Decision No. 29/2008/NQ-CP of the Government at the regular meeting of the Government in November 2008

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in November 2008

On December 1 and 2, 2008, the Government convened its regular meeting for November 2008 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Minister of Planning and Investment's report on the economic and social situation in November and the first eleven months of 2008, urgent measures to prevent economic decline, production stagnation, and promote economic growth; the Minister of Finance's report on solutions to overcome difficulties, promote production and business development, boost exports, encourage domestic investment and consumption.

Under the focused, resolute, and flexible guidance and management of the Government, along with the efforts of all strata of the people and businesses, the economy has achieved initial positive results: inflation has been basically contained, consumer price index has gradually decreased month by month; macroeconomic stability has continued to be maintained. The economy has maintained a relatively high growth rate under conditions of high inflation: estimated for the whole year, GDP growth reached about 6.5-7%; industrial production value increased by 16.2%; agricultural production value increased by 5.1%; export turnover exceeded 65 billion USD, up 33.9%; per capita GDP reached over 1000 USD; state budget revenue for the whole year exceeded the estimate by 23.5%; foreign direct investment had registered capital of over 60 billion USD, three times higher than in 2007. Social welfare has continued to be prioritized and effectively implemented: the total state budget support for beneficiaries of social security policies in 2008 was approximately 198,000 billion VND, an increase of 147,000 billion VND compared to 2007; free rice was provided without charge for tens of thousands of tons to affected people in disaster-stricken areas suffering from food shortages; about 289,000 billion VND was spent to adjust minimum wage increases and pension and preferential allowances for war veterans and low-income earners. Education, training, healthcare, culture, information, and environmental protection have been given due attention. Administrative reform, anti-corruption, thrift, and waste prevention have shown positive changes. Foreign affairs and international economic cooperation have achieved many results. Politics and society have remained stable. National defense and security have been maintained; public order and social safety have been ensured.

However, since September 2008, the financial and credit crisis in the United States has become increasingly complex and unpredictable, spreading globally into a financial crisis and global economic recession. This situation, combined with internal weaknesses and natural disasters in the domestic economy, has negatively impacted many sectors of the national economy. In September, October, and November 2008, the value of industrial and service production growth was lower than in previous months; construction industry production growth was negative; export and domestic product consumption faced many difficulties; the economy showed signs of decline, with growth slowing down...

In light of this situation, based on continuing to implement general goals and previously proposed measures, the Government has identified the main tasks for guidance and management from now until the end of 2008 and 2009 as focusing all efforts on preventing economic decline, overcoming production and business stagnation, promoting economic growth, and ensuring social welfare. To achieve these main tasks, it is necessary to have breakthrough measures appropriate to the new situation.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked to lead, in coordination with the Government Office, to draft a Resolution on urgent measures to prevent economic decline, promote production and consumption, maintain economic growth, and ensure social welfare; to seek opinions from members of the Government before submitting to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance.

2. The Government heard the Minister of Education and Training's report on the tender designation mechanism for construction projects under the Project to reinforce school buildings and teachers' housing for the period 2008-2012; the Minister of Health's report on the implementation progress and disbursement of government bond funds for health care in 2008 within the framework of the Project to invest in building, renovating, and upgrading district general hospitals.

To accelerate the implementation progress of the aforementioned Projects and other investment works in other fields such as transportation, water conservancy..., the Government requests relevant Ministries, sectors, and localities to focus on resolute and proactive measures to resolve difficulties in investment procedures and procurement; the Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government are responsible for deciding on tender designation or other bidding methods for investment projects using state budget funds with a total amount below 5 billion VND in remote, difficult, and extremely difficult regions according to the provisions of the law.

3. The Government heard the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's presentation on the Draft Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Cinema Law; the Minister and Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of Government members on the aforementioned Draft Law.

The Cinema Law, the highest legal document in the field of state management of film activities in the country, was enacted by the National Assembly in 2006. However, in practice, some difficulties and inconsistencies have arisen during its implementation, particularly some provisions that are inconsistent with Vietnam's commitments when joining the World Trade Organization; at the same time, according to Resolution No. 01/2007/NQ-QH12 of the First Session of the 12th National Assembly, the state management agency for cinema stipulated in the Cinema Law has also changed. To unify state management and create favorable conditions for the development of the film industry in line with the trend of integration and international exchange, to resolve difficulties and inconsistencies, and to promote the production of Vietnamese films to build and develop a modern and distinctive Vietnamese culture, it is necessary to promulgate the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Cinema Law.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office to incorporate the opinions of the members of the Government at the meeting, finalize the draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Cinema Law, prepare for submission to the National Assembly for consideration and approval of this Law project.

4. The Government listens to the General Inspector of the Government presenting the report on the approval of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; the Minister of Justice presenting the assessment report; the Minister, Head of the Government Office reporting the opinion on the approval of the Convention.

In the context of Vietnam increasingly participating in deep and wide integration and becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the approval of the United Nations Convention against Corruption is necessary. This is consistent with the global trend and affirms before the international community the political determination of the Party and State in the struggle to prevent and combat corruption; it demonstrates Vietnam's goodwill in international cooperation in addressing a global issue, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's prestige and political position on the international stage, while creating an international support mechanism for Vietnam to achieve its goals in preventing and combating corruption, expanding international cooperation forums and seeking assistance from member countries in the field of prevention and combating corruption.

The Inspectorate General shall take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office to incorporate the opinions of the members of the Government at the meeting, carefully consider the contents that need to be reserved in the spirit of ensuring national sovereignty and being consistent with international practices, supplement and complete the dossier for submission for approval of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; acting on behalf of the Government to draft the report requesting the Politburo's opinion on the approval of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

5. The Government has reviewed and approved the reports on: the situation of administrative reform work in November 2008; inspection work, handling complaints and denunciations, and the struggle to prevent and combat corruption in November 2008; the implementation situation of the program of work in November and the resolutions of the Government from the regular meeting in October 2008, presented by the Minister of Home Affairs, the General Inspector of the Government, and the Minister, Head of the Government Office.

The Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to focus on directing the implementation of remaining projects and tasks in December; continue to review and eliminate administrative procedures that hinder the activities of businesses and citizens. It is necessary to soon promulgate the Government Resolution on removing obstacles in administrative procedures in investment construction procedures to create conditions for promoting production and business operations and exports, stimulating investment and consumption.

In addition to the eight groups of measures to curb inflation, stabilize macroeconomic fundamentals, ensure social welfare, and sustainable growth mentioned in Resolution No. 10/2008/NQ-CP dated April 17, 2008, and Resolution No. 20/2008/NQ-CP of the Government dated August 29, 2008, ministries, sectors, and localities need to focus on implementing immediately from December 2008 and the first months of 2009 the urgent measures proposed in the Government's Resolution on urgent measures to prevent economic decline, promote production and consumption of goods, maintain economic growth, and ensure social welfare.

To prepare and serve well the welcoming of the Lunar New Year (Tet) in the Year of the Ox 2009, the Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to direct state-owned enterprises, corporations, and companies to concentrate on fully preparing goods, avoiding shortages, speculation, and hoarding leading to price increases. Market management forces and police forces strengthen inspections, prevent, and strictly handle smuggling and the sale of fake and substandard goods; proactively review, inspect, and firmly prevent the recurrence of firecracker use, ensuring security and social order./.