Decision No. 52/2007/NQ-CP of the Government at the regular meeting of the Government in October 2007

RESOLUTION

Regular Meeting of the Government in October 2007

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On November 3, 2007, the Government convened its regular meeting for October 2007 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Government heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office, presenting the draft Regulation on the Operation of the Government.

The Regulation on the Operation of the Government issued together with Decree No. 23/2003/NĐ-CP dated March 12, 2003 has demonstrated positive effects over nearly five years of implementation, contributing to concretizing and guiding the enforcement of the Law on the Organization of the Government regarding organizational and operational matters of the Government and the Prime Minister; enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Government's leadership and management during a period of national development marked by significant achievements. However, in the process of implementation, along with the requirements for reforming the Government's and Prime Minister's leadership and management, the current Regulation on Operation has revealed some limitations that need to be supplemented and amended.

The new draft regulation on operation has clearly and specifically defined principles of work, responsibility systems, working procedures, work relations, and the sequence of handling tasks of the Government and the Prime Minister based on emphasizing the responsibilities of the Government and each member of the Government in innovating the process of building and implementing the Government's Work Program and the process of handling routine tasks of the Prime Minister; promoting the application of information technology in the Government's activities...

In general, the Government adopted the content of the draft Regulation. It instructed the Government Office to incorporate the opinions of the Government members, perfect the draft regulation on operation of the Government; submit the ballot of the Government members' opinions before submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance.

2. The Government heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office, presenting the draft Resolution of the Government on urgent measures to address difficulties in investment and construction activities and administrative procedure reforms affecting business operations.

In recent times, the implementation of investment and construction has encountered many difficulties. The execution of investment capital, especially projects funded by state budget, credit, and government bonds, has been low, limiting economic growth and social development. This situation has causes from weak management of investment and construction, but also from the legal framework governing investment and construction being not transparent, overlapping, and unsuitable for reality. The Government agrees to issue this Resolution to resolve difficulties in investment and construction activities and business operations.

It instructed the Government Office to incorporate the opinions of the Government members, perfect the draft Resolution, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and issuance.

3. The Government heard the Minister of Finance presenting the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on the rate of profit deduction before tax to establish the Science and Technology Development Fund; and the Minister of Justice presenting the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Ordinance on Administrative Violations.

The Government agreed to adopt the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on the rate of profit deduction before tax to establish the Science and Technology Development Fund. It instructed the Ministry of Finance to lead, coordinate with the Government Office, the Ministry of Justice, and related agencies to incorporate the opinions of the Government members, perfect the draft Resolution. The Minister of Finance, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, will submit this draft Resolution to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

It instructed the Minister of Justice to lead, coordinate with the Government Office and related agencies, incorporate the opinions of the Government members, perfect the draft Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Ordinance on Administrative Violations, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on submission to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

4. The Government heard reports on the socio-economic situation in October and the first ten months of 2007 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment; on the implementation of inspection, complaint resolution, and anti-corruption work in the third quarter and October 2007 presented by the Government Inspectorate; and on the implementation of administrative reform in October 2007 presented by the Minister of Home Affairs.

The socio-economic situation in October and the first ten months of 2007 continued to maintain a positive trend. Industrial production increased more than the same period last year, exports grew, foreign direct investment increased by 18.7% compared to the same period in 2006, disbursement of ODA funds reached 85%, and state revenue was satisfactory. The total turnover of goods and services in society increased significantly, the service sector was vibrant, and social activities developed positively with many innovations.; Health care and disease prevention work were well organized and received attention, especially in areas affected by typhoons and floods; disaster relief efforts were carried out promptly and effectively.

Alongside many achievements, the socio-economic situation still faces numerous difficulties that need to be focused on overcoming: Typhoon No. 5 and flooding in many places caused significant damage to agricultural production and people's livelihoods; the trade deficit remains high; avian influenza and swine blue ear disease have not been thoroughly controlled and there is a risk of recurrence; disbursement of investment capital, both credit and from government bonds, remains low...

In order to strive to fulfill the tasks and plans for the year 2007, the Government requests that ministries, sectors, and localities closely follow actual developments, continue to effectively implement the measures set forth in Resolution No. 03/2007/NQ-CP and specific guiding directives issued by the Government and the Prime Minister, to boost production, enhance the competitiveness of products; increase export capacity, accelerate capital disbursement. In price management and control, efforts must be concentrated on measures to boost production and circulation, resolutely preventing shortages of goods; strengthening anti-speculation and anti-smuggling activities; maintaining appropriate prices based on market economy principles, without expanding and gradually ending state subsidies. Continue to vigorously promote administrative reform, promptly perfect draft Decrees of the Government stipulating the functions and responsibilities of ministries to ensure stable operations; organize well the work of receiving citizens and resolving complaints and denunciations; intensify efforts to prevent and combat bureaucratic practices, corruption, and waste; practice thrift. Ministries, sectors, and localities need to review all implemented projects and internal expenditures, strictly handle any violations, and take measures to prevent further violations and loss of state assets.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead in monitoring and proactively planning for disaster prevention and response; coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently address the aftermath of floods, ensuring that people do not suffer from hunger, especially in severely affected areas; prevent and quickly extinguish plant and animal diseases. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead in monitoring and proactively planning for disaster prevention and response; coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently address the aftermath of floods, ensuring that people do not suffer from hunger, especially in severely affected areas; prevent and quickly extinguish plant and animal diseases.

The Ministry of Health shall take the lead in strictly controlling food safety; urgently addressing acute diarrhea and other diseases affecting humans.

The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Security shall direct the strict implementation of urgent measures to curb traffic accidents and congestion; coordinate with related agencies and localities to strengthen public awareness campaigns to improve citizens' consciousness and self-discipline.

The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to develop programs aimed at breakthroughs in human resource training, initially focusing on meeting the needs of enterprises and major projects.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to review procedures related to the establishment and operation of businesses.

The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead in reviewing procedures related to taxation and customs.

The Ministry of Justice shall take the lead in reviewing procedures related to household registration, passports, identity cards, certification, and notarization.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead in reviewing procedures related to land use rights certificates, property ownership, land allocation, and land recovery.

The Office of the Government shall take the lead in reviewing procedures within the government apparatus, promptly completing the Working Regulations of the Government; coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and related ministries and sectors to prepare reports and materials to serve the Government's conference with provincial People's Councils to implement the plan and key measures for directing and managing economic and social development and the state budget for 2008./.