Decision No. 62/2007/NQ-CP of the Government at the regular meeting in December 2007

RESOLUTION

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SESSION REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN DECEMBER 2007

On December 23 and 24, 2007, the Council of Ministers held its regular meeting for December 2007 to discuss and adopt the following issues:

1. The Council of Ministers heard the Minister, Head of the Government Office's report on the review of guidance and management in 2007 and the program of work for 2008 of the Council of Ministers; the Minister of Planning and Investment's report on the economic and social situation in December and throughout 2007, and key measures for the first quarter of 2008; the Minister of Industry and Trade's report on the domestic market situation in December and throughout 2007; the Minister of Finance's report on price control activities in 2007 and the orientation for price control in 2008; the Minister of Home Affairs' report on administrative reform activities in 2007 and key tasks for 2008; the General Inspector's report on the implementation of anti-corruption activities in 2007.

In 2007, alongside new opportunities and favorable conditions, the country had to face many difficulties: rising prices of many types of raw materials and goods in the world market; continuous droughts, typhoons, and floods; complex outbreaks of diseases affecting people, crops, and livestock, which significantly impacted production and people's lives. In this context, the Council of Ministers closely followed the resolutions of the Party and National Assembly, legal provisions, and the Working Regulations, maintaining the principle of democratic centralism to promptly and effectively guide and manage all aspects of work; timely and effectively handled unexpected situations; achieved positive changes in economic development and social life. In guiding and managing, the Council of Ministers was united, agreed, and effectively coordinated relationships, strengthened inspections and supervision with dedication and effort for the country's cause, mobilizing the combined strength of the entire political system and the people to achieve the set goals and tasks.

The national economy continued to maintain high growth rates. Most major economic and social indicators met or exceeded the targets set by the National Assembly; the economic structure continued to shift positively, major balances were maintained; domestic trade and services continued to develop, exports and foreign direct investment reached record highs. Fields such as science and technology, environmental protection, education and training, health care, culture, information, sports, vocational training, employment, poverty reduction, and other social areas showed positive changes; people's living standards improved. Administrative reform was accelerated towards transparency and simplification of procedures. Anti-corruption efforts showed positive progress, achieving initial important results that were widely supported by the people. National defense and security were maintained, political and social stability was ensured. Foreign affairs and economic diplomacy serving economic and social development were implemented comprehensively, fulfilling commitments according to the World Trade Organization accession timeline and preparations for the role of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. These achievements contributed to creating a new momentum for the fulfillment of tasks in 2008 and subsequent years, increasing public confidence in the country's renewal process.

Alongside the significant achievements of 2007, the country still faces many challenges and difficulties. Economic and social development has not been commensurate with potential and opportunities obtained; the economy remains small, labor productivity is low, competitiveness is limited under deepening globalization. Meanwhile, the capacity for guidance and management is inadequate, especially in understanding and forecasting market trends; some areas of management are slow, hesitant, and ineffective. The quality and sustainability of economic growth remain low; inflation and trade deficit are high; disease control and disaster prevention capabilities are insufficient; the economy's ability to absorb capital is low. Infrastructure and human resources for economic and social development and state management do not meet practical requirements. Mechanisms, policies, and administrative procedures have many shortcomings, failing to meet the demand for openness for businesses and investors. Coordination between ministries, sectors, and localities is not smooth and effective enough. The management and operation of the Council of Ministers are revealing weaknesses before the demands of a market economy and international economic integration. The quality of institutional building is low, unsuitable or unclear, causing difficulties in implementation. The quality of planning, forecasting does not keep up with the requirements and pace of economic development.

In 2008, which is the third year of implementing the five-year plan for 2006-2010, the Government is determined to strive to basically complete the main targets of the five-year plan. Therefore, ministries, sectors, localities need to thoroughly grasp the tasks and key solutions, which are: Continuing to maintain high growth rates (striving to achieve 9%), paying attention to controlling macroeconomic conditions, especially inflation according to the new price level, ensuring that the rate of price increase is lower than the economic growth rate. Improving the living standards of the people, particularly poor households, policy beneficiaries, ethnic minorities, remote areas, and extremely difficult regions. Striving to achieve the goal of poverty reduction as set forth. Building appropriate mechanisms and policies to strongly encourage domestic and foreign economic components to participate in socialization initiatives; creating a strong shift in mobilizing resources for sustainable economic and social development and environmental protection, infrastructure construction, healthcare, education, human resource training, especially vocational training to meet the country's development needs. Continuing to promote administrative reform, especially procedures related to citizens, businesses, and investment activities. Strengthening inspections on the implementation of administrative discipline; strictly implementing the Working Regulations and Work Program of the Government; mobilizing scientific forces to actively participate in research, forecasting, and proposing state mechanisms and policies. Continuing to intensify anti-corruption efforts and promptly address pressing social issues.

In the first quarter of 2008, the Government requests ministries, sectors, localities, and units to urgently complete the allocation and assignment of plans right from the beginning of the year. Synchronously implement measures to boost production and business, exports. Vigorously implement measures to control macroeconomic conditions, curb prices, balance supply and demand, meet the good consumption needs of the people, and prevent shortages of essential goods leading to price increases and surges. Carefully stabilize the living standards of the people, especially those affected by natural disasters, poor households, policy beneficiaries, ethnic minorities, remote areas, and difficult regions. Strengthen market supervision, combat smuggling, and fraudulent trade; ensure food safety, especially during the upcoming Tet holiday. Maintain political security and social order; prevent fires and explosions, strictly prohibit firecrackers, and promote the results of Resolution No. 32/2007/NQ-CP on urgent measures to control traffic accidents and congestion; maintain the mandatory helmet wearing requirement for motorcycle and motorbike users.

The Government Office is tasked with incorporating the opinions of government members, finalizing the report on the guidance and management of 2007 and the work program for 2008 of the Government for issuance; the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Government Inspectorate are tasked with incorporating the opinions from the meeting, finalizing relevant reports to be submitted to the conference of the Government with local leaders to implement the National Assembly's resolution on the socio-economic development plan and the state budget for 2008.

2. The Government heard the Minister of Transport present the project to address traffic congestion in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Government agrees in principle with the content of the project. The Ministry of Transport is assigned to lead, incorporate the opinions from the meeting, finalize the project and draft the Government's resolution on urgent measures to gradually address traffic congestion in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, send it for comments from government members, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making.

The People's Committee of Hanoi City and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City are assigned to lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to organize the implementation of the resolution and project after they have been approved by the Government and the Prime Minister.

Relevant ministries and sectors are assigned to lead, coordinate with the People's Committee of Hanoi City and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to study and submit special policies within their respective fields to competent authorities for issuance to gradually effectively address traffic congestion in the two cities.

3. The Government heard the Minister of Home Affairs present the draft Law on Public Service; heard the Chairman of the Government Office report on the synthesis of opinions from government members regarding the draft Law.

The Civil Servants Ordinance of 1998 and its amendments and supplements in 2000 and 2003 have created important legal foundations for organizing and managing civil servants and public service, and gradually reforming the management mechanism of civil servants and public service to align with a people-serving administrative system. However, current legal provisions have not clearly distinguished between the relationship between administration and public services, between state management activities and business operations; have not clearly defined the differences in classification of state civil servants, grassroots civil servants, professional qualifications, recruitment, placement, utilization, planning, evaluation, training, and rotation of civil servants between administrative state agencies and state-owned enterprises, public service organizations, and political and political-social organizations. Provisions on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants are still tied to staffing quotas, which are not suitable for labor management requirements in a market economy and the promotion of socialization.

The issuance of the Civil Service Law aims to perfect the legal framework, promote civil service reform, and address existing issues. The Civil Service Law needs to clearly distinguish between types of civil servants, their specific professional qualifications, rights and responsibilities, recruitment methods, placement, utilization, and rotation within administrative agencies, enterprises, public institutions, state-provided services, political organizations, and socio-political organizations, meeting the requirements for labor management in a market economy and facilitating the implementation of policies to promote socialization.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is tasked with leading, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Office, to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the draft Civil Service Law, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration.

4. The Government listens to the Minister of Health's presentation on the draft Health Insurance Law and hears the Minister and Head of the Government Office's report summarizing the opinions of government members regarding the draft Law.

In recent years, implementing the policy of universal health insurance, the number of people participating in health insurance has rapidly increased both in quantity and type; the health insurance fund has contributed significantly to the total expenditure on medical examination and treatment for insured individuals; creating favorable conditions for patients to access and choose healthcare facilities; promoting improvements in the quality of service at healthcare facilities. However, the scope of health insurance remains limited; voluntary health insurance policies do not closely align with reality, lacking stability; mandatory health insurance contributions have been slow to change; benefits for insured individuals do not correspond to their contributions; procedures for medical examination and treatment, and payment for insured individuals are still cumbersome; the quality of medical examination and treatment under health insurance is not high; in some places, there are instances of discrimination against insured patients.

The issuance of the Health Insurance Law aims to create a legal framework for the development of universal health insurance, contributing to the formation and robust development of a stable and sustainable social security system in our country. Developing universal health insurance with the goal of gradually achieving fairness in healthcare provision, sharing the burden of medical examination and treatment costs and healthcare among healthy and sick individuals; the wealthy and the poor; those in difficult circumstances; working-age individuals and children and the elderly. The health insurance fund must operate on the principle of using the majority to support the minority; ensuring balance, stability, and sustainability of the fund.

The Ministry of Health is tasked with leading, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, to incorporate opinions from the meeting, finalize the draft Health Insurance Law, report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on submitting it for discussion at the upcoming Government session./.