The Government’s regular meeting-January 2019

RESOLUTION

THE GOVERNMENT’S REGULAR MEETING – JANUARY 2019

THE GOVERNMENT

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

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 138/2016/ND-CP dated October 01, 2016 promulgating the working regulation of the Government;

Based on the discussion of the delegates and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government’s regular meeting in January 2019, held on January 31, 2019,

DECIDES

1. On the socio-economic situation in January 2019 and the implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP

The Government agreed that the socio-economic situation in January 2019 continued to witness positive changes. The people believed in the leadership of the Party and the State. Most ministries, agencies and localities had issued specific programs and action plans to actively implement Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP and No. 02/NQ-CP dated January 1, 2019 of the Government to promote production and business development. Macroeconomic situation was relatively stable; inflation was kept under control; stability of interest rate and foreign exchange market was maintained; foreign exchange reserves increased; stock market recovered. Exports reached US$20 billion. Investment capital from the state budget increased by 17% over the same period. Attraction of foreign investment capital reached about US$1.9 billion, an incremental of 51.9%; disbursement ratio reached about US$1.55 billion, up 9.2%. Service and tourism sector continued to grow well; total retail sales of consumer goods and services increased by 12.2% over the same period; the total number of international visitors reached 1.5 million, an increase of 5%. Over 10 thousand enterprises were newly established; capital scale of enterprises increased, making registered capital increase by 53.8%; more than 8 thousand enterprises returned to operation. Science and technology also witnessed breakthrough developments, creating an important foundation for Viet Nam's space technology development in the future. Policies on social security and policies for people with meritorious services received due attention, especially policies for people in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions and areas affected by natural disasters. Many cultural and artistic activities took place, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere to welcome the new Spring. Foreign affairs activities achieved many positive results, affirming the role and position of Viet Nam in the international arena. National defense and security were maintained, and social order was ensured.

On the other hand, the weather situation observed unpredictable developments, which may adversely affect agricultural production and animal husbandry. From the beginning of the year, trade deficit occurred; traffic order and safety were not secured, there were many serious traffic accidents; the international situation was relatively complicated, with many potential difficulties and challenges.

The Government requested ministries, agencies and localities to thoroughly adhere to the motto of 2019: "Discipline, integrity, action, creativity, breakthrough and efficiency"; to seriously, drastically, synchronously and effectively implement tasks and solutions set out in the Resolutions of the Party, the National Assembly and the Government, especially Resolutions No. 01/NQ-CP and No. 02/NQ-CP dated January 1, 2019 of the Government; closely monitor the situation, strengthen inspection, urge and timely handle arising problems; continue to renovate management and administration mechanisms with specific actions right after Tet holiday; striving to successfully accomplish and surpass the socio-economic development plan and state budget estimates for 2019; in which attention should be paid on implementing a number of the following main contents:

- In the context of complicated world situation, all levels and sectors were requested not to be subjective. It is necessary to continue consistently adopting policies to consolidate the macro foundation, improve the business and investment environment, raise competitiveness, remove difficulties and obstacles, and promote production and business development. Each minister, head of agencies shall regularly organize meetings to review the implementation of assigned targets and tasks to promptly develop solutions suitable to the actual situation.

- The State Bank of Viet Nam shall continue to flexibly regulate monetary policy, exchange rates and interest rates, harmoniously coordinate with other macro and fiscal policies, contributing to inflation control, maintenance of macroeconomic stability and promoting growth. The Government requested inferior levels to focus credit on priority areas; strictly control credit for high-risk areas; and at the same time, have measures to limit black credit.

- The Ministry of Finance shall tighten state financial-budgetary disciplines; strengthen inspection and examination activities; publicise and ensure transparency in the use of the state budget; resolutely relocate budget allocated for misused purposes. The Ministry of Finance shall strengthen revenue management, create clear changes in the fight against loss of tax collection, tax arrears, and transfer pricing; expand the deployment of electronic invoices; strengthen tax administration at individual and household businesses.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall urgently build a list of projects using medium-term public investment reserves for the 2016-2020 period and report it to the Government for submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee according to regulations. The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance and other ministries in charge of implementing the national target program shall continue to quickly process, and timely allocate capital as prescribed by regulations, to ensure its efficient use.

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall synchronously adopt solutions to expand and seek markets in order to promote exports, strengthen import control and limit trade deficit. The Ministry shall develop and submit to the Prime Minister a scheme to handle international trade disputes, with a view to take advantage of opportunities and overcome shortcomings and challenges due to impacts of the US-China trade war; set up a Steering Committee to handle international trade disputes chaired by the Minister of Industry and Trade and having members from related ministries and branches. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue mobilizing and speeding up the signing and ratification of the Viet Nam-Europe Free Trade Agreement before May 2019.

- Ministries of Industry and Trade, Construction, Transport, and Agriculture and Rural Development shall direct the restructuring of sectors and fields under their respective authority; promote the implementation of key projects and works and increase the industry's production capacity to contribute to economic growth.

- The Ministry of Transport shall speed up the implementation of important traffic projects and works such as the Long Thanh International Airport Project, the North-South Expressway Project, and the Tan Son Nhat International Airport Expansion Project… and urgently report to the Prime Minister to address problems related to the Trung Luong - My Thuan - Can Tho highway.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall promote agricultural restructuring in association with new rural construction; strive to increase agricultural exports in 2019 by at least 7.5% compared to 2018; complete new rural construction in a number of localities; strengthen the prevention and control of diseases on livestock and plants, especially diseases in rice and pigs.

- Ministries of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Education and Training, Health, Natural Resources and Environment shall actively review, grasp the situation, take the initiative and promptly handle existing problems and shortcomings in the sectors and fields under their respective authority, prevent the occurrence of issues of public concern.

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall continue to properly adopt policies on social security, labor, employment and sustainable poverty reduction, study and propose a new way to take the Lunar New Year holiday, ensuring joyfulness, cosiness, practicality and effectiveness.

- The Government Inspectorate shall preside over and coordinate with ministries, agencies and localities to strengthen anti-corruption activities, settlement of complaints and denunciations, reinforce inspection of localities in the settlement of complaints and denunciations, and adoption of solutions to overcome the situation of bringing complaints to the Central Government. The Government Inspectorate shall expeditiously elaborate and submit to the Government a draft Decree on the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Anti-Corruption and the draft Decree guiding the implementation of the Law on Complaints and Denunciations in the first quarter of 2019.

- Relevant ministries, agencies and localities shall strictly adopt the direction of the Party General Secretary and the State President at monthly meetings of the key Party and State Leaders.

- The Ministry of National Defense shall strengthen the monitoring and grasping of the situation and proactively develop plans to handle unfavourable situations and developments related to national sovereignty.

- The Ministry of Public Security shall actively monitor and follow up with the situation, promptly prevent destructive activities of hostile forces; simultaneously adopt solutions to ensure social order and safety; open a campaign to fight against crimes, ensuring political security, social order and safety and maintaining peace for the people's lives, especially on the occasion of traditional Tet holiday.

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall prepare to properly deploy diplomatic activities; promote cooperation with partners, especially key partners, strategic partners and comprehensive partners; promote the effective implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), continue to mobilize the Europe (EU) to sign and ratify the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications shall fortify measures to ensure internet information security and safety, guarantee safety of important information works related to the national security in service of fulfilling direction and administration tasks of the Party, the authorities at all levels and the people's communication needs during the Lunar New Year. State agencies shall actively provide timely and accurate information to the press. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall direct the press, media, culture and art agencies to create an exciting and joyful atmosphere to celebrate the Party, the Spring season, the country's renovation, encourage the people and businesses to collectively determine to build and develop the country, promptly handle serious violations of the law and actions taking advantage of the right to freedom of speech and freedom of press to harm the interests of the State and/or create negative impact on the investment environment of Viet Nam and the legitimate rights and interests of groups and individuals. The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall develop programs and plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's Testament.

2. Regarding the allocation progress of public investment capital plan in 2019

a) Regarding the allocation of public investment capital plan in 2019 to the Viet Nam Expressway Corporation (VEC), the Viet Nam Railway Corporation (VNR), the Airports Corporation of Viet Nam (ACV) and the Viet Nam National Tobacco Corporation (Vinataba)

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the concerned ministries and agencies in reviewing and reporting to the competent authorities for the assignment of medium-term public investment capital plan in the 2016-2020 period and public investment plan in 2019 to state-owned groups and/or corporations which had been transferred to the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises according to regulations, ensuring its publicity, transparency and strictness, and report to the Prime Minister for review and decision-making before the Minister of Planning and Investment, as authorized by the Prime Minister, act on behalf of the Government to report to the National Assembly Standing Committee according to regulations.

b) Regarding the allocation of state budget investment plan in 2019

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Government Office in reporting to the Prime Minister on the allocation of the state budget investment plan in 2019 for newly started projects which had recently obtained investment decisions but didn’t provide detailed expected capital allocation by a specific schedule according to Article 12 of Decree No. 59/2015/ND-CP of the Government.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the concerned ministries, agencies and localities in: (1) Continuing to coordinate with the State Audit to report and explain in detail the contents which had already been inspected and concluded by the State Audit for the Project of the central road in Bai Truong section 3 and the branch roads under the Target program on investment in infrastructure of coastal economic zones, border economic zones, industrial parks, industrial clusters and zones, and agricultural production areas applying advanced technology; (2) Reviewing specific projects that have problems in saving 10% of total investment in accordance with the Government's Resolution No. 89/NQ-CP dated October 10, 2016 on the Government’s regular meeting in September 2016, and report to the Prime Minister for review and decision-making.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall be responsible to the Government, the Prime Minister and relevant agencies for the accuracy of the information and data, which shall be reported to the competent authorities to decide on the assignment of the state budget investment plan in 2019.

3. Regarding the preparation of Ky Hoi Lunar New Year 2019

The Government requested:

- Ministries, agencies and localities to strictly implement Directive No. 34/CT-TTg dated December 28, 2018 and Official Telegraph No. 1793/CD-TTg dated December 13, 2018 of the Prime Minister, in preparing favourable conditions for the people to celebrate the Lunar New Year in a healthy, safe and economical manner, ensuring that no one is unable to celebrate New Year.

- Organize the assignment and arrangement of cadres and civil servants to take shifts during Tet holiday, to monitor and follow up with the situation, promptly handle and solve arising problems, ensure public agencies’ smooth operation. Especially, police and army forces must strictly observe shift schedules, ensure readiness when required; properly practise the information and reporting regime during the Lunar New Year.

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall instruct to ensure the sufficient supply of essential goods to serve the needs of the people during the Lunar New Year.

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall comprehensively and timely enforce social security policies and policies for people with meritorious services, organize visits on the occasion of Tet holiday to provide timely encouragement and greetings, especially people in regions facing extremely difficult socio-economic conditions and areas affected by natural disasters.

- The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with ministries, agencies and localities in enhancing market and price management, preventing and strictly handling smuggling, tax evasion and trade in fake and counterfeit goods and firecrackers; strictly apply solutions to regulate market prices and promptly take appropriate management measures.

- The State Bank of Viet Nam shall provide sufficient cash for circulation, ensuring smooth payments and transactions via ATM systems, meeting exchanging demand of foreign tourists.

- The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Security shall instruct forces to strengthen inspection, timely detect and handle violations of traffic safety laws before, during and after Tet holiday; take measures to improve the sense of law observance of traffic participants, transport service suppliers, especially automobile drivers and train drivers to minimize traffic accidents.

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall cooperate with localities to actively implement measures to strictly manage festival organization, ensure that festivals take place in a  safe and civilized manner, and prevent the occurrence of offensive phenomena.

- The Ministry of Health shall provide sufficient human resources, medicines and equipment for medical examination and treatment to serve the people during Tet holiday, actively monitor diseases and be ready for prevention and control of epidemics.

- The People's Committees of provinces and cities shall instruct forces to build plans and strengthen inspection of prices, markets, food hygiene and safety on the occasion before, during and after Tet holiday.

- Ministries, agencies and localities shall focus on handling and solving their assigned work right after Tet holiday, prevent delays due to Tet holiday, especially the outstanding works before Tet holiday; facilitate production and business activities of enterprises; strictly adopt disciplines and order and ensure compliance with working schedule as prescribed by laws. Public employees, civil servants and government officials shall be absolutely restricted from using public vehicles to go to festivals as well as attending festivals during office hours.

4. Regarding the inspection results of the Working Group of the Prime Minister dealing with problems related to scrap imported as production materials

In order to promptly resolve difficulties for enterprises and accelerate the settlement of imported scrap shipments used as production materials in stock at ports across the country, the Government agreed to change quality inspection method for scrap imported as production materials as proposed by the Prime Minister's Working Group (Report No. 915/BC-VPCP dated January 30, 2019) and Directive No. 27/CT-TTg dated September 17, 2018 of the Prime Minister on a number of urgent solutions to strengthen the management of import and use of scrap imported as production materials. At the same time, enterprises shall be allowed to select locations for imported scrap inspection and carry out customs procedures at import border gates or customs offices where factories use imported scrap according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 Decision No. 15/2017/QD-TTG dated May 12, 2017.

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall be assigned to:

- Direct provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment not to directly inspect and assess the quality of imported scrap; urgently implement Official Letter No. 1036/VPCP-TH dated February 1, 2019.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice and the concerned ministries and agencies in, urgently reviewing and abolishing inadequate and inappropriate law provisions related to quality inspection process of scrap imported as production materials.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Departments of Natural Resources and Environment of provinces and cities shall continue to consider and grant certificates of eligibility related to environmental protection requirements to import scrap as production materials for organizations and individuals directly using imported scrap to produce intermediate products, such as metal ingots, plastic beads, commercial recycled plastic products if meeting environmental protection requirements according to current legislation. Particularly scrap plastic shall be allowed to be imported only as production materials of the above-mentioned intermediate products by December 31, 2024.

b) The Ministry of Finance shall be assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the concerned localities in expeditiously handling imported scrap identified as derelict according to law provisions and reporting to the Prime Minister in early March 2019.

5. Regarding the assignment of the focal point for state management of solid waste

The Government unanimously agreed that: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall be assigned as the focal agency for the state management of solid waste; Chairmen of provincial People's Committees shall be fully responsible for waste issues and waste treatment in their respective area.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall be assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and concerned ministries and agencies in promptly reviewing, amending and supplementing relevant legal documents and submitting them to competent authorities for promulgation the above-mentioned unified management plan on solid waste.

6. Regarding the Regulation on credit risk handling at the Viet Nam Development Bank

The Ministry of Finance was assigned to study and collect comments of the Government in the Notice No. 12/TB-VPCP dated January 18, 2019 and Government members' opinions at the meeting, complete the draft Regulation to handle credit risk at the Viet Nam Development Bank in the direction of including previous bad debt settlement in the Scheme and report to the Prime Minister. If necessary, the Ministry of Finance could report to the Politburo for comments. The Ministry of Finance was assigned to promote decentralization of the present bad debt handling, assign related ministries and agencies to handle according to their competence.

7. Regarding the draft Law on Militia and Self-Defense Forces (revised)

The Ministry of National Defense was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office and the concerned ministries and agencies in collecting comments of the Government's members and appraisal opinions of the Government Office, complete the draft Law on Militia and Self-Defense Forces (revised), and submit it to the National Assembly according to regulations.

8. Regarding the draft Law on Library

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office and the concerned ministries and agencies in collecting comments of the Government’ members and appraisal opinions of the Government Office, complete the draft Law on Library, and submit it to the National Assembly according to regulations.

9. Regarding the proposal to develop a draft Law on International Agreements

The Government unanimously agreed to approve the proposal to develop a draw Law on International Agreements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was assigned to collect comments of the Government’s members and appraisal opinions of the Government Office, complete the proposal to develop a draft Law on International Agreements which will be included in the Government’s working agenda.

10. Regarding the proposal to develop a draft Law on Viet Nam Border Guard

The Government unanimously agreed to approve the proposal to develop a draft Law on Viet Nam Border Guard. The Ministry of National Defense was assigned to collect comments of the Government’s members and appraisal opinions of the Government Office, complete the proposal and send to the National Assembly for consideration and decision.

11. Regarding procedures for approving the investment orientations for projects funded by foreign donors

The Government unanimously agreed with principles of capital appraisal and order of priority of projects as proposed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Document No. 659/BKHDT-KTDN dated January 25, 2019.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the concerned agencies to:

- Expeditiously deploy procedures to approve investment orientations of the projects under the above-mentioned principles and submit them to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision in order to ensure compliance with international commitments and schedule required by donors.

- Review and propose to the competent authorities to amend the current regulations in the process of revising the Law on Public Investment and the Decrees guiding the procedures for appraisal and approval of projects financed by foreign donors.

13. Regarding the powers and responsibilities of state management of the Ministry of Finance stipulated in Decree No. 82/2018/ND-CP on management of industrial parks and economic zones

Financial mechanisms and policies, which are applicable to management boards of industrial parks, economic zones and public non-business units owning investment projects on infrastructure development of industrial parks and economic organizations related to industrial parks and economic zones, shall comply with current regulations./.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT

PRIME MINISTER

(Signed)

Nguyen Xuan Phuc