Decision No. 32/2008/NQ-CP of the Government at the regular meeting of the Government in December 2008

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in December 2008

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On December 23 and 24, 2008, the Government convened its regular meeting for December to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report on reviewing the guidance and management, the implementation of the Working Regulations in 2008 and the Work Program for 2009 of the Government; the Minister of Planning and Investment's report on the economic and social situation in 2008 and the development plan for 2009, the proposal for using stimulus investment funds; the Minister of Finance's report on the implementation of macroeconomic stability policies in December and throughout 2008, goals, tasks, and solutions for 2009, the source of funds to implement Resolution No. 30/2008/NQ-CP of the Government and the adjustment of gasoline tax rates; the Steering Committee for Enterprise Reform and Development's report on the preliminary results of the corporate group model; the General Inspector of the Government's report on inspection work, handling complaints and petitions, and anti-corruption efforts in December and throughout 2008; the Minister of Home Affairs' report on the implementation of administrative reform in 2008 and key tasks for 2009.

In 2008, facing complex developments in the global and domestic economic situations, the Government accurately assessed the situation, promptly determined objectives and tasks to proactively and flexibly guide and manage in order to achieve the goal of curbing inflation, maintaining reasonable growth, preventing economic decline, stabilizing the macro-economy, and ensuring social welfare. The Government emphasized responsibility before the Party, State, and people, united in consensus, and mobilized the comprehensive strength of the entire political system and the whole population, striving to achieve the set goals and tasks in all fields.

As a result, the implementation of the socio-economic development tasks in 2008 achieved comprehensive and positive results. Core inflation was contained; macroeconomic stability was maintained; GDP growth reached 6.23%. Social welfare areas were prioritized and implemented effectively. Education, healthcare, culture, information, science and technology, and environmental protection received more attention. Administrative reform was accelerated towards transparency and simplification of procedures. Anti-corruption and thrift efforts showed positive changes. National defense and security were maintained, and social-political stability was ensured. Foreign affairs and international economic cooperation to serve socio-economic development were carried out comprehensively and achieved many positive results. These achievements contributed to creating new momentum for the implementation of tasks in 2009 and subsequent years, consolidating the people's confidence in the country's renewal process.

After a year of implementing the Government's Working Regulations, the guidance and management of the Government and the Prime Minister in all fields of work have seen significant improvements; the role of the Government collective has been fully utilized, individual responsibilities of leaders and members of the Government have been appropriately emphasized; the roles and responsibilities of leading agencies and coordinating agencies during the preparation of projects for submission to the Government have been clearly defined; the application of information technology in meetings and management has been given more attention. The procedures and processes for handling work by the Prime Minister have been streamlined.

The pilot implementation of the corporate group model closely followed the Central Resolution No. 3 (Session IX) of the Party, was carefully and strictly implemented, and basically achieved the set goals. Corporate groups maintained their core role and made significant contributions to the State's macroeconomic management and promoting growth. However, in the future, the development under the corporate group model needs to continue addressing existing shortcomings and obstacles to maximize the effectiveness of the national economy.

Alongside these achievements, the Government seriously analyzed and evaluated the limitations and weaknesses in 2008 to draw lessons for 2009. Guidance and management in some areas did not meet plans, failing to fully utilize potential and advantages. Economic forecasting research and analysis were inadequate, leading to inaccurate and untimely predictions at certain times. Coordination among ministries and sectors was slow, especially in handling cross-sectoral issues. The implementation rate of programs was low; many ministries and agencies delayed in preparing proposals. Administrative reform did not achieve the desired results; investment, construction, and service-related administrative procedures need further review and reduction; decentralization in state management is still slow; there are still many meetings. Information provision to the press and public was sometimes untimely and incomplete.

In 2009, it was forecasted that the economic and social situation of our country would continue to face many difficulties and challenges. However, we also have certain advantages and opportunities, namely: a stable political and social environment; large remaining growth resources and potential; an internal market of over 86 million people; abundant capital within the population; low prices for raw materials and equipment on the world market while we have a very large demand for investment development; foreign direct investment in our country is substantial. Based on the general objectives and tasks and development targets for the economy and society already approved by the National Assembly, Session IV, the Government has determined the urgent key tasks for 2009 to be mobilizing comprehensive strength, striving to prevent economic decline, maintaining reasonable economic growth (about 6.5%), and ensuring social welfare. The Government has issued Decision No. 30/2008/NQ-CP dated December 11, 2008, and will issue a decision on major measures to guide and manage the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget estimate for 2009; focusing on five main groups of measures: removing difficulties to stimulate investment and consumption; ensuring social welfare and intensifying poverty reduction efforts; implementing active and effective monetary and fiscal policies; concentrating on managing and operating flexibly and appropriately according to actual conditions; promoting decentralization, especially in investment, personnel, and funding; and effectively conducting information dissemination, transparency, and publicity of mechanisms and policies to ensure public understanding and create unity and consensus in society.

To implement these measures, the Government requests Ministries, sectors, and localities to improve their forecasting work to proactively and timely adjust tasks and solutions to suit actual conditions; review, amend, and supplement mechanisms and policies promptly to remove difficulties and create a transparent environment for production and business; adopt specific and appropriate approaches for each industry and locality; strengthen coordination in organizing implementation and handling matters; promote decentralization, particularly in investment, personnel, and funding; and effectively conduct information dissemination, transparency, and publicity of mechanisms and policies to ensure public understanding and create unity and consensus in society.

Ministers, Heads of agencies equivalent to ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under the central government must continue to implement the leadership of the Party, the Resolutions of the National Assembly, strictly follow the guidance and management of the Government and the Prime Minister, demonstrate initiative and creativity, with a resolute, focused, timely, concrete, and prompt spirit in organizing and implementing Decision No. 30/2008/NQ-CP and the Resolution on major measures to guide and manage the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and state budget estimate for 2009, striving to achieve the highest possible socio-economic targets set forth.

The Government Office is tasked with incorporating the opinions of government members, perfecting the report on the guidance and management performance, the implementation of the working regulations in 2008, and the program of work for 2009 of the Government, and submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked with incorporating the opinions of government members, perfecting the report on the socio-economic situation in 2008 and the socio-economic development plan for 2009.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked with leading and coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to incorporate the opinions of government members, perfecting the proposal on the use of stimulus investment funds towards interest rate support for enterprises of all economic sectors, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises and those employing a large number of workers, and submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

The Steering Committee for Enterprise Reform and Development is tasked with incorporating the opinions of government members, perfecting the report on the interim assessment of the corporate group model, and submitting it to the Government Political Bureau for consideration.

The Ministry of Finance is tasked with incorporating the opinions of government members, perfecting the report on the financial resources for the implementation of Decision No. 30/2008/NQ-CP of the Government, and submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

The Government agrees to adjust the gasoline tax rates according to the proposal of the Ministry of Finance.

The Government agrees to allow enterprises to delay payment of the 1% labor remuneration fund for unemployment insurance contributions and the 1% trade union fee for the first six months of 2009, as proposed by the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs; enterprises must pay these amounts in full during the last six months of 2009.

The Government agrees to approve the report on the implementation of macroeconomic stability policy in December and throughout 2008, the goals, tasks, and measures for 2009, the report on inspection, complaint resolution, and anti-corruption work in December and throughout 2008, and the report on the implementation of administrative reform in 2008 and key tasks for 2009.

2. The Government listens to the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism presenting the draft Law amending and supplementing some articles of the Intellectual Property Law; the Minister and Head of the Government Office reports on the synthesis of opinions from government members regarding the draft Law.

The Intellectual Property Law enacted in 2005 has created a legal framework encouraging creative activities of the people and international economic integration. Over time, compared to reality, the Intellectual Property Law still has some provisions that do not meet current requirements for intellectual property protection and are not consistent with international laws on intellectual property.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is tasked with leading and coordinating with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of government members, perfect the draft Law, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration before presenting it to the National Assembly.

3. The Government listens to the Minister of Information and Communications presenting the draft Law on Radio Frequency Spectrum; the Minister and Head of the Government Office reports on the synthesis of opinions from government members regarding the draft Law.

The rapid development of radio communication services, technology, and the objects involved in the exploitation and use of radio frequencies in recent times requires more specific and stringent regulations for effective and internationally compatible management. The issuance of the Radio Frequency Law is necessary.

Entrust the Ministry of Information and Communications to take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of government members to perfect the draft Law, and submit it to the Prime Minister for review before presenting it to the National Assembly.

4. The Government listens to the General Inspector of the Government's presentation on the draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Inspection Law; the Chairman of the Government Office reports on the consolidated opinions of government members regarding the draft Law.

Implementing the Inspection Law of 2008, inspection work has made significant progress over the past period. Inspection agencies have contributed to detecting and addressing many violations, recovering a large amount of lost assets for the State. Despite this, after four years of implementation, the Law has revealed limitations and inconsistencies regarding functions, tasks, and organization. Inspection activities still overlap and conflict, affecting inspected entities, particularly businesses. This draft must focus on clarifying types of inspections and the functions and responsibilities of inspection organizations.

Entrust the General Inspectorate to take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of government members to perfect the draft Law, and submit it to the Government for review and decision before presenting it to the National Assembly./.