Decision No. 17/2000/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in October 2000

RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION NO. 17/2000/NQ-CP OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED NOVEMBER 6, 2000 AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENT IN OCTOBER 2000

2 ||| The Government convened its regular meeting in October on October 30 and 31, 2000, to discuss and adopt the following issues:

At the meeting, the Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment's report on the implementation of the Enterprise Law in the first ten months of 2000.

1. The Government has organized the implementation of the Enterprise Law from the moment it came into effect and considers this to be one of the key tasks of the Government in 2000, both economically significant and a breakthrough in the administrative reform program. To date, the implementation has achieved important initial results; production and business activities nationwide have shown positive changes.

However, the process of implementing the Enterprise Law still faces many difficulties and obstacles: the legal system for business operations is not yet synchronized; administrative discipline is not strict enough; inertia in the administrative machinery at all levels and among some cadres and civil servants remains significant; there are still instances of harassment and inconvenience for businesses; there is insufficient initiative in changing management methods to align with administrative reform policies...

The Government agrees to approve this report and requests that ministries, sectors, and localities continue to thoroughly understand and change their perceptions, fully implement the Enterprise Law. The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked to lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office, to submit to the Prime Minister for issuance in November 2000 a Directive on the five groups of tasks outlined in the aforementioned report to further promote the implementation of the Enterprise Law. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will prepare the content for the Government to organize a mid-term review conference on the implementation of the Enterprise Law for one year.

The Government heard the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam's presentation on the Project "Handling Debts and Accumulated Assets of Credit Organizations."

2The Government unanimously recognizes that the situation of overdue debts, difficult-to-collect debts, and bad debts accumulated in the banking system is very large, has persisted for many years, and has had negative impacts on economic activities. There are many reasons for this situation, including the poor quality of operations within the banking system. To resolve this issue decisively, improve the health of the banking system, and contribute to stabilizing and promoting economic growth, high determination, specific solutions, and appropriate steps are required.

The State Bank is tasked to lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Justice, and the Government Office, to absorb the opinions of government members and participants, classify debts, propose solutions to handle these debts, reorganize state-owned enterprises, adjust financial structures, management organizations, and operational directions to help enterprises with overdue debts to banks be able to repay them; complete the proposal to establish an asset management organization (or a debt purchase organization) and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration. The project must be implemented in the first quarter of 2001.

The Government heard the Minister, Head of the Government Organizational-Cadre Department, and a Standing Member of the Government Administrative Reform Steering Committee's report on the implementation of the National Assembly's Resolution on administrative reform.

3In recent times, the Government has focused on directing this work, emphasizing institutional reform, issuing legal regulations to enhance the effectiveness of leadership and management; reviewing the functions and responsibilities of ministries, sectors, and localities, identifying overlaps and unreasonable aspects of administrative agencies, dissolving and adjusting many advisory and inter-ministerial coordination organizations.

However, compared to the requirements of the renewal process, the Government's direction on administrative reform has not been sufficient. The understanding and determination of administrative reform at all levels and sectors have not been thorough or adequate, resulting in limited achievements.

The task of administrative reform in 2001 should focus on drafting and promulgating legal regulations within the Government's and ministries' authority. Initially, address overlapping functional and responsibility issues between ministries and sectors, review and decide promptly on matters that can be immediately decentralized to ministries and provincial People's Committees. Focus on directing and implementing well the National Assembly's Law and Ordinance Construction Program, especially those systems serving the development of productive forces, serving the people and enterprises, and implementing the Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2001-2010. Simultaneously, urgently prepare and submit the draft Law amending and supplementing the Law on the Organization of the Government, the Law on the Organization of People's Councils and People's Committees, creating a new shift in decentralization to local authorities. Continue to vigorously promote administrative procedural reform, remove bottlenecks, leverage internal strength, create favorable conditions for production and living for the people and enterprises. Study amendments to organizational and staffing management mechanisms, financial management, pilot staff quota and administrative budget policies, build and strengthen the cadre and civil servant workforce, improve working, meeting, and administrative document systems. Strictly implement democratic regulations and financial transparency.

The Government instructs the Administrative Reform Steering Committee to urgently prepare the 2001 Administrative Reform Plan, to be submitted for Government consideration by the end of 2000.

The Government heard the General Inspector of the State's report on the handling of citizens' complaints and petitions in the third quarter of 2000 and the preliminary results of the five inter-sectoral inspection teams of the Government.

4The Government hears the State Auditor's report on the work of handling citizens' complaints and petitions in the third quarter of 2000 and the initial results of the five inter-sectoral working groups of the Government.

In the third quarter of 2000, the situation regarding citizens' complaints and denunciations continued to be complex, with the number of large groups gathering at some locations under Party and government agencies increasing significantly. The Government convened a meeting with the Chairmen of the People's Committees of 18 southern provinces to review responsibilities, assess the situation and results of handling complaints and denunciations in the recent period, and discuss policies and measures for guidance in the future on this territory. Subsequently, the Government established six inter-sectoral working groups led by ministers and general directors to inspect, urge, examine, and resolve complaints, especially those involving large groups, complex cases, and long-standing issues in 21 provinces and cities. Along with the efforts of all levels and sectors, many cases of prolonged and complex mass complaints were resolved, reducing tensions and dissatisfaction in localities, contributing to maintaining social order, and gaining public approval. Initial improvements have been made in the awareness and responsibility of local leaders in handling complaints, consolidating the people's trust in the Party and local authorities.

In the future, it is necessary to intensify inspection and complaint resolution work in all provinces and cities, aiming to resolve cases thoroughly from the grassroots level according to assigned authority and responsibility. Disciplinary actions will be taken against officials who lack a sense of responsibility, violate citizens' democratic rights, and abuse their power to act contrary to the law. The State Inspector General is tasked with organizing a specialized team to inspect the implementation of conclusions and recommendations of the central inter-sectoral working groups and complete reports on the activities of these groups in 21 provinces and cities to report to the Politburo. The Chairmen of the People's Committees of centrally-administered cities and provinces are instructed to organize local inter-sectoral working groups to inspect and assist in resolving complaints and denunciations, thereby stabilizing situations in localities.

5The Government has reviewed the Report on the economic and social situation in October and the first ten months of 2000 prepared by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Over the past ten months, the country's economic and social situation has continued to develop positively: industrial production, exports, services, state budget revenue... maintained a relatively high growth rate. However, prolonged flooding in the Mekong Delta and natural disasters in other areas caused serious damage to the economy and people's lives. The people across the country have demonstrated the tradition of solidarity, mutual assistance, and support to overcome difficulties, quickly stabilize production and living conditions.

Industrial production, seafood exports, and service sectors continue to grow at a good pace. Export turnover in the first ten months of 2000 increased by 26.4% compared to the same period last year. Implementation of capital investment from the state budget in the first ten months reached 78% of the annual plan; development credit investment capital implemented for project loans in the first ten months was low, at 55% of the annual plan; foreign direct investment implemented in the first ten months was 150 million USD, equivalent to 88% of the same period in 1999.

Total state budget revenue up to October 15, 2000 is estimated to reach 88.5% of the annual budget; total state budget expenditure is 76.9% of the annual budget. Consumer goods and service prices in October increased by 0.1% compared to the previous month.

In terms of society, disease prevention and health care for the people achieved good results, particularly in flood-affected areas. The Education and Training sector is focusing on addressing urgent issues such as additional classes, certification checks, program streamlining, university network planning, and adjusting study programs for flood-affected students.

The Government believes that although significant progress has been made in implementing Resolution No. 11/2000/NQ-CP on certain measures to manage the economic and social development plan for the second half of 2000, the implementation remains slow. Therefore, in the future, efforts must be intensified to focus on the following tasks: reviewing assigned tasks, accelerating implementation progress; promptly implementing the Prime Minister's conclusions at the 2000 Basic Construction Investment Conference; urgently addressing the aftermath of natural disasters to stabilize production and people's lives; continuing to implement measures to limit price reductions for consumer goods.

6The Government heard the Minister and Chairman of the National Committee for Population and Family Planning present the "Vietnam Population Strategy 2001-2010."

In recent years, population and family planning work has achieved encouraging results, contributing to overall achievements in economic growth and social development. However, the quality of the population remains low, birth rates in poor families and regions remain high, and the population structure is still not reasonable...

The Government agrees to approve the Project and assigns the Minister and Chairman of the National Committee for Population and Family Planning to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of Government members and attendees, improve the Project, especially measures to enhance population quality, and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval to implement.