Decision No. 20/2007/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in March 2007

 RESOLUTION

Regular Government Meeting in March 2007 

On April 5 and 6, 2007, the Government convened its regular monthly meeting to discuss and adopt the following items:

1. The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment present the Action Program of the Government to implement Resolution No. 4 of the 4th Plenary Session of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the Sea Strategy until 2020.

The Action Program aims to concretize the directions, tasks, and solutions set forth in the Resolution into specific projects and concrete actions that must be taken; at the same time, it reviews related programs and projects that have been and are being implemented to supplement and adjust them in accordance with the requirements of the Resolution. Among these, the focus will be on projects concerning maritime borders, basic surveys, environmental monitoring, and marine economic planning. Development planning must go hand in hand with specific projects, mechanisms, policies, and organizational implementation solutions. Comprehensive development of the fisheries, oil and gas, maritime transport, marine tourism, civil maritime and island sectors; construction and consolidation of coastal dyke systems, afforestation along the coast, protection of the marine environment; prevention and control of natural disasters, organization of rescue operations; international cooperation on the sea to successfully implement the Sea Strategy.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions of Government members, finalize the draft Action Program of the Government, submit it for the Prime Minister's consideration and issuance in April 2007. The Ministry of Home Affairs is tasked to present to the Government the allocation of the state management agency responsible for marine affairs within the structure of the Government for the XIIth National Assembly term.

2. Regarding the Project on Developing the Capital Market of Vietnam until 2010 and the Orientation until 2020 presented by the Minister of Finance: Rapid, synchronized, and solid development, gradually transforming the capital market, especially the stock market, into an important component of the financial market in the country, contributing significantly to the mobilization of investment capital for development. To ensure the solid development of the stock market with large volumes of goods and to avoid negative impacts, clear conditions and strict control measures for goods listed and traded on the market, including informal markets, need to be established. Simultaneously, a market supervision agency should be formed; mechanisms and policies to control the withdrawal and transfer of capital abroad should be issued, encouraging the listing of shares on foreign markets.

The Ministry of Finance is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions of Government members, finalize the draft Project on Developing the Capital Market until 2010 and the Orientation until 2020, focusing solely on the securities sector, and submit it for the Prime Minister's consideration and issuance in April 2007.

3. The Government basically agrees with the content of the Draft Decree on Inspectors and Inspector Collaborators presented by the General Inspectorate. However, regarding the authority to appoint Inspectors and Chief Inspectors, it is necessary to delegate this authority to the Ministers and Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees based on the standards stipulated in the Decree.

The General Inspectorate is tasked to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs to incorporate the opinions of Government members, paying particular attention to the consistency with current laws on the delegation of management and appointment of officials, to finalize the Draft Decree and submit it for the Prime Minister's consideration and issuance in April 2007.

4. The Government heard the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs present the Project on Adjusting the General Minimum Wage and the Implementation Plan for a Unified Minimum Wage across all types of enterprises from 2008 to 2012.

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs is tasked to coordinate with the Steering Committee for Salary Policy Reform and relevant agencies to incorporate the opinions of Government members, develop an overall project on salary policy reform, including adjustments to the general minimum wage and the implementation plan for a unified minimum wage across all types of enterprises from 2008 to 2012, and submit it for the Prime Minister's consideration in May 2007, before the Government submits it to the Politburo and the National Assembly.

5. Regarding the Draft Decree on Encouraging Trade Development in Difficult Areas presented by the Minister of Commerce: The Government agrees that the encouragement of trade development in difficult areas should continue, in line with new circumstances, without contravening current laws and the commitments of the country to the World Trade Organization.

Instead of issuing the aforementioned Decree, the Government assigns the Committee for Ethnic Minorities to lead, conduct surveys, summarize, and develop a proposal on direct support policies for people in difficult areas, replacing price subsidies and freight subsidies. The Ministry of Finance is tasked to lead, submit to the Prime Minister for approval to allow the Social Policy Bank to provide preferential loans to traders operating in difficult areas. The Ministry of Commerce is tasked to continue vigorously implementing support policies for training, exhibitions, research, and promotion of trade development in difficult areas.

6. Regarding the Draft Regulation on Spokespersonship and Information Provision to the Press presented by the Ministry of Culture and Information: The issuance of this Regulation aims to establish a legal basis for the press to access accurate and timely official information, effectively promoting the Party's and State's policies and guiding public opinion. The content of the regulation must clearly reflect the proactive responsibility of the heads of administrative agencies and those authorized to speak and provide information to the press in accordance with the law, facilitating both those responsible for speaking or providing information and the press receiving information.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead, coordinate with relevant agencies to incorporate opinions from government members, finalize the draft Regulation on spokespersons and provision of information to the press, and submit it for the Prime Minister's consideration and issuance in April 2007.

7. The Government heard the Minister of Interior's report on the situation of administrative reform work in the first quarter of 2007, the merger of the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy and the National Administration Academy; reviewed the Administrative Reform Report of the People's Committee of Hanoi City and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for the first quarter of 2007.

The Government basically agrees with the above reports. Since the beginning of the year, administrative reform work has been actively implemented by ministries, sectors, and localities, achieving some good results that need to be further promoted, especially in reviewing and simplifying administrative procedures, and promoting decentralization. The Government has identified the focus of administrative reform work in the second quarter of 2007 as follows:

a) In April 2007, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies will review their functions, tasks, and organizational structures towards clearly defining functions and tasks, promoting decentralization, and simplifying administrative procedures. Ministries assigned to implement the "one-stop shop" mechanism for administrative procedures, particularly those related to businesses, should proceed with implementation. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall take the lead in reporting to the Government the Draft on the Organizational Structure of the Government for the XIIth National Assembly term.

b) The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead in researching and issuing documents on business licensing procedures for conditional businesses and specific requirements for each trade, serving as a basis for implementation by ministries, sectors, and localities.

c) Ministries, sectors, and localities continue to review and proactively abolish or amend administrative procedures within their authority in accordance with the direction of simplification, transparency, and facilitation for citizens and businesses. For issues beyond the authority of ministries, the Government Office shall compile and submit them for the Prime Minister's decision, including the elimination of sub-permits through the review of administrative procedures.

d) The Government Office shall take the lead in continuing to review and submit to the Prime Minister for decision the reduction of inter-ministerial coordination committees under his authority; ministries, sectors, and localities shall review and decide on the reduction of inter-ministerial coordination committees under their authority.

đ) At the regular meeting of the Government in April, the Ministry of Home Affairs shall present a special report on administrative reform regarding decentralization and delegation, including the implementation of Resolution No. 08/2004/NQ-CP dated April 30, 2004, on further promoting decentralization between the Government and provincial and centrally-administered city authorities.

e) The Posts and Telecommunications Ministry shall cooperate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Office to report to the Prime Minister in May 2007 on the E-Government Project for the period 2007-2010.

g) At the regular meeting of the Government in June, the Ministries of Health, Education and Training, Science and Technology, Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Sports Steering Committee shall report to the Government on the implementation of socialization and pilot shareholding reform of hospitals, universities, colleges, public service units, cultural information services, science and technology, and sports organizations. The Ministry of Finance shall report on the implementation of Decree No. 130/2005/NĐ-CP dated October 17, 2005, and Decree No. 43/2006/NĐ-CP dated April 25, 2006. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall report on the implementation of Decree No. 115/2005/NĐ-CP dated September 5, 2005.

8. The Government heard the Minister of Construction's report on urban construction management; reviewed the report on urban planning and management of Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City People's Committees.

In recent years, along with the pace of economic and social growth, the process of urbanization in the country has developed at a relatively high speed in terms of quantity, quality, scale, and technical infrastructure and services. However, urban management still has many weaknesses and inadequacies, especially in implementing legal regulations on planning, licensing, inspection, supervision of quality, decentralization management, and handling violations. Unauthorized and non-compliant construction remains prevalent, although it has decreased, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Ministry of Construction shall take the lead, coordinate with relevant agencies, and submit to the Prime Minister for issuance of a directive to strengthen urban construction and urban management according to legal provisions; review and issue or submit to the Government for amendment and supplementation of legal provisions in line with the requirements of urban construction management, including provisions on increasing administrative fines for violations in the construction sector. Focus on doing well in planning work, using economic development funds for planning purposes, and directing the implementation and publicizing of detailed planning at a scale of 1/500. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall study solutions to resolve difficulties in land allocation procedures for urban development projects. Agree to pilot the establishment of Construction Inspectors at district and commune levels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the delegation of certain construction management tasks by the two city People's Committees to districts and counties.

Provinces and cities, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, must strengthen management, inspection, and resolute handling of violations, ensuring discipline and compliance with the law.

9. The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment's report on the socio-economic situation in March and the first quarter of 2007; the Minister of Trade's report on the trade situation in March and the first quarter of 2007; the State Auditor General's report on anti-corruption work in the first quarter of 2007; and reviewed the socio-economic situation report of the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City People's Committees for March and the first quarter of 2007.

In March and the first quarter of 2007, the national GDP growth rate, as well as that of Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City, reached the highest level compared to the same period in many previous years. Industrial production, agriculture, and aquaculture increased more than the same period. The avian flu epidemic was brought under control. The total retail sales of goods, social service revenue, postal and telecommunications services, tourism, and import turnover increased more than in the same period in 2006. Domestic investment capital implementation, ODA capital, and foreign direct investment continued to increase. Budget revenue and expenditure achieved satisfactory results. Domestic currency deposits and economic lending debt increased compared to the same period. The stock market developed fundamentally and stably. Consumer price index increased more than the same period last year but remained within control.

Educational and training activities were intensified in the spirit of reform. Health care for the people, protection and care for children were strengthened. Cultural, information, physical education, and sports activities were lively and diverse.

Anti-corruption efforts were enhanced, with several major and prominent cases being brought to trial, and inspections conducted in key areas. Security, political stability, and social order were maintained.

To successfully fulfill the tasks of economic and social development set forth, the Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to continue to intensify production, reduce costs, enhance product competitiveness, and increase export turnover; appropriate measures should be taken to complete the plan for oil and gas exploitation. Accelerate the progress of construction projects, attract domestic and foreign investment for important projects, and infrastructure development projects in transportation and industry. Alongside attracting investment, strict supervision and inspection of the implementation process must be carried out continuously to ensure sustainable development and environmental protection. Strictly control prices; create conditions for the stock market to develop firmly and strictly control it to prevent negative impacts. Vigorously implement solutions to reduce traffic accidents, especially fatalities. Organize power generation and supply reasonably to ensure stable electricity demand for business operations and daily life. Proactively prevent and mitigate typhoons and floods, and reduce natural disasters. Continue to effectively implement programs and projects on poverty alleviation, job creation, and vocational training for rural laborers and farmers. Further intensify anti-corruption efforts; prepare material conditions, organize publicity and dissemination, and ensure security and safety for the election of National Assembly deputies for the XIIth term.

Ministries and sectors, according to their assigned functions, shall submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and resolution the proposals and recommendations presented at the meetings of the People's Committee of Hanoi City and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City./.