The Government's regular meeting-February 2016

RESOLUTION

THE GOVERNMENT’S REGULAR MEETING - FEBRUARY 2016

THE GOVERNMENT

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

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 08/2012/ND-CP dated February 16, 2012 promulgating the working regulation of the Government;

Based on the discussion of the Cabinet’s members and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government’s regular meeting in February 2016, held on February 29, 2016,

RESOLVES:

1. Regarding the socio-economic situation in February and the first two months of 2016 and implementation progress of the Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 07, 2016 of the Government on major tasks and solutions guiding the realization of the Socio-economic development and State budget plan in 2016.

The Government agreed that: In the first two months of the year, ministries, agencies and localities have actively deployed the Resolution of the 12^th National Party Congress, resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government on socio-economic development while seriously implementing instructions of the Government and the Prime Minister serving the people to celebrate the Lunar New Year in 2016 and tasks which must be deployed immediately after the Lunar New Year. People welcomed Tet in a cozy, joyful, healthy, safe and economical atmosphere. The socio-economic situation was featured with continued positive changes in most areas. Supply of goods and services remained abundant. Prices and markets remained stable. Outstanding loans increased. Exports grew and trade balance recorded a surplus. Industrial manufacturing and agriculture production maintained growth momentum. Service sector thrived with an increase in the number of domestic and international tourists. FDI attraction posted positive results. Disbursement of FDI, ODA and preferential loans improved compared to the same period in 2015. Business development activities observed positive improvements. Policies on social security and social welfare were implemented on time, meeting practical needs. Especially, people with meritorious services to the revolution, the poor, ethnic minorities, people in remote, border and island areas received particular attention, in both material and spiritual aspects. There were numerous eventful cultural, art, sport, and communication activities, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere. Public health care and food safety were assured. National defense, security, social order and safety and national sovereignty were maintained. Great emphasis was placed on foreign affairs.

However, the country still faced many difficulties and challenges such as: Salinity intrusion in the Mekong River delta, severe drought in the central region and the Central Highlands along with unfavorable weather conditions in Northern provinces had a huge impact on agricultural production and people's lives. Traffic accidents increased, death toll remained high. Especially during the Lunar New Year, violations of traffic safety regulations were common. Accidents caused by fires and explosions rose against the Tet holiday of the previous year. Organization and management of festivals in some places remained loose. Slack implementation of a civilized lifestyle in festivals and tourist attractions remained.

The Government requested ministries, agencies and localities to expeditiously and fully grasp and implement the Resolution of the 12^th National Party Congress; drastically, synchronously and effectively perform tasks and solutions stated in the Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 07, 2016 of the Government on major tasks and solutions guiding the implementation of the Socio-economic development and the State budget plan in 2016, striving to achieve and exceed the pre-set objectives and targets, paving the way for the implementation of the five-year Socio-economic development plan from 2016 to 2020, focusing on the following key tasks:

- The State Bank of Viet Nam shall proactively manage monetary policy in a flexible manner and in close coordination with fiscal policy and macroeconomic policies in a bid to stabilize macro-economy and spur growth; maintain reasonable credit growth associated with measures to resolve bad debts and control and improve credit quality.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall lead and coordinate with ministries, agencies and localities to effectively implement the public investment plan in 2016 in accordance with regulations; strengthen inspection and examination of development programs and projects funded by the State budget, ODA and credit capital for investment and development; coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to promote the implementation of specific tasks and solutions to improve business and investment environment, sharpen national competitiveness; synchronously and consistently implement relevant regulations on business investment, particularly the Law on Investment in 2014 and the Law on Enterprises in 2014.

- The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to closely monitor fluctuations in global crude oil prices and assess impacts of free trade agreements to proactively propose solutions to balance state budget collection; stay determined to achieve and exceed the State budget plan; strictly and economically manage State budget spending; urgently submit to the Prime Minister a draft Directive to promote direction and management of State budgetary and financial tasks in 2016.

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall pay attention to accelerating industrial production; proactively propose appropriate plan to exploit crude oil as crude oil prices keep falling; synchronously implement measures to promote exports and control imports; develop an action plan to effectively implement newly-signed free trade agreements.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall lead and collaborate with ministries, agencies and localities to focus on directing the development of agricultural production as planned; accelerate the implementation of the National Target Program on building new countryside. Direct localities to strengthen forest development and protection and prevention of forest fire due to drought and hot weather.

- The Ministry of Transport shall direct to accelerate the progress and ensure the quality of key and imperative transport projects; take more measures to ensure traffic safety, promote safety inspection of vehicles; coordinate with local authorities to continue motor vehicle load control.

- The Ministry of Education and Training shall direct the preparation for the national high school exam and the national university entrance examination in 2016 to ensure the truthfulness and objectivity and create the most favorable conditions for contestants.

- The Ministry of Health shall focus on speeding up the inspection and examination to ensure food safety, prevent food poisoning, and monitor food safety, especially food safety conditions in tourist establishments and festivals. Strengthen and direct the implementation of solutions to prevent dangerous diseases, especially diseases caused by Zika virus.

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall coordinate with local authorities to strengthen the management of festivals; check, detect and strictly handle negative behaviors at festivals and tourist destinations; stepping up tourism promotion to maximize the potential and advantages of tourism development.

- The Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs shall continue social security policies, effectively implement the National Target Program on sustainable poverty reduction. Actively coordinate with localities to ensure timely supply of local labor resources for production and business of enterprises, especially for industrial parks; follow up with living conditions of people in mountainous areas, ethnic minorities and people in areas affected by drought and salinity invasion during pre-harvest season to provide timely relief measures and avoid hunger.

- The Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Public Security shall strengthen control and monitoring of security conditions and actively implement measures to prevent, combat and put a stop to sabotage activities, ensuring national defense and security, maintaining social order and safety. The Ministry of Public Security shall strengthen measures to ensure social order and security, especially at festival venues; strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations of traffic order and safety.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications and news agencies shall promote communication and dissemination of guidelines and policies of the Party and regulations of the State to create social consensus; motivate and unite the people, promote enthusiasm in work and production, create a jubilant and exciting atmosphere to successfully implement the socio-economic development tasks set for 2016 and the period 2016-2020 according to Resolutions of the Party, the National Assembly and the Government.

- Ministries and agencies assigned to develop reports and projects to submit to the Party Central Committee and reports and draft laws to submit to the 11^th session of the 13^th National Assembly shall urgently complete and submit these documents with quality ensured.

2. Regarding the report on supplementary evaluation of the implementation of the Socio-economic development plan in 2015 and the implementation progress of the socio- economic development plan in 2016

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall collect comments of the Government to complete the report. The Minister of Planning and Investment, authorized by the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government, shall report to the National Assembly as prescribed.

3. Regarding the supplementary report on the implementation progress of the State budget plan in 2015, the implementation progress of the State budget plan in 2016

The Ministry of Finance shall collect comments of the Government to complete the report. The Minister of Finance, authorized by the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government, shall report to the National Assembly as prescribed.

4. Regarding drought in the Central Highlands, salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta and remedies

This is the most severe drought and salinity intrusion over the past few years, occurring earlier than expected, prolonged and extending over large areas of the South Central Coast, the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta. It is forecasted that in the near future shortage of water for production and daily life of the people shall continue.

The Government requests ministries, agencies and localities be fully aware of the seriousness of the current drought and salinity intrusion, strongly and timely implement solutions to minimize damage to production and stabilize the people’s life, especially that of the poor, preferential policy families, ethnic minorities, avoid shortage of drinking water, hunger and disease outbreaks. Strictly implement the Directive No. 04/CT-TTg dated February 04, 2016 of the Prime Minister, focusing on implementing the following major tasks and solutions:

- Local authorities shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries to timely provide information of the drought and salinity intrusion; regularly inspect and assess water level of irrigation lakes and hydropower reservoirs to balance water for daily life and production, giving higher priority to drinking water and water for daily life of people and water for livestock. Direct the implementation of measures to prevent, combat and overcome drought; review to identify households in poverty, lacking potable water, especially poor families and preferential policy families to actively provide timely support; promote transformation of crops, livestock, and agricultural practices in line with capacity to ensure water supply. Proactively allocate local budgets to perform tasks on drought and saltwater intrusion prevention as prescribed.

- The Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance, Planning and Investment, and Labor-Invalids and Social Affairs shall, based on their assigned tasks, synthesize and propose to the Prime Minister to consider supports to localities in accordance with regulations.

- The Ministry of Finance shall lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries to review and determine the amount of support funded by the Central budget under the relevant policies and regulations; advance 70% of the budget for provinces in the Mekong Delta, South Central Coast and Central Highlands to implement critical measures to prevent, combat and overcome impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion; report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall organize meetings with localities affected by drought and saltwater intrusion to provide timely and effective directions to prevent, combat and overcome impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion; organize and direct localities to build temporary dams, zone areas for water retention, prevent salinization and storage freshwater; accelerate the construction of works serving attempts against drought and salinization. Accelerate the application of science and technology, implementation of solutions to use water efficiently and limit water loss. Review and improve irrigation planning, production planning, and transformation of crops and livestock that can adapt with drought and salinization conditions. Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to direct the study and development of plant varieties and animal breeds adapted to drought and salinity intrusion conditions.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall lead and coordinate with ministries, agencies and localities to promote mobilization of resources, balance the State budget, ODA, Government bonds in 2016 - 2020 period as prescribed by the Law on Public Investment and other legal funds to invest in the construction of urgent works serving the prevention and combat against drought, salinization and erosion of coastal areas, giving priority to allocate funds to works and projects in progress.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall lead the monitoring, forecasting, and timely dissemination of information on water resources; evaluate impacts of specific projects that changed the flow of upstream areas of the Mekong River, and propose appropriate response measures.

- The Government agrees on the principle to expand the scope and group of funding supporting prevention and remedial measures against drought and saltwater intrusion for localities suggested by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall lead and collaborate with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant ministries and agencies, to expeditiously review urgent tasks which need financial assistance, report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision to ensure the principles that each locality shall proactively allocate local budget and the State shall allocate budget to support localities severely affected by drought and saltwater intrusion.

5. Regarding the continued application of the Ordinance on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools

The Minister of Police Affairs, authorized by the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government, shall propose to the 11^th session of the 13^th National Assembly to consider the continued application of the Ordinance on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools until the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools is enacted and takes effect./.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT

PRIME MINISTER

(Signed)

Nguyen Tan Dung