DECISION

ON ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATIONAL REGULATIONS OF COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR MEKONG DELTA REGION DURING 2020 - 2025

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP dated November 17, 2017 of Government on sustainable development of Mekong Delta region in response to climate change;

Pursuant to Decision No. 34/2007/QD-TTg dated March 12, 2007 of Prime Minister on Regulations on establishment, organization and operation of interdisciplinary cooperative organizations;

Pursuant to Decision No. 593/QD-TTg dated April 6, 2016 of Prime Minister on Regulations on pilot socio-economic development in Mekong Delta region during 2016 - 2020;

Pursuant to Decision No. 417/QD-TTg dated April 13, 2019 of Prime Minister on General Action program for implementation of Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP dated November 17, 2017 of Government on sustainable development of Mekong Delta region in response to climate change;

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At request of Minister of Planning and Investment under Declaration No. 2885/TTr-BKHDT dated May 4, 2020.

HEREBY DECIDES:

Article 1. Establish Coordinating Council for Mekong Delta region (hereinafter referred to as “Regional Coordinating Council”) during 2020 – 2025 to renovate regional coordinating mechanisms and promote sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change.

Article 2. Functions of Regional Coordinating Council

Regional Coordinating Council shall be an interdisciplinary cooperative organization established under decision of the Prime Minister to act as consultant, provide advice to the Prime Minister and assist Prime Minister in directing, coordinating, examining and supervising regional connection and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change including development of primary economic zones of the Mekong Delta.

Article 3. Organizational structure of Regional Coordinating Council

1. Coordinating Council for the Mekong Delta region consists of:

- Chairperson: Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung;

- Standing Vice Chairperson: Minister of Planning and Investment;

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- Vice Chairperson: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

- Vice Chairperson: Minister of Transport;

- Standing member: Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment;

- Members:

+ Deputy ministers and equivalent titles of following ministries and ministerial agencies: Finance, Industry and Trade, Construction, Science and Technology, Health, Education and Trade, Office of the Government;

+ Chairpersons of People’s Committees of following provinces and central-affiliated cities: Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau;

+ 1 member shall be a notable specialist or scientist of training and scientific research facility of the area;

+ 1 member shall be a reputable representative of the enterprise community of the Mekong Delta region.

2. Standing Coordinating Council consists of Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons and Standing Members of the Council.

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4. Entities that act as consultants and assist Regional Coordinating Council, ministries, People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in affairs related to regional coordination consist of: Office of Regional Coordinating Council, Coordinating teams in ministry level, Coordinating teams in provincial level and Teams of consulting specialists.

Article 4. Contents and fields of operation of regional coordination

Contents and fields of operation of coordination in regional connection and sustainable development in response to climate change include:

1. Connection for socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta region.

2. Coordination in sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

3. Coordination in implementation of planning of the Mekong Delta region during 2021 – 2030 and vision to 2050.

4. Other activities and connection affairs specified under Decision No. 593/QD-TTg dated April 6, 2016 of Prime Minister.

5. Other contents and fields of operation assigned by Prime Minister.

Article 5. Tasks and powers of Regional Coordinating Council

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- Planning of the Mekong Delta region during 2021 – 2030 and vision to 2050.

- Details of regional development within national 5-year socio-economic development plan.

- List of programs and projects that are regional in scale and interregional in nature.

- Methods of mobilizing resources and methods of allocating investment capital for the Mekong Delta region; plans for mid-term and annual public investment for projects that are regional in scale and connect with the Mekong Delta region.

- Other domestic and international aids for regional connection and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

2. Assisting the Prime Minister in directing coordination, expediting, examining and supervising implementation of ministries and local governments in regional planning, strategies, mechanisms, policies, planning, plans, programs, schemes, projects and tasks that are regional in scale and interregional in nature and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

- Via annual plans for coordinating regional connection of the Mekong Delta region; providing feedback for competent authorities regarding list of programs and public investment projects that are regional in scale and interregional in nature prior to presentation to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision; dealing with difficulties in connection and cooperation between ministries and provinces of the Mekong Delta region and other provinces in vicinity; monitoring and expediting dealing with interdisciplinary and/or interregional issues.

- Guiding and assisting local governments in the regions in dealing with interprovincial and intercity issues within competence of local governments in the regions.

- Cooperating with Ho Chi Minh City and other regions in cooperation in socio-economic development that involve connection between regions.

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- Approving plans for carrying out activities regarding sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region. Organizing general regional investment, commercial, tourism and communication incentive activities.

- Establishing coordinating sub-department in each field, sector or sub-region (if necessary).

- Developing common databases and establishing regional information technology; training high quality personnel for the Mekong Delta region.

- Promoting and assisting formation and development of business associations, industrial associations and cooperative associations of the entire Mekong Delta region.

- Deciding the use of financial resources and other resources to perform functions, tasks and powers of the Council.

- Requesting ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities of the Mekong Delta region, relevant agencies and organizations to provide documents, information, figures, reports and explanation for issues that are considered to be necessary for the implementation of tasks of the Council.

- Implementing other tasks and powers decided by the Prime Minister.

Article 6. Use of stamps

1. Chairperson of the Regional Coordinating Council shall use stamp of the Prime Minister for documents during execution of tasks and powers of the Regional Coordinating Council and tasks and powers of the Chairperson.

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Article 7. Expenditure on operation

1. Operational expenditure of the Regional Coordinating Council, including that of sub-departments (if any), inspectorates and Office of the Regional Coordinating Council shall be integrated in annual budget estimates of Ministry of Planning and Investment, from sponsorships of international organizations and managed, paid for and settled according to Law on State Budget and relevant law provisions. Office of the Regional Coordinating Council may utilize accounts and entities specialized in financial affairs of Ministry of Planning and Investment.

2. Operational expenditure of coordinating teams of ministry level and sector level shall be integrated in annual budget estimates of ministries and sectors, from sponsorships of international organizations and shall be managed, paid for and settled according to Law on State Budget and relevant law provisions. Coordinating teams of ministry level and sector level may utilize accounts and entities specialized in financial affairs of ministries and sectors.

3. Operational expenditure of coordinating teams of provincial level shall be integrated in annual budget estimates of Departments of Planning and Investment, from sponsorships of international organizations and shall be managed, paid for and settled according to Law on State Budget and relevant law provisions. Coordinating teams of provincial level may utilize accounts and entities specialized in financial affairs of Departments of Planning and Investment of provinces and central-affiliated cities.

Article 8. Implementation

1. Issuing Regulations on operation of the Regional Coordinating Council for the Mekong Delta region attached under this Decision.

2. This Decision replaces Decision No. 941/QD-TTg dated June 25, 2015 of Prime Minister on establishment of organizations for coordinating development of primary economic zones during 2015 - 2020 for primary economic zone of the Mekong Delta.

3. Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take charge and cooperate with relevant ministries, agencies and local governments in consolidating and reporting to the Chairperson of the Regional Coordinating Council to approve list of Vice Chairpersons and members of the Regional Coordinating Council.

4. This Decision comes into effect from the date of signing. Ministers, heads of ministerial agencies, heads of Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in the Mekong Delta region and relevant agencies, organizations and individuals are responsible for the implementation of this Decision./.

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PRIME MINISTER





Nguyen Xuan Phuc

REGULATIONS

OPERATION OF COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR THE MEKONG DELTA FOR THE PERIOD OF 2020 – 2025
(Attached to Decision No. 825/QD-TTg dated June 12, 2020 of the Prime Minister)

Article 1. These Regulations prescribe operation and coordination of the Coordinating Council for the Mekong Delta region established by the Prime Minister to create consistency in order to head towards sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change.

Article 2. Coordination principles

1. Comply with policies of the Communist Party, regulations and law on socio-economic development and ensure national safety and defense of the Mekong Delta region.

2. Contents and field of coordination shall be connection for socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta region, coordination for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change and coordination for implementation of Mekong Delta region planning for the period of 2021 – 2030 and vision towards 2050.

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4. Taking charge of organizing cooperation shall be assigned to ministries and local governments whose functions, tasks and powers are most relevant to the fields or tasks that require cooperation.

5. Coordination shall be implemented via Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Council. On the basis of policies on socio-economic development, ministries and local governments shall communicate to enter into agreement and implement connection and cooperation contents.

6. Issues that fail to be agreed upon or exceed deciding competence of ministries and local governments, Office of the Regional Coordinating Council is responsible for gathering feedback and reporting to the Chairperson for consideration or requesting competent authorities to consider and decide.

Article 3. Coordination methods

1. Planning for the Mekong Delta region for the period of 2021 - 2030 and vision towards 2050:

- Regarding cooperation during planning preparation phase: preparation, appraisal and approval of plans must comply with regulations and law on planning. In order to ensure consistency in developing planning for the Mekong Delta region, presiding agencies that take charge in developing regional plans shall consult the Regional Coordinating Council and relevant ministries and local governments prior to requesting competent authorities to approve. Fields that require cooperation during planning development and implementation such as: Connecting traffic system; information infrastructure; clean water supply system and use of water sources; disposing wastewater, solid waste and hazardous waste; manufacturing primary products; development human resources; vocational training, college education and higher education institutions; scientific research facilities; provincial hospitals and dealing with environmental pollution.

- Regarding cooperation during planning implementation: once planning is approved by competent authorities, the Regional Coordinating Council shall assist the Prime Minister in coordinating, expediting, examining and supervising implementation of planning for the Mekong Delta region of ministries and local governments. Ministries and local governments, based on assigned tasks, shall organize implementation and be responsible for cooperating with the Regional Coordinating Council in supervising and examining implementation of regional planning.

2. Establishment of regional development mechanisms and policies:

Ministries, within assigned functions and tasks, shall conduct research to establish, issue or request the Government and Prime Minister to issue mechanisms and policies under management of the ministries for general application in the Mekong Delta region. In order to ensure consistency, effectiveness and conformity of planning for the Mekong Delta region, presiding agencies that develop mechanisms and policies shall consult the Regional Coordinating Council and relevant ministries and local governments prior to requesting competent authorities to decide.

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The Regional Coordinating Council shall act as consultant and provide suggestions regarding development of the Mekong Delta region to agencies assigned to take charge during establishment and completion of the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for the period of 2021 – 2030 and 5-year socio-economic development plan for the period of 2021 - 2025.

4. Development of programs and projects that are regional in scale and interregional in nature:

Ministry of Planning and Investment shall cooperate with the Regional Coordinating Council, ministries and local governments in completing and agreeing upon list of public investment programs and projects that are regional in scale and interregional in nature to request the Prime Minister to consider and decide.

5. Methods for mobilizing resources and methods for allocating investment capital for the Mekong Delta region:

Ministry of Planning and Investment shall cooperate with the Regional Coordinating Council and ministries and local governments in gathering feedback and completing methods for mobilizing resources and methods for allocating mid-term investment capital for the period of 2021 – 2025 for the Mekong Delta region and other domestic, international aids for regional connection and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in response to climate change in order to propose to the Prime Minister.

6. Dealing with issues in regional connection:

The Regional Coordinating Council shall coordinate cooperation between ministries and provinces in the Mekong Delta region and between the provinces in order to deal with issues related to regional connection; monitor and expedite to deal with interdisciplinary issues in the Mekong Delta region. Guide and assist local governments in actively dealing with interprovincial issues under management of the local governments in the Mekong Delta region. Cooperate with Ho Chi Minh City and other regions for socio-economic development that require connection between regions.

7. Plan for coordinating regional connection:

The Regional Coordinating Council shall develop plans for coordinating regional connection on a yearly basis for the Mekong Delta region, gather feedback of relevant ministries and local governments and report to the Prime Minister; organize general investment, commercial, tourism and communication incentivizing activities at request of ministries and local governments; promote and assist formation and development business associations, industry associations and cooperative associations of the entire Mekong Delta region.

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Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and ministries, local governments shall cooperate with the Regional Coordinating Council in developing common databases, establishing information system of the Mekong Delta region to serve sustainable development and adaptation to climate change and connecting with database of the International Mekong River Commission.

Article 4. Operational principles of the Regional Coordinating Council

1. The Regional Coordinating Council shall operate on group work basis, communicate, exchange ideas in order to enter into agreement for common interests of the region and highlight personal responsibilities of the heads; Chairperson of the Council shall have the final word.

2. The Regional Coordinating Council shall meet once every 6 months and irregularly if necessary. Meeting location and methods shall be decided by the Chairperson.  Senior representatives of Vietnam Mekong River Commission and Chairperson of People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City shall be invited to meetings of the Council. Representatives of relevant agencies, organizations and individuals may be invited to meetings of the Council if necessary.

3. Chairperson of the Regional Coordinating Council shall take charge of activities of the Council, summon and host meetings of the Council and Standing Council. With respect to urgent issues, Chairperson of the Council shall gather suggestions of members in writing.

4. Standing Regional Coordinating Council shall deal with regular affairs of the Council during the period in which the Regional Coordinating Council does not hold meetings and report to the Council in the next meeting. Standing Regional Coordinating Council shall hold regular meetings once every quarter and irregular if necessary as decided by the Chairperson of the Council. Representatives of relevant agencies, organizations and individuals may be invited to meetings.

5. The Regional Coordinating Council shall form inspectorates and supervisors to inspect and monitor compliance with regulations and law, strategies, mechanisms, policies, plans, programs, schemes, projects and tasks that are regional in scale and interregional in nature and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change.

6. The Regional Coordinating Council shall report implementation results every 6 month and every year to the Prime Minister.

Article 5. Tasks and powers of Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, Standing Members and Members of the Regional Coordinating Council

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2. Standing Vice Chairpersons - Minister of Planning and Investment:

- Assisting the Chairperson in preparing programs and operation details of the Regional Coordinating Council, hosting meetings of the Council and Standing Council; hosting meetings as assigned by the Chairperson.

- Acting the Chairperson to host meetings with ministries and local governments in the Mekong Delta region in order to deal with specific issues related to regional connection, interregion and planning of the Mekong Delta region.

- Signing general operational documents of the Regional Coordinating Council and the Standing Regional Coordinating Council and reports submitted to the Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Regional Coordinating Council on dealing with issues within their competence.

- Executing other tasks and powers assigned by the Chairperson.

3. Vice Chairperson - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment:

- Assisting the Chairperson in coordinating activities in resources, environment and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change.

- Acting the Chairperson in hosting meetings with ministries and local governments of the Mekong Delta region in order to deal with assigned issues and fields of operations.

- Executing other tasks and powers assigned by the Chairperson.

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- Assisting the Chairperson in coordinating agricultural production, investment for hydraulic structures and natural disaster prevention activities that are regional in scale and interregional in nature.

- Acting the Chairperson in hosting meetings with ministries and local governments of the Mekong Delta region in order to deal with assigned issues and fields of operations.

- Executing other tasks and powers assigned by the Chairperson.

5. Vice Chairperson - Minister of Transport:

- Assisting the Chairperson in coordinating investment, management and operation of traffic structures that are regional in scale and interregional in nature.

- Acting the Chairperson in hosting meetings with ministries and local governments of the Mekong Delta region in order to deal with assigned issues and fields of operations.

- Executing other tasks and powers assigned by the Chairperson.

6. Standing members:

- Directing Office of the Regional Coordinating Council; organizing operation of Teams of the consulting specialists of the Council; directing consulting, assisting, consolidating, reporting and organizing implementation of programs and action plans of the Regional Coordinating Council, Standing Council, Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons; signing documents dealing with administrative affairs of the Regional Coordinating Council.

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7. Members:

- Fully attending and reflecting official feedback of agencies, organizations, science communities and enterprise communities which are being represented by the members respectively and other activities of the Council. In case of absence, assigning competent representatives to participate with consensus of the Chairperson.

- Executing tasks assigned by the Chairperson.

- Proposing contents related to regional connection, sustainable development, adaptation to climate change to the Regional Coordinating Council and Standing Regional Coordinating Council.

- Proposing mechanisms and policies on dealing with difficulties in regional development related to their sectors and provinces to enable the Regional Coordinating Council and Standing Regional Coordinating Council to request competent authorities to consider and decide.

- Utilizing mechanisms and expenditure of represented ministries and provinces to participate in activities of the Regional Coordinating Council; receiving funding for operations as decided by the Chairperson.

Article 6. Responsibilities of ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in the Mekong Delta region

Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in the Mekong Delta region shall perform tasks and powers according to regulations and law on management of sectors, fields and local governments related to regional connection, sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change and be responsible for:

1. Assigning representatives, preparing time, assisting apparatus and expenditure on enabling representatives to act as members of the Regional Coordinating Council according to decision of the Prime Minister.

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3. Assigning work, reports and explanation with the Regional Coordinating Council, sub-departments of the Council, inspectorates and supervisors of the Council at request.

4. With respect to contents that require remarks of the Regional Coordinating Council prior to being proposed to competent authorities as specified under Article 3 of this Decision, request the Council to provide remarks in writing at least 15 days before submitting to competent authorities.

5. Organizing implementation of resolutions of the Regional Coordinating Council related to connection of the Mekong Delta region, sustainable development and adaptation to climate change.

6. People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in the areas are responsible for requesting People’s Council of the same level to consider and decide on use of local resources to implement tasks that are interregional in nature; cooperating with Standing members of the  Regional Coordinating Council in locating and enabling the Council to carry out meetings and conduct other activities in the areas.

People’s Committee of Can Tho City is responsible for cooperating with ministries and local governments in the Mekong Delta region in implementing resolutions of the Regional Coordinating Council related to center points of the Mekong Delta region according to Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW dated February 17, 205 of Politburo on construction and development of Can Tho City during national industrialization and modernization; directing coordination teams to take charge and cooperate in general operation of local coordination teams according to direction of Office of the Regional Coordinating Council.

People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City shall be responsible for cooperating with the Regional Coordinating Council in cooperating in socio-economic development that requires connection between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region and providing documents, information, figures and reports to the Regional Coordinating Council.

Article 7. Assistance apparatus of the Regional Coordinating Council

1. Office of the Regional Coordinating Council shall be located In Ministry of Planning and Investment. Office of the Regional Coordinating Council is responsible for acting as consultant, assisting the Regional Coordinating Council, Standing Regional Coordinating Council, Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons of the Regional Coordinating Council; guiding and coordinating operation of coordinating teams in ministry level and local level at direct request of Standing members of the Council.

Ministry of Planning and Investment shall establish Office of the Regional Coordinating Council and ensure adequate personnel (including full-time and part-time officials) to execute assigned tasks. Leaders and officials of Office of the Council permanently employed by Ministry of Planning and Investment and decided by Minister of Planning and Investment shall be allocated within assigned payroll for officials of Ministry of Planning and Investment.

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a) Coordinating teams of ministry level shall assist ministries and shall have following tasks and powers:

- Conducting research and proposing mechanisms and policies in fields under management of the ministries in order to satisfy development demands of the Mekong Delta region; solutions for improving effectiveness in coordinating region development;

- Assisting the minister in coordinating organizations and units affiliated to ministries in performing tasks in coordinating development of the Mekong Delta region; assisting with coordinating teams of provinces in promptly dealing with issues in regional connection under ministry management;

- Providing information related to policies on development of sectors, impacts of mechanisms and policies of the sectors on development of the Mekong Delta region;

- Monitoring, expediting and assisting the ministers in dealing with coordination issues in the Mekong Delta region under management of ministries; consolidating and reporting to Office of the Regional Coordinating Council and ministers every 6 months and every year on implementation of coordination for development of the Mekong Delta region.

b) Coordination teams of ministry level shall be managed by leading consulting officials in terms of investment and planning and other members with specialized capacity and working experience. Ministers shall decide on number of members of the coordination teams at request of managers of the coordination teams on the basis of workload of the ministries.

3. People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in the Mekong Delta region shall establish coordination teams of provincial level.

a) Coordination teams of provincial level shall assist the People’s Committees and Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in the Mekong Delta region and shall have following tasks and powers:

- Assisting Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in directing local organizations and entities to perform tasks in coordinating development of the Mekong Delta region; requesting the Regional Coordinating Council to promptly deal with difficulties regarding regional connection;

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- Monitoring, expediting and assisting Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in dealing with coordination issues within their competence in the Mekong Delta region; consolidating and submitting reports to the Regional Coordinating Council, Office of the Regional Coordinating Council, People’s Committees, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities every 6 months and every year regarding implementation of coordination for connection of the Mekong Delta region;

- In addition to aforementioned tasks and powers, coordination teams affiliated to People’s Committee of Can Tho Province shall take charge and cooperate in common activities of coordination teams of provincial level in the areas according to instruction of Office of the Regional Coordinating Council.

b) Managers of coordination teams of provincial level shall be Directors of Departments of Planning and Investment of provinces and central-affiliated cities. Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall decide on number of members of coordination teams of provincial level at request of managers of the coordination teams on the basis of local workload.

4. The Regional Coordinating Council may establish teams of consulting specialists in sectors related to functions, tasks and powers of the Council.

5. Office of the Regional Coordinating Council, coordination teams of ministry level and coordination teams of provincial level may hire or order research paper of consulting specialists, scientists, research or training facilities.

Article 8. Implementation

1. The Regional Coordinating Council is responsible for directing and expediting implementation of these Regulations, once every 6 months and once every year, consolidate implementation results and propose difficulties to be dealt with to the Prime Minister.

2. Ministers, heads of ministerial agencies, heads of Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in the Mekong Delta region and relevant agencies, organizations and individuals are responsible for the implementation of these Regulations./.