Decision No. 26/2007/NQ-CP of the Government's regular monthly meeting in April 2007

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in April 2007

On May 3 and 4, 2007, the Government convened its regular meeting for April to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the draft Report on the Finalization of the State Budget for 2005 presented by the Ministry of Finance; and listened to the National Audit Office's report on the results of auditing in 2005.

In 2005, state budget revenue and expenditure activities were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the State Budget Law. The tasks of state budget revenue and expenditure achieved many important results. Revenue exceeded the budget estimate, ensuring funding for increased investment development and economic-social needs, national security and defense; funds for disaster prevention, control, and aftermath management; repayment of domestic loans and implementation of social policies and salary reform. The state budget deficit was maintained at the level permitted by the National Assembly.

However, through the audit results, it was found that there were still some issues existing in state budget management. The situation of tax arrears remains significant, with substantial revenue losses in certain areas and sectors, particularly in real estate business operations and high-income individuals' taxes. Capital allocation was spread thin and dispersed, with slow disbursement, and wasteful spending not in line with intended purposes and regulations was still prevalent.

Based on the experiences gained from state budget management in 2005, the Government requests:

- Ministries, sectors, and local People's Committees need to strictly implement the State Budget Law, strengthen revenue and expenditure management to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, standards, and thrift, while combating waste; enhance measures to improve corporate finance, address construction project arrears.

- The Ministry of Finance continues to inspect and require localities to explain in detail expenditures exceeding the budget estimates to ensure compliance with regulations; coordinate with the National Audit Office to propose measures to strengthen state budget management.

- Further strengthen auditing work to ensure that all expenditures from the state budget are audited.

The Government basically agrees with the content of the draft finalization report; assigns the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Government Office, to incorporate the opinions of government members and the National Audit Office, finalize the report. The Minister of Finance, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, will submit this report to the National Assembly.

2. The Government heard the Minister of Construction present the draft Resolution of the Government on several solutions to implement the renovation and reconstruction of old residential buildings damaged and deteriorated; and listened to the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of government members on the draft Resolution.

According to statistical data, currently, there are over 3 million square meters of old residential buildings constructed before 1991 nationwide. Over the years, these residential complexes have played a crucial role in addressing housing needs for cadres, workers, and civil servants in urban areas, but now many old residential buildings are in serious deterioration, affecting people's safety and urban environment and landscape, necessitating renovation and reconstruction.

Assign the Ministry of Construction, in coordination with the Government Office and the Ministry of Justice, to incorporate the opinions of government members and participants in the meeting to complete the draft Resolution of the Government on several mechanisms, policies, and solutions to implement the reconstruction of old residential buildings damaged and deteriorated, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for issuance.

3. The Government agreed to approve the proposal for issuing Vietnam Government Bonds to the international capital market in 2007 and the draft Resolution of the Government on issuing Vietnam Government Bonds to the international capital market in 2007 presented by the Ministry of Finance. Assign the Government Office to complete the necessary procedures to submit the Resolution to the Prime Minister for issuance.

4. The Government heard the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Ordinance on Enforcement of Imprisonment Decisions 1993 presented by the Ministry of Public Security; and listened to the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of government members on the draft Ordinance.

The Ordinance on enforcement of imprisonment decisions adopted by the National Assembly in 1993 is a crucial legal basis in the field of enforcement of imprisonment decisions and state management of enforcement. After 14 years of implementation, the Ordinance has effectively ensured strict compliance with legal provisions and fought crime effectively, maintaining social stability and public order. However, the Ordinance on Enforcement of Imprisonment Decisions 1993 has revealed many difficulties, with some provisions no longer suitable for current practices and the existing legal system, causing difficulties in organizing enforcement of imprisonment decisions, necessitating amendments and supplements.

Assign the Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Government Office and the Ministry of Justice, to incorporate the opinions of government members, complete the draft Ordinance, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and submission to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

5. The Government heard the Minister of Home Affairs present the Report on the Implementation of Central-Local Administrative Management Delegation according to Resolution No. 08/2004/NQ-CP dated June 30, 2004, and the Report on the Implementation of Administrative Reform in April 2007.

In general, the Government agrees with the above reports and highly commends the achievements made in implementing the administrative delegation tasks outlined in Resolution No. 08/2004/NQ-CP. Although there are still some limitations, the scope of delegation has been implemented quite comprehensively across most fields under the responsibility of the Government. These results have brought about positive changes in the performance of tasks and powers of ministries and sectors, reducing operational and procedural activities to focus on policy formulation, institutional organization, and implementation, and enhancing supervision and inspection of implementation; laying a foundation for smoother and more transparent administrative procedures, meeting the requirements of citizens and businesses in daily life and production and business activities.

To implement the administrative reform program aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of state management in the field, the Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to continue reviewing to decentralize and delegate authority more strongly. Decentralization must be linked with responsibility to power, combining the review of functions and tasks with administrative reform, especially procedures related to businesses and resolving urgent issues of the people; implementing transparency in the public disclosure of procedures for handling matters.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is assigned to take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and relevant agencies to draft the Government's Decree on continuing to implement decentralization and delegation of authority in state management, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance in the second quarter of 2007.

6. The Government listens to the report from the Minister, Head of the Government Office, on the situation regarding the implementation of administrative reform work in the first quarter of 2007.

In the first quarter, administrative reform work, with a focus on administrative procedure reform, has initially shown many positive changes. Reform not only resolves procedural obstacles, particularly those in land management, investment, construction, business registration... for citizens and businesses but also has practical effects in improving administrative discipline and changing working styles of administrative agencies. In the future, ministries, sectors, and localities need to continue to promote this work; establish a team to review administrative procedures, continue to study and widely seek opinions from enforcement entities to improve and amend related administrative procedures towards greater simplicity, convenience, and speed.

For large-scale investment projects in localities that require numerous administrative procedures, the Government assigns the Ministry of Planning and Investment to take the lead in forming a working group to assist localities in quickly resolving related procedures to implement the project.

The Government Office continues to monitor and urge ministries, sectors, and localities in reviewing and amending administrative procedures, ensuring transparency in the public disclosure of procedures related to citizens and businesses; regularly holding meetings with ministries to report and compile reports to quarterly submit a report to the Government on this work.

7. The Government listens to the Report on the Implementation of the Economic-Social Plan in April and the First Four Months of 2007 presented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment; the Report on Trade in April and the First Four Months of 2007 presented by the Ministry of Trade; the Report on Inspection Work, Handling Complaints and Petitions in the First Quarter of 2007 and the Report on Anti-Corruption Work in April 2007 presented by the Government Inspectorate.

The economic-social situation in April and the first four months of 2007 continues to maintain a positive development trend. Notably, foreign direct investment attraction has been quite successful, and the industrial production value has achieved high growth rates. Social activities have progressed well, without major outbreaks of disease. Anti-corruption work and the implementation of thrift and waste prevention are being actively carried out in ministries, sectors, and localities, with initial results. However, there are still many difficulties and limitations in the first four months: drought conditions may continue to affect agricultural production and power generation, the import surplus ratio remains high, the progress and disbursement of investment projects funded by the state budget, state credit, and government bonds are slow; complaint and petition situations are complex; traffic accidents have increased both in number and fatalities, especially during recent holidays...

To complete the economic-social development plan for 2007, the Government requires ministries, sectors, and localities to concentrate on comprehensively implementing the main solutions outlined in the economic-social plan and state budget in Resolution No. 03/2007/NQ-CP; promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions for businesses to boost production and exports, while focusing on directing measures to control macroeconomic factors and market prices, preventing sudden price increases, especially for gasoline; continue to vigorously promote investment promotion and attract foreign direct investment, especially large-scale projects with advanced technology; accelerate the progress of investment projects, particularly important national projects; enhance the efficiency of investments from state budget funds and government bonds. Urgently complete legal documents in the anti-corruption and thrift practice fields; promptly conclude and strictly handle cases under investigation, urging early public trials of cases of particular social concern. Strengthen guidance to effectively implement poverty reduction, vocational training, employment creation, traffic accident reduction, social evil prevention, and maintaining security and order; closely cooperate with relevant agencies to ensure safety and successfully organize the election of National Assembly deputies for the XIIth term./.