RESOLUTION

THE GOVERNMENT’S REGULAR MEETING - FEBRUARY 2006

On February 27-28, 2006, the Government held the regular meeting of February 2006 to discuss and decide on the following issues:

1. The Government listened to the Export Development Project, period 2006–2010, delivered by the Minister of Trade.

After five years (2001-2005), Vietnam’s export has grown at a rather high rate and its scale has been expanded, attaining the set targets; export structure has witnessed positive changes; the task of developing export market has got important achievements. The commodities involved in export activities have ever-expanded, diversified and become more efficient. However, the scale is still small, export turnover per capita is lower than that of other countries in the region and the world; the growth rate is high but not stable; the structure is still inappropriate; the ability to grab opportunities to penetrate and exploit markets for exportation is limited; competitive competence is weak.

In the period 2006–2010, it is necessary to concentrate on developing export, making it grow at a high and stable rate and become the driving force in fostering GDP growth, shifting economic and labor structures, solving the matter of employment and boosting the production and export of goods of high competitive advantage so as to enhance export efficiency. Shifting export structure towards promoting the exportation of goods of much added value, high brainpower content, as well as reducing gradually the crude ones. In order to achieve the above target, it is needed to continue to renovate export mechanism and policies, promote the task of commercial promotion and market information, upgrade infrastructure to serve export activities, and reform more strongly administrative procedures. It is also a must to professionalize and improve the effectiveness of associations with an aim of step by step increasing the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods.

The Ministry of Trade was entrusted to receive opinions in the meeting, complete the Export Development Project in the Period 2006–2010 and submit it to the Prime Minister for ratification.

2. The Government discussed the Bill on Sending Workers Abroad submitted by the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; the Bill on Notaries presented by the Ministry of Justice; the Dyke Bill delivered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Residence Bill submitted by the Ministry of Public Security. It also listened to the reports and syntheses of the Ministers, Chair of the Government Office on the Government members’ comments towards the above laws.

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The Government entrusted the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to preside and coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, receive comments in the meeting, and complete the Bill on Sending Workers Abroad; the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs was authorized by the Prime Minister to submit it to the National Assembly Standing Committee.

b) The Bill on Notaries needs to show clearly the renovation in notary service towards administrative and judicial reforms. This will create necessary legal framework for innovating notary organization and operation, simplifying procedures, and creating favorable conditions for citizens and organizations in notary activities.

The Government entrusted the Ministry of Justice to direct and coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, receive opinions in the meeting, and perfect the Bill; the Minister of Justice was authorized by the Prime Minister to submit it to the National Assembly Standing Committee.

c) The implementation of the Dyke Ordinance in 2000 received certain results. Dyke management and protection, especially the inspection of the dyke laws’ obedience and punishment for violation, have been reinforced and improved. The dyke system has also been upgraded gradually. However, during the implementation of the Ordinance, there existed many shortcomings; for example, in granting long-term use of land in the dyke protection area, using river shores for buildings in urban and residential areas; tackling the problem of properties in the dyke protection area and river banks and beds. The weakness was also seen in the division, decentralization and social engagement of dyke management and protection. The above weaknesses must be covered the Dyke Bill. At the same time, regulations on the flooding-drainage and use of river shore must be systematic to guarantee the rationality and feasibility; buildings along the dyke lines and river shores must stick to the plan to ensure flooding drainage and dyke safety.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was commissioned to direct and coordinate with the Government Office and related agencies, listened to ideas in the meeting and complete the Dyke Bill. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was authorized by the Prime Minister to submit the law to the NA Standing Committee.

d) Residential freedom is one of the basic rights of citizens, as stipulated in the Constitution and other legal documents. Recently, residence administration has contributed to the fight against crimes and the control of the population’s life. However, many regulations on residential registration and management had complicated administrative procedures, creating separation and inconsistency in residential administration. Many legal documents in this field are unfocused, overlapping, and unsuitable for the current requirement of renovation. Therefore, the project of Residence Bill must show clearly the spirit of the administrative reform, facilitating the creation of the legal framework for state management on residence. The Law respects the rights and legitimate benefits of Vietnamese citizens and foreigners in Vietnam, guarantees the effectiveness, publicity and transparency of residential registration and administration to create maximal convenience for Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese, and foreigners living in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Public Security was entrusted to direct and coordinate with the Government Office and relevant agencies, received the comments at the meeting, and complete the Bill. The Minister of Public Security was authorized by the Prime Minister to submit it to the NA Standing Committee.

3. The Government listened to the report by the Ministers, Chair of the Government Office on the consultation of the Government members about the draft Decree modifying and supplementing Decree 57/2002/NĐ-CP (which was issued on June 3, 2002 and prescribed in details the implementation of the Fee and Duty Ordinance); listened to the report presented by the Minister of Trade on some urgent issues in negotiating to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

a) The Government agreed to pass the draft Decree modifying and supplementing Decree 57/2002/NĐ-CP which stipulates specifically the implementation of the Fee and Duty Ordinance. The Finance Ministry was commissioned to direct and coordinate with the Government Office, promptly perfect the draft and submit it to the Prime Minister for signature and issuance.

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4. The Government examined the report on socio-economic situation in the first two months of 2006 and performance of production, business, service and investment in February 2006 presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment; and the report on trade in February 2006 delivered by the Minister of Trade.

The socio-economic situation in February and the first two months of the year remained at a rather high growth rate; industrial production continued to grow stably; in agriculture, despite the droughts and natural disasters, the cultivation’s progress was guaranteed; services and export developed; investment capital was high; budget income and expenses were under good control; the price index of consumer goods and services was lower than that of the same period last year. All levels and branches held successfully activities for people to greet the Lunar New Year in a happy, healthy and thrifty manner and cared better for the beneficiaries of social policies. Political, social order and security on this occasion were generally good.

The emerging difficulties included the droughts, floods, pestilent insect and the consequences of avian influenza which affected agricultural production and people’s life; the increase tendency in price of some industrial goods and services; the levy of anti-dumping tax by EU on footwear, one of Vietnam’s main exports; the complicated situation of traffic safety and order, etc.

The Government requested ministries, sectors and local authorities to carry out effectively the measures in Decree 01/2006/NQ-CP; concentrate on overcoming difficulties; promote agricultural production; increase exportation; control price increases; practice thrifty; fight against corruption and wastefulness; boost administrative reforms; reinforce traffic safety; and take efforts in implementing well the socio-economic plan of the year 2006 from the first quarter.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT
PRIME MINISTER




Phan Van Khai