Decision No. 96/2004/QD-TTg On the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on economic partnership agreements between ASEAN and external partners

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Economic Agreements

between ASEAN and external partners

______________________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the decisions of the heads of state, government of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and senior leaders of dialogue countries at the ASEAN + 1 Summits;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Trade and the Chairman of the Government Office,

DECISION:

Article 1. Establish the Inter-Ministerial Working Group to perform tasks related to negotiating economic agreements between ASEAN and external partners, hereinafter referred to as the Inter-Ministerial Working Group. The Inter-Ministerial Working Group shall have the following tasks:

1. Studying and developing negotiation strategies for Vietnam regarding economic agreements between ASEAN and each external partner to be submitted the Prime Minister.

2. Participating in negotiations between ASEAN and external partners based on the strategies that have been approved the Prime Minister.

3. Disseminating and guiding relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises to implement agreements during the negotiation process.

Article 2. Regarding organization and membership:

1. The Minister of Trade responsible for ASEAN integration of Vietnam pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision (document number 96/VPCP-QHQT dated February 16, 2004) shall serve as the head of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group, bearing overall responsibility for directing the content and organizing negotiation teams within the Inter-Ministerial Working Group in accordance with ASEAN relations and with partner countries, as well as directives from the Prime Minister. 2. Heads of negotiation teams within the Inter-Ministerial Working Group shall be department-level officials from the Ministries of Trade, Finance, Planning and Investment, Foreign Affairs, and appointed by the head of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group according to specific cooperation content within ASEAN (deputy team leaders may be appointed if necessary).

3. Members of negotiation teams shall be department-level officials or senior specialists from: the Government Office and the Ministries of Trade, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Planning and Investment, Justice, Industry, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, Posts and Telecommunications, Education and Training, Health, Culture and Information, State Bank of Vietnam, and the Tourism Administration.

4. The Inter-Ministerial Working Group may establish technical support groups when necessary.

5. The secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group and functional negotiation delegations (also serving as members of functional negotiation teams) shall be a department-level official or equivalent from the Government Office.

Attached to this Decision is the Operational Regulation of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Economic Agreements between ASEAN and external partners.

Article 3. The operating expenses of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group shall be funded from the state budget allocated to the Ministry of Trade according to the annual budget estimate of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group in the Ministry of Trade's annual budget.

Article 4. Relevant ministries and agencies shall create favorable conditions for members assigned to participate in the Inter-Ministerial Working Group or technical support groups.

Article 5. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette and shall replace Decision No. 50/2002/QĐ-TTg dated April 17, 2002 on the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area.

Article 6. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and heads of agencies under the Government are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

Article 7. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Heads of government agencies shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.