Decision No. 17/2005/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in December 2005

RESOLUTION

Regular Government Meeting in December 2005

On December 26 and 27, 2005, the Government convened its regular monthly meeting to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Report on the Review of Guidance and Management in 2005 and the Program of Work for 2006 presented by the Government Office.

The Government unanimously assessed that despite facing severe difficulties caused by natural disasters, epidemics, and fluctuations in global market prices, the economic, social, national defense, security, and foreign affairs situations, as well as international integration, all achieved significant accomplishments: the growth rate reached the highest level in seven years, the quality of growth was improved; macroeconomic balances were maintained; disaster prevention and epidemic control were effective; social sectors showed positive changes; national defense and security were secured; foreign activities developed positively, creating favorable conditions for economic development and attracting investment, enhancing Vietnam's position internationally. The guidance and management of the Government were more focused, resolute, correctly identified key areas, proposed practical solutions; inter-ministerial coordination was more effective, emphasizing individual responsibility. The Government collective was united and consistent, flexibly guiding and managing; focusing on handling strategic macro issues, prioritizing institutional building, and strengthening supervision of the implementation of mechanisms and policies, closely monitoring grassroots levels. Relations between the Government and the people and businesses, legislative and judicial organs, Party agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and people's organizations were strengthened. The implementation of the Government's Working Regulations and the Program of Work for 2005 became increasingly systematic.

However, the competitiveness of the economy remains low; many social issues are still very pressing, criminal and social evils have not decreased; political security and social order still contain unstable factors that cannot be ignored; administrative reform progresses slowly, with insufficient effectiveness; the state administrative apparatus still has shortcomings, a portion of cadres and civil servants have degenerated and changed, hindering the country's renewal efforts.

The Government adopted the Report on the Review of Guidance and Management in 2005 and the Program of Work for 2006. It instructed the Government Office to coordinate with relevant Ministries and sectors to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the Report on the Review of Guidance and Management in 2005 and the Program of Work for 2006 of the Government, and send it to Ministries, equivalent Ministries, Government-affiliated agencies, People's Councils, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities for implementation.

2. The Government heard the General Inspector present the draft Action Program of the Government to implement the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption; the Minister of Finance presented the draft Action Program on Thrift and Anti-Waste.

a) The situation of corruption remains serious, eroding the trust of the people in the Party and State, having negative impacts in many aspects on our regime. Preventing and combating corruption is now an urgent demand of the people towards the Party and Government. Therefore, the Government affirms its determination to prevent and combat corruption and organize the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption through measures such as promptly issuing all necessary regulatory documents to guide the implementation of the Law, establishing the Central Steering Committee on Prevention and Combating Corruption with defined tasks and powers; reviewing, amending, and supplementing current mechanisms and policies, especially in fields with many grievances and loopholes leading to corruption; organizing good publicity, dissemination, and thorough understanding of the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption and the Law on Thrift and Anti-Waste throughout the political system, unifying thoughts and actions, creating comprehensive strength to prevent and combat corruption; closely coordinating with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, and media outlets in enforcing the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption; intensifying inspection, investigation, and strict handling of cases of malpractice and corruption.

The Government Inspectorate is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant Ministries and sectors, incorporate opinions from the meeting, promptly complete the draft Action Program of the Government to implement the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption, submit it to the Prime Minister for signing and issuance in January 2006. Based on this Program, Ministers, Heads of equivalent Ministries, Government-affiliated agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall immediately develop specific Action Plans to effectively implement the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption, considering this as a key task for 2006.

b) Alongside the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption, the Government advocates strongly promoting thrift and anti-waste with the following contents: timely issuing a set of regulatory documents to guide and implement the Law on Thrift and Anti-Waste; perfecting the system of standards, norms, and systems as the basis for thrift and anti-waste; intensifying inspection, auditing, early detection, and strict handling of violations of thrift and anti-waste regulations. Leaders of agencies and units must set examples in practicing thrift and anti-waste, and bear responsibility for thrift and anti-waste at their respective agencies and units.

Article 1. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions discussed at the meeting, finalize the draft Action Program of the Government on thrift and anti-waste, submit it for signature and promulgation by the Prime Minister in January 2006. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall be responsible for effectively drafting and implementing the thrift and anti-waste program in their respective agencies and localities.

3. The Government has listened to the presentation of the Securities Law project by the Minister of Finance; the Law on Associations project by the Minister of Home Affairs; the Legal Aid Law project by the Minister of Justice; the Standardization Law project by the Minister of Science and Technology; and the consolidated report on the opinions of Government members regarding these Law projects by the Government Office.

a) Since the securities market began operations, alongside significant initial results, its activities remain small-scale and face certain difficulties and limitations, particularly in terms of the incomplete securities and securities market regulatory framework. The requirement to continue improving the economic market regulatory framework necessitates the early issuance of the Securities Law based on principles ensuring consistency and compatibility with current regulations; sufficient specificity to minimize the need for guiding documents; cautious steps to ensure macro safety and stability; and alignment with the country’s economic integration roadmap.

The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions from the meeting, finalize the Securities Law project; the Minister of Finance, authorized by the Prime Minister, shall submit this Law project to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

b) Regarding the Law on Associations project: In recent years, associations have developed rapidly with diverse models, active in various fields, making certain contributions to the country's socio-economic life. However, organizational structures, activities, and state management over associations still reveal shortcomings and limitations: the legal system governing associations lacks both quantity and content; policies encouraging and supporting associations' participation in social work are not comprehensive; coordination and division of responsibilities in managing associations are unclear; procedures for establishing associations contain unreasonable points; some associations operate superficially, with a strong dependency on state support and a trend towards administrative practices... These issues need timely rectification to bring state management over associations into compliance with legal provisions.

The Ministry of Home Affairs shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions of Government members and attendees, seek the views of Party Committees, National Assembly Committees, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and people's organizations, and further refine the Law on Associations project for submission to the Politburo for comments.

Legal aid is the provision of free legal services to the poor, those benefiting from state preferential policies, and other specified groups under the law, representing a correct social policy that reflects the superior nature of our Party and Government. To ensure citizens' rights and legitimate interests, promote economic development, and maintain social order, it is necessary to issue the Legal Aid Law to fully institutionalize policies and guidelines on legal aid activities; demonstrate the State's and the entire political system's responsibility towards citizens, especially the poor in terms of legal aid; implement the policy of gradually socializing this work; summarize practical experiences, inherit existing legal provisions on legal aid, and selectively absorb international experience.

The Ministry of Justice shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions from the meeting, finalize the Legal Aid Law project; the Minister of Justice, authorized by the Prime Minister, shall submit this Law project to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

d) Regarding the Standardization Law project, it must adhere to principles based on scientific and technological achievements, practical experience, current needs, and future socio-economic trends; not discriminate against products, goods, or services based on origin; ensure quality production and business activities according to standards without hindering such activities; guarantee transparency, participation, and agreement among stakeholders during standard-setting processes; and promptly develop appropriate policies to rapidly advance standardization activities.

The Ministry of Science and Technology shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions of Government members, finalize the Standardization Law project; the Minister of Science and Technology, authorized by the Prime Minister, shall submit this Law project to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

4. The Government has reviewed the Report on the December production and business operation handover, investment situation, and the 2005 socio-economic situation, along with key solutions for the first quarter of 2006 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment; and the Summary Report on the Implementation of the Overall Administrative Reform Program for Phase I (2001-2005) and the Direction and Tasks for Administrative Reform in Phase II (2006-2010) presented by the Government's Administrative Reform Steering Committee.

The socio-economic situation in December and throughout 2005 continued to develop positively. Industrial production grew at a high rate; agriculture, despite facing many difficulties, continued to develop; exports maintained high growth rates; services made significant progress; total social investment attracted a satisfactory amount; social sectors continued to develop in a positive direction; traffic accidents showed a declining trend. Administrative reform has seen some notable changes.

However, the challenges remain significant; the competitiveness of individual products and the overall economy is still weak; the quality of growth is not yet stable; agriculture continues to face difficulties due to natural disasters and diseases; consumer price index increases significantly and unpredictably, greatly affecting production and people's livelihoods; new difficulties are emerging in the export sector; some social issues remain pressing, with criminal activities and social evils becoming more complex. Administrative reform has achieved many results but the changes have not been strong enough and are slow compared to requirements; administrative discipline is still lax. The progress and quality of issuing guiding documents for the implementation of Laws and Ordinances are limited, requiring focused guidance to create a significant shift in 2006.

To successfully fulfill the tasks and plans for 2006 as per the National Assembly's Resolution, the Government requests all Ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently develop action plans to implement the Government's Resolution on key measures that need to be prioritized for directing and managing the implementation of the plan and budget for 2006; focusing on the strict enforcement of the Law on Prevention and Combating Corruption, the Law on Thrift and Combating Wastefulness, and accelerating administrative reform. In the short term, this includes effectively organizing the allocation of plans and budgets to units; vigorously promoting production and business operations from the beginning of the year, boosting exports, and limiting the trade deficit; striving to stabilize prices and markets, especially during the Tet holiday; continuing to effectively prevent and control avian influenza and human pandemic influenza; thoroughly preparing conditions to serve the people's healthy, frugal, and safe celebration, ensuring public security, social order, and traffic safety, particularly traffic safety./.