums on health, enhance cooperation in health with development partners, foreign partners, and major international scientific centers; effectively coordinate various sources of aid for health.

17. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to study and propose our policies and initiatives on issues related to climate change response, environmental protection, sustainable management and use of water resources and natural resources.

18. The Ministry of Information and Communications:

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and relevant agencies to develop and implement plans for information dissemination about prominent annual international integration events of Vietnam to enhance and unify public awareness and support for Vietnam's international integration policy.

- Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors and direct news agencies and press organizations to vigorously implement external information activities and domestic information and propaganda activities regarding foreign policy guidelines, cooperation and development policies, and international integration policies of Vietnam.

19. The Ministry of Justice:

- Take the lead in coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to actively review, propose adjustments, amendments, abolition, and supplementation of Vietnam's legal provisions to align with Vietnam's international integration commitments.

- Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to enhance multilateral cooperation in the field of law, particularly in international judicial matters; cooperate in resolving international investment disputes, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of the Government of Vietnam.

20. The State Bank of Vietnam shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to develop and implement plans to enhance Vietnam's role and status in financial, monetary, and banking institutions where Vietnam is currently a member; intensify research and proposals for participation in other international financial organizations.

21. The Government Inspectorate shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to effectively implement Vietnam's commitments on anti-corruption at multilateral mechanisms.

22. People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

- Proactively develop and implement local action plans on international integration, focusing on enhancing integration and competitiveness capabilities, proposing requirements and difficulties that need central support.

- Review mechanisms and policies, improve the investment and business environment, accelerate administrative reform in line with international commitments and integration requirements.

- Proactively promote local-level cooperation relations with foreign partners, participate in sub-regional cooperation programs, actively negotiate, sign, and effectively implement local-level cooperation agreements.

- Proactively propose measures to strengthen inter-local linkages to complement each other's advantages in infrastructure and human resources. Effectively implement support programs for enterprises in integration.

- Continue to improve organizational structures and enhance the capacity of local officials to serve international integration.

23. People's Committees: Hanoi City, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City, and related provinces and cities shall proactively and positively prepare material bases to host large international conferences in Vietnam and activities during the 2017 APEC Year in Vietnam.

24. The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry shall proactively enhance enterprises' understanding of new economic and trade commitments of Vietnam; promote active and effective enterprise participation in implementing international integration activities, including the 2017 APEC Year in Vietnam.

25. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall compile the situation and report annually to the Prime Minister, the Head of the National Steering Committee, the results of implementing this Directive.

26. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairmen of provincial and centrally governed city People's Committees are responsible for strictly organizing and implementing this Directive./.