RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in September 2007

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On October 5 and 6, 2007, the Government held its regular meeting for September 2007 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the report from the Minister of Transport regarding the incident that occurred in Package 2 of the Can Tho Bridge Construction Project.

The Government and the Prime Minister have seriously taken responsibility for the weakness in state management in the construction sector, construction works, and labor safety, which led to the collapse of two spans of the approach bridge in Package 2 of the Can Tho Bridge Construction Project on September 26, 2007. This is the largest incident in the history of construction projects in the country, causing serious consequences, especially with a large number of casualties.

The Government highly commends and praises the efforts of central ministries and agencies, military units, police, medical staff; officials and people of Can Tho City, Vinh Long Province, and other forces who promptly and resolutely carried out rescue and relief operations; and commends organizations, units, and compatriots across the country who have made significant contributions to supporting and helping victims and their families in recent days.

The Government directs all measures to continue searching for missing persons; providing thorough care and treatment for the injured. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs is assigned to lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies, People's Committee of Can Tho City, and Vinh Long Province to organize the reception, management, and distribution of relief resources to assist families of victims both in the short term and long term. The Government decides to establish a State Committee to investigate the collapse of two spans of the approach bridge of the Can Tho Bridge, chaired by the Minister of Construction and Chairman of the National Council for Acceptance of Construction Projects; members include Deputy Ministers of the Ministries of Public Security, Construction, Transport, Planning and Investment, Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, Science and Technology, President of the Vietnam Association of Construction Enterprises, Vice President of the Vietnam Road and Bridge Engineering Society, and invite a representative from the Science, Technology, and Environment Committee of the National Assembly and a representative from Japan's bridge engineering scientific agency to participate in the Committee. The Committee has the duty and authority to clarify the cause of the incident; clarify the responsibilities of related parties; direct a comprehensive review of all design and construction stages; based on this, propose specific solutions to address the incident and continue implementing the project; propose amendments to relevant state management regulations concerning investment in construction projects and labor safety to ensure such incidents do not recur.

2. The Government heard the report on the prevention, control, and mitigation of the aftermath of Typhoon No. 5 from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Typhoon No. 5 had strong intensity, a complex path, and made landfall at night. Due to timely and close guidance from the Government; proactive and resolute actions from ministries, agencies, local authorities, and rescue forces; effective forecasting, information dissemination, management, and calling back fishing vessels and evacuating residents from vulnerable areas... losses in terms of human life and property were minimized to the lowest extent possible. The Government highly commends and praises the military, police, people, and local authorities' rescue forces for actively and proactively evacuating residents, rescuing, and mitigating losses in terms of human life and property.

However, severe flooding occurred in some northern and North Central provinces after Typhoon No. 5. The Government requests ministries, agencies, and localities to concentrate and mobilize all forces and means to prevent and control floods, protect the lives and properties of the state and people, and must not allow people to go hungry. The Ministry of Defense is assigned to lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to use rescue equipment to evacuate people from dangerous areas and ensure safety. Ministries, agencies, and localities should proactively use local budget reserves and central support to help people mitigate the aftermath of natural disasters caused by Typhoon No. 5, stabilize their lives and production as soon as possible.

3. The Government heard the Minister of Home Affairs present the draft Action Program of the Government to implement Resolution No. 5 of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Accelerating Administrative Reform and Enhancing the Effectiveness of State Management.

The issuance of the Action Program of the Government to implement Resolution No. 5 of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Accelerating Administrative Reform and Enhancing the Effectiveness of State Management aims to determine the main tasks of administrative agencies at the central and local levels in building and perfecting a socialist rule-of-law state; establishing a clean, strong, and modern administrative system; a cadre and civil servant workforce with integrity and capability; a state management system operating effectively and efficiently, compatible with a socialist-oriented market economy, meeting the requirements of sustainable development and international economic integration.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is assigned to lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to incorporate opinions from Government members, finalize the Action Program and the draft Resolution of the Government to issue the Action Program to implement Resolution No. 5 of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Accelerating Administrative Reform and Enhancing the Effectiveness of State Management, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision. The Office of the Government is assigned to lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to submit to the Prime Minister the assignment of ministries and agencies to implement tasks in the Action Program to implement Resolution No. 5 of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on ideological work, theoretical work, and press before new requirements; continuing to innovate the Party's leadership methods over the political system; and strengthening inspection and supervision work of the Party.

Based on the Action Program and tasks to implement the Resolutions of the Fifth Plenary Session mentioned above, ministries, sectors, and localities shall base themselves on actual circumstances and directives for management and operational guidance, concretize these into their own Action Programs and tasks, and effectively implement the Action Program and assigned tasks.

4. The Government discussed the draft Law on Issuing Legal Normative Documents (Amended) presented by the Minister of Justice, the draft Investment Law presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment, the draft Ordinance on National Defense Industry, and the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Ordinance on the Vietnam Coast Guard Force presented by the Minister of National Defense.

- Regarding the draft Law on Issuing Legal Normative Documents (Amended), the Ministry of Justice is tasked with leading, coordinating with the Government Office and related agencies, incorporating opinions from Government members, perfecting this draft Law towards further reforming procedures and processes in drafting and issuing legal normative documents, specifying appropriate procedures for each type of document to expedite progress and improve the quality of legal normative document drafting in the future, ensuring the current shortcomings in legislative work are addressed, and submitting it to the Prime Minister for review before presenting it to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

- Regarding the draft Investment Law, there were many differing opinions during discussions. To allow more time for research and preparation, the Government has instructed the Minister of Planning and Investment, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, to report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for permission to delay the submission of this draft Law; lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office to incorporate opinions from Government members, clarify the scope and subjects regulated by the draft Law, thereby determining specific contents to ensure no overlap with other enacted laws, and submit it to the Prime Minister for review and decision.

- Regarding the draft Ordinance on National Defense Industry, the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Ordinance on the Vietnam Coast Guard Force.

The Ministry of National Defense is tasked with leading, coordinating with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office, incorporating opinions from Government members, perfecting the draft Ordinance on National Defense Industry; the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Coast Guard Ordinance, and submitting them to the Prime Minister for review and decision regarding their presentation to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

5. The Government heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report on the Project on Informationization of Administrative Management of the State for the period 2001-2005.

The Project on Informationization of Administrative Management of the State for the period 2001-2005 (referred to as Project 112) was implemented in accordance with the Party and State's directives to implement Directive No. 58/CT-TW of the Politburo (11th tenure) on intensifying the application and development of information technology in the country's industrialization and modernization process for the period 2001-2005 and the Comprehensive Program for Administrative Reform of the State for the period 2001-2010.

During implementation, Project 112 achieved certain notable results. However, overall, the project did not meet its set objectives, and some individuals involved have been found to have committed violations. Relevant authorities continue to investigate and make public, transparent conclusions and handle strictly according to the law. 10 ||| relevant authorities continue to investigate and make public, transparent conclusions and handle strictly according to the law.

The Government Office urgently transfers the original status of the Project's implementation results, equipment, office space, and staff of the Project 112 Steering Committee to the Ministry of Information and Communications for continued implementation of informationization construction and development work, and applying information technology effectively to state administrative management activities in the future in accordance with the spirit of the Government's Decree No. 64/2007/NĐ-CP dated April 10, 2007, and the effective application of information technology in state management activities.

6. The Government agrees with the proposal to exempt water resource fees for farmers and fishermen engaged in agricultural, forestry, and aquaculture production through amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 143/2003/NĐ-CP dated November 28, 2003 of the Government on Detailed Regulations Implementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Exploitation and Protection of Waterworks Projects, presented by the Minister of Finance.

The Ministry of Finance is tasked with leading, coordinating with the Government Office and related agencies to incorporate opinions from Government members, perfect the aforementioned Decree, and submit it to the Prime Minister for issuance.

7. The Government reviewed and approved the Report on Production, Business, Services, and Investment in September and the first nine months of 2007 presented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment; the Report on Domestic Market Conditions in September 2007 presented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade; the Report on Anti-Corruption Work in September and the third quarter of 2007 presented by the Government Inspectorate; and the Report on Administrative Reform in September 2007 presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In September and the first nine months of 2007, growth rates exceeded those of the same period last year, with economic structure shifting positively, particularly the value added of the service sector exceeding the average GDP growth rate and surpassing the same period in 2006. Industrial production continued to grow strongly; agricultural production remained stable. Retail sales of goods, service revenue, transportation, postal, and telecommunications services increased, meeting social consumption needs; tourism activities remained vibrant, and exports maintained high growth rates. Foreign direct investment attracted good results. Total state budget revenues and expenditures increased compared to the same period. Health care for the people, disease prevention, and control received regular attention. Education, training, culture, sports, employment resolution made progress. Political and social stability was maintained; national defense and security were secured. Poverty reduction, disaster relief, and emergency assistance were given attention and timely practical solutions. Administrative reform efforts continued to be strengthened. Anti-corruption, thrift, and waste prevention efforts were intensified, showing positive changes in institutional building, combat measures, prevention, detection, and handling of violations.

However, there are still many difficulties and challenges that need to be directed and supervised in the last three months of 2007, such as: abnormal fluctuations in domestic and international market prices, especially for iron and steel, gasoline, essential materials - key inputs for production, which have increased significantly, creating strong pressure to raise the domestic consumer price index, greatly affecting production and people's livelihoods. Weather conditions are unpredictable; plant and animal diseases pose a risk of developing, negatively impacting agricultural production. Implementation of investment capital, particularly government bonds and state credit capital, remains low. The trade deficit remains large. Some social issues include: high traffic accidents, traffic congestion, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; workplace accidents, food hygiene, and social evils are complex. The Government requests ministries, sectors, and local authorities at all levels to strictly and thoroughly implement the guiding documents of the Government and the Prime Minister to boost production, seek every means to reduce product costs to enhance competitiveness, promote exports to reduce the trade deficit; encourage foreign investment; particularly, by every means to overcome difficulties, focus on accelerating disbursement of investment capital, construction project progress, maintaining high growth rates. Proactively prevent and combat natural disasters effectively through various measures, including guidance for the people to build houses capable of preventing and minimizing damage; planning and relocating residents in areas frequently affected by natural disasters, organizing for the people to implement disaster prevention plans. Proactively prevent and effectively control plant pests and animal diseases. Continue to implement macroeconomic balance control; strictly enforce measures to curb price increases, monitor the market; urgent measures to curb traffic accidents and traffic congestion. Continue to vigorously promote administrative reform, focusing on streamlining administrative procedures to facilitate business and people's lives. Continue to intensify efforts to combat bureaucracy, corruption, and thrift practices. Regularly pay attention to properly handling public reception and complaints and grievances; prevent mass petitions, appeals beyond jurisdiction, and prolonged disputes; do well in resolving labor disputes in enterprises; proactively prevent and promptly handle strikes and work stoppages according to the law. Strive to successfully complete the economic and social development goals for 2007; while preparing good conditions to create momentum for implementing the economic and social development plan.

The Government requests ministries, sectors, local authorities at all levels to strictly and thoroughly implement the guiding and management documents of the Government and the Prime Minister in order to boost production, seek every means to reduce product costs to enhance competitiveness, promote exports, reduce the trade deficit; encourage foreign investment; particularly, by every means to remove difficulties, focus on accelerating disbursement of investment capital, construction project progress, maintaining high growth rates. Proactively prevent and combat natural disasters effectively through various measures, including guidance for the people to build houses capable of preventing and minimizing damage; there should be planning and relocation of residents in areas frequently affected by natural disasters, organizing the implementation of disaster prevention plans by the people. Proactively prevent and control plant pests and diseases; animal and poultry epidemics. Continue to implement macroeconomic balance control; strictly enforce measures to curb price increases, market regulation; urgent measures to control traffic accidents and traffic congestion. Continue to vigorously promote administrative reform, focusing on streamlining administrative procedures to facilitate business and people's livelihoods. Continue to intensify efforts to combat bureaucracy, corruption, and thrift practices. Regularly pay attention to properly handling public reception work and complaints and denunciations; prevent mass petitions, appeals beyond jurisdiction, and prolonged cases; effectively handle labor disputes in enterprises; proactively prevent and promptly address strikes and work stoppages according to the law. Strive to successfully complete the economic and social development goals and tasks for 2007; while preparing good conditions to create momentum for implementing the socio-economic development plan for subsequent years. year 2008./.