Resolution No. 35/2007/NQ-CP of the Government's regular meeting in June 2007

RESOLUTION

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN JUNE 2007

On July 2 and 3, 2007, the Council of Ministers held its regular meeting for June, discussing and adopting the following issues:

1. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report on reviewing the guidance and management in the first six months of the year, the program of work for the last six months of the year of the Council of Ministers, the report on the implementation of Decision No. 22/2006/QĐ-TTg dated January 24, 2006 of the Prime Minister regarding the resolution of difficulties and recommendations concerning administrative procedures of enterprises; heard the Minister of Planning and Investment's report on the situation of implementing economic and social tasks in the first six months of the year and solutions for the last six months of 2007, the Minister of Finance's report on the situation of implementing the state budget estimate in the first six months of the year and solutions for the last six months of 2007; the Minister of Commerce's report on the situation of trade in the first six months of the year and tasks for the last six months of 2007; the Minister of Home Affairs' report on the situation of implementing administrative reform work in the first six months of 2007; the General Inspectorate of the Government's report on the situation of implementing anti-corruption work in the first six months of the year and the program of work for the last six months of 2007.

In the past six months, the Council of Ministers has demonstrated a high sense of responsibility, effectively implemented the resolutions of the Party Central Committee and the National Assembly; comprehensively and uniformly directed and managed key tasks related to economic and social development, administrative reform, and anti-corruption; timely and effectively resolved emerging issues. In directing and managing, the Council of Ministers has properly coordinated with Party agencies, the National Assembly, the Fatherland Front, and people's organizations; strengthened inspection and supervision to achieve set goals and programs.

The implementation of economic and social development tasks in the first six months of the year achieved good results: The growth rate (GDP) reached the highest level compared to the same period over the past five years. Industrial production continued to increase both in value added and total output. Agricultural production maintained a stable growth rate. Export turnover increased significantly; tourism and service activities continued to develop. Social investment for development, especially attracting foreign direct investment, increased sharply. State budget revenue was higher than the same period in 2006, ensuring funding needs for economic and social development, national defense, security, debt repayment, and reserves. Monetary and credit activities were stable. Although the consumer price index increased more than the same period last year, it remained within control. Cultural, information, education and training, health, science and technology activities developed; environmental protection received more attention. Employment resolution, poverty reduction, and disease prevention and control were further strengthened. Administrative reform serving citizens and businesses, particularly simplifying administrative procedures, made significant progress and received societal consensus. Anti-corruption, thrift, and waste prevention efforts were implemented according to the spirit of Party Central Committee and National Assembly resolutions and the Government's action program. Foreign affairs and economic diplomacy were carried out comprehensively, achieving many positive results. National defense and security were maintained; politics and society were stable, and public confidence was consolidated.

Alongside these achievements, the economic and social situation still harbors many difficulties and challenges. To complete the economic and social development targets for 2007, the Council of Ministers requests ministries, sectors, and localities to continue effectively implementing major tasks and solutions proposed in the National Assembly's Resolution, Resolution No. 03/2007/NQ-CP dated January 19, 2007, and other guiding and managing documents of the Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister, focusing on the following key tasks:

a. Concentrate on resolving difficulties and obstacles to promote production, striving to maintain a high economic growth rate. In agricultural production, adjust crop and livestock structures, and planting seasons appropriately to avoid diseases, maintain production growth rates, improve investment efficiency, ensure food security, stabilize people's lives, increase domestic consumption goods and exports; decisively direct to extinguish avian influenza and livestock diseases.

In industrial production, implement resolute measures to increase the output of important products, especially crude oil extraction and electricity for production and daily life, both in the short and long term; inspect and supervise food safety, raw materials for production and food processing, especially exported aquatic products. Pay attention to developing effective tourism and important services, especially in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other large cities.

The Ministry of Fisheries will take the lead in reviewing aquaculture planning, promptly rectify the improper use of land for aquaculture in some localities; ensure sustainable aquaculture development requirements and environmental protection.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will study and propose policies and replanning livestock and poultry development to be able to control diseases, increase production efficiency, especially the slaughterhouse network planning; build and submit to the Prime Minister the Forestry Development Project, which clearly defines mechanisms and policies for each type of forest and forest land, ensuring both forest protection and development, creating jobs, and improving the livelihoods of forestry workers, especially ethnic minorities and resettled people from large hydropower projects in mountainous areas.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will strictly control the implementation of land use plans and plans approved until 2010; minimize the conversion of rice-growing land to non-agricultural activities.

The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead in reviewing regulations on fees and charges to issue uniform regulations on such fees and charges; prevent the abuse of fees and charges to over-exploit contributions from farmers.

b. Direct the promotion of exports and the limitation of trade deficits; establish mechanisms and policies to stabilize the market; balance imports and exports.

c. Manage the macro-economy stably, ensuring supply-demand balance for goods; continue appropriate steps to implement the reform process regarding price management mechanisms, especially for essential goods; control the rate of price increases in accordance with market laws, preventing speculation that causes abnormal price fluctuations. Control the stock market to ensure stable development and prevent market crashes caused by speculation.

d. To address existing issues in investment during the first six months, the Government requests ministries, sectors, and localities to implement resolute measures to resolve difficulties related to capital sources, disbursement of funds, land clearance, and other related issues to accelerate the progress of completing construction projects; promptly review administrative procedures concerning project approval, bidding, investment management, construction, and land allocation to amend or supplement regulations and documents within their authority or submit them to the Government or the Prime Minister for amendment and supplementation where they are inconsistent with current practices.

đ. Closely monitor government revenue sources, focusing on reviewing and handling overdue tax debts; intensify inspection, supervision, and strict punishment for violations of tax laws to ensure the government revenue plan. Ministries, sectors, and localities should concentrate on implementing budget expenditure tasks assigned by competent authorities to effectively complete construction projects, programs, and national projects without capital stagnation; at the same time, closely monitor the effective use of emergency reserve budgets.

e. Focus on organizing university and college entrance exams according to the spirit of reform, ensuring seriousness and quality, and strictly punishing cheating; quickly develop and implement the training program for skilled labor based on the needs of employers, contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of the country's labor force. Effectively coordinate among ministries, sectors, localities, and relevant forces in inspecting, controlling, and managing food safety, drug quality, and prices. The Ministry of Home Affairs will draft and submit to the Government a unified and synchronized organizational structure for food safety management.

g. Continue to effectively direct the implementation of employment programs, poverty alleviation, support programs for ethnic minorities, remote areas, difficult regions, and disaster-stricken areas; firmly prevent shortages but strictly control to provide assistance to the correct recipients and prevent exploitation for personal gain. Review mechanisms and policies under Program 134, Program 135 Phase II, and other programs to unify their implementation. In addition to central and local government budgets, it is necessary to mobilize community contributions and the self-improvement efforts of beneficiaries to achieve sustainable poverty reduction.

h. Promptly develop and implement the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 5 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Xth tenure) on "Strengthening Administrative Reform, Enhancing the Efficiency of State Management." Ministries and sectors continue to review and draft decrees on the functions, tasks, and organizational structures of their agencies based on the Government's organizational structure for the XIIth National Assembly term. Further intensify the direction towards administrative reform, decisively eliminating inappropriate procedures; issue guiding documents for delegated administrative procedures to ensure consistent implementation. Timely issue comprehensive guiding documents for the enforcement of enacted laws and ordinances to bring these legal instruments into effect as soon as possible.

To strengthen the application and development of information technology in state management, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to promptly issue guidelines on funding for information technology affairs for ministries, sectors, localities, and agencies to uniformly implement.

i. The Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption shall continue to direct, inspect, and urge the review of investigation procedures and the handling of discovered corruption cases; hold coordination meetings with relevant agencies to expedite investigation, conclusion, and case resolution. The Government Inspectorate shall cooperate with relevant agencies and submit to the Prime Minister for decision the proposal to amend Article 73 of the Law on Anti-Corruption; quickly draft and submit to the Government all necessary documents to enforce the Law on Anti-Corruption and the Law on Thrift and Prevention of Waste.

k. Ministries, sectors, and localities must promptly and synchronously implement Resolution No. 32/2007/NQ-CP dated July 29, 2007, of the Government on urgent measures to curb traffic accidents and congestion. The National Traffic Safety Committee shall take the lead in reviewing and proposing solutions to eliminate black spots for traffic safety; study and submit to the Government a document stipulating mandatory conditions for commercial drivers.

Ministries, sectors, and localities should proactively prepare good plans for flood and storm prevention and mitigation to minimize damage to state assets, lives, and people's property.

2. The Government agrees to approve the draft Decree guiding the implementation of the Youth Law submitted by the Minister of Home Affairs. The Ministry of Home Affairs is tasked with finalizing the draft Decree and submitting it to the Prime Minister for issuance in July 2007.

The National Committee for Youth of Vietnam shall cooperate with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to urgently study and develop an Action Program to implement the Law on Youth, focusing on urgent issues related to young people such as education, training, vocational training, and job creation for youth, especially rural youth. Ministries, sectors, and localities shall study and develop mechanisms and policies to assist youth in vocational training and provide them with more employment opportunities and stable income, contributing to improving social labor productivity, reducing unemployment, and social evils.

3. The Government shall discuss the draft Resolution of the Government on adjusting certain contents of the policy on selling state-owned housing under Decree No. 61/CP dated July 5, 1994, and rental prices for state-owned housing that has not been renovated or rebuilt, as proposed by the Minister of Construction.

The Government basically agrees with the content of the draft Resolution. The Ministry of Construction shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office to incorporate the opinions of Government members, finalize the draft Resolution, and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance in July 2007.

4. The Government shall hear the Minister of Finance's presentation on the draft Law on Compulsory Purchase and Expropriation of Assets of Individuals and Organizations; and hear the Minister and Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of Government members on the above draft Law.

The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Public Security to incorporate the opinions of Government members, seek the views of the Committee for Legal Affairs, the Committee for Economic Affairs and Budget of the National Assembly, and complete this draft Law in accordance with Article 23 of the Constitution of 1992, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision./.