The Government's regular meeting-March 2016

RESOLUTION

THE GOVERNMENT’S REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 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 March 2016, held on March 26, 2016,

RESOLVES:

1. Regarding the socio-economic situation in March and the first three months of 2016 and implementation progress of the Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP on major tasks and solutions guiding the realization of the 2016 socio-economic development and State budget plan.

The Government agreed that: In the first quarter, 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. The country has gained a number of positive results namely stable macro-economy, low inflation, stable foreign exchange rate and monetary market, credit growth, export surplus, relatively high social investment and foreign investment. Service sector experienced higher growth than the same period last year. Positive progress was observed in business development. Social security and social welfare were guaranteed, especially for people with meritorious services and policy beneficiaries. Public health care and food safety were fortified. Administrative reform, inspection and settlement of complaints and denunciations, anti-corruption, thrift practice and waste combat received full attention. National defense, security, social order and safety and national sovereignty were maintained. External relations continued to be strengthened. Due attention was paid to information and communication.

However, the country still faced many difficulties and challenges: Salinity intrusion and drought continued severe impacts on agricultural production and people's life in the Mekong Delta, South Central and Central Highlands. Natural disasters and dangerous epidemics remained potential. Traffic accidents, fires and explosions observed complicated developments. The global economy was forecast to grow at slower pace, which may generate negative impacts on the national economy.

To successfully realize the socio-economic development plan in 2016, the Government requests ministries, agencies and localities to focus on directing and organizing the synchronous and effective implementation of the tasks and solutions enshrined in Resolutions passed by the National Assembly and the Government, especially the Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 07, 2016, especially the following key tasks:

- Ministries, agencies and localities shall expeditiously develop and promulgate their action plans to implement the tasks set out in the Resolution and documents of the 12^th National Party Congress as well as the targets and tasks of the five-year socio-economic development plan for the 2016-2020; put forwards recommendations relevant to their management fields to include in the action plan of the Government and the Prime Minister for the tenure 2016-2021; consolidate organization, drastically direct the implementation of the tasks and solutions to realize strategic breakthroughs, restructure the economy and transform the growth model; focus on facilitating production and trade, utilize advantages of all three economic areas, and strive to overcome shortcomings and difficulties, closely follow up the situation for prompt policy interventions.

- Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Government bodies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities and State owned economic groups and corporations shall continue to implement Resolutions of the Party Central Committee, Decrees of the Government, Decisions of the Prime Minister on reorganization, equitization and enhancement of State owned enterprises’ operation efficiency. Within their authority, expeditiously submit and promulgate charters of organization and operation of enterprises in which the State holds 100% of charter capital in accordance with current regulations. Focus on reviewing and supplementing the list of enterprises for equitization and divestment of the State capital, develop an overall plan to reorganize, renovate, and restructure State-owned enterprises in the 2016 – 2020 period, and submit to the Prime Minister for approval in the second quarter of 2016.

- The State Bank of  Viet Nam shall manage monetary policies actively and flexibly, closely combine with fiscal policy, control inflation within the set targets, stabilize macro-economy, support economic growth and maintain the currency market stability. Continue to implement effectively credit programs towards expanding credit associated with ensuring credit safety and improving credit quality, create favorable conditions for getting access to bank loans. Continue to implement the 30,000 billion VND home loan package at preferential interest rates until fully disbursed under the Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP dated January 07, 2013. Promote a comprehensive restructuring of the system of credit institutions and bad debt settlement.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall lead and coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities to develop a Plan on economic restructuring in the 2016 – 2020 period and submit to the Government. Promote public - private partnership (PPP) to attract investment from all domestic and foreign economic sectors. Accelerate the implementation of solutions to develop small and medium enterprises. Focus on studying and developing a Law supporting small and medium enterprises. Chair and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office, the Working Group to implement the Law on Enterprises and the Law on Investment, and other relevant ministries and agencies to review and monitor the promulgation of business investment conditions, and propose solutions to overcome difficulties to ensure conformity with the Law on Investment 2014.

- The Ministry of Finance shall lead and coordinate with other relevant ministries and agencies to tighten fiscal policy. Strengthen budgetary and fiscal disciplines, strictly control State budget deficit. Organize the effective implementation of tax policies on production and business; accelerate the application of information technology in administrative procedure reforms in taxation, customs and state treasury.

- The Ministry of Construction shall lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance, the State Bank of Viet Nam to organize the implementation of policies to support the development of social housing under the Law on Housing and the Decree on development and management of social housing.

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall lead and coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities to strengthen healthy management and development of the domestic goods and service markets. Focus on implementing effectively the Scheme on domestic market development associated with executing the campaign Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese products. Boost up exports and ensure sustainable export growth. Connect domestic and foreign markets to guide production, consumption and exports of goods.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall lead and coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities to continue implementing synchronously solutions to accelerate restructuring and improving efficiency of agricultural production. Direct strict management, efficient use of water in reservoirs, water saving, and actively develop disaster prevention plans. Accelerate the construction of irrigation works serving disaster prevention. Implement effectively measures to support farmers and enterprises in the production of goods, expansion of agricultural markets, especially markets for seasonal products. Chair and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Planning and Investment to propose the issuance of relevant documents to amend and supplement to circulars for the cohesive implementation of the Law on Investment 2014.

- The Ministry of Transport shall continue to review and propose adjustments to mechanisms and policies in line with practical situation in order to attract investment into the construction of traffic infrastructure. Step up the implementation of Schemes connecting and enhancing capacity and efficiency of different means of transportation to reduce pressure on road transport. Strictly control the transportation business and vehicle load.

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall lead and coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities to focus on the implementation of measures to promote tourism development in accordance with the Resolution No. 92/NQ-CP dated December 8, 2014 of the Government and Directive No. 14/CT-TTg dated July 2, 2015 of the Prime Minister.

- The Ministry of Health shall lead and coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities to improve the quality of health care, prevention of diseases, especially diseases related to Zika virus. Continue to implement the Scheme to reduce hospital overload. Strengthen and improve the operational efficiency of the local health care network. Encourage the development of a public-private partnership model in heath care. Enhance information communication on medical prices. Adjust prices of medical services following a roadmap while providing appropriate support to policy objects and the poor. Direct medical clinics nationwide to closely coordinate with the Viet Nam Social Insurance Agency to deploy the data connection with the examination system and medical insurance payment. Accelerate the implementation of measures to increase general health insurance coverage following a roadmap, focusing on health insurance by household. Quickly coordinate to implement the investment project on vaccines production at an industrial scale.

- The Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade shall continue to improve the system of policies and laws on food safety; strengthen inter-agency coordination in management, inspection, examination and monitoring of the implementation and strictly handle illegal violations on food safety. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall actively direct the deployment and implementation of policies and laws on food safety and are responsible for this work in the areas of ​​management.

- The Ministry of Labor-Invalids and Social Affairs shall continue to comprehensively implement public preferential policies assisting people with meritorious services. Proactively monitor the people's lives, especially people in localities affected by natural disasters and droughts, and report to the Prime Minister to provide in time support and avoid hunger. Coordinate with other relevant ministries, agencies and localities to implement programs and policies to reduce poverty in accordance with the Multidimensional poverty line. Step up vocational training with a close link to employment creation. Strengthen linkages between vocational education institutes and enterprises, and mobilize the participation of enterprises in vocational training.

- The Ministry of Home Affairs shall lead and coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities to focus on directing the implementation of the Administrative Reform Plan in the 2016 - 2020 period and the Resolution No. 21/NQ-CP dated March 18, 2016 on decentralization of state management between the Government and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities. Quickly develop and improve a Scheme to develop the Government structure for the 2016 – 2020 tenure and submit to the Government. Study on a mechanism to manage public servants in line with the mechanism of autonomy and self-responsibility of public non-business units and ensure the uniform management of the Government.

- The Government Inspectorate shall strengthen inspection and examination on responsibilities of heads of State management agencies in the implementation of regulations on inspection, citizen reception, settlement of complaints and denunciations and prevention of corruption. Finalize the report and review the 10-year implementation of the Anti-corruption Law as planned. Continue to study the amendment and supplement to improve the institutions, mechanisms and policies on inspection, citizen reception, settlement of complaints and denunciations and prevention of corruption in line with the Constitution 2013.

- The Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall monitor the current situation, take initiative in addressing arising situations, firmly maintain national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, ensure political security and social order and security, especially during the 41^st anniversary of the liberation of the South and the national reunification and the elections of deputies to the 14^th National Assembly and deputies to the People's Councils at all levels of the 2016-2020 tenure.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications shall direct news agencies, the press, radio and television to promote dissemination of orientations and directions of the Party, policies of the State; direction and administration of the Government, the Prime Minister and issues of public concern; orient public opinion and create social consensus, while combating against false and distorted information.

2. Regarding the implementation of the Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP dated March 12, 2015 of the Government and the draft Resolution of the Government on key tasks and solutions to improve the business environment and enhance national competitiveness in 2016

In 2015, ministries, agencies and localities have actively implemented the Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP dated March 12, 2015 of the Government and achieved some results. The business environment was significantly improved compared to 2014, jumping up 12 places in the World Economic Forum rankings; national competitiveness climbed 3 notches in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report and was highly valued by the business community; many indicators reached and outperformed he targets the Resolution set out such as: business start-up, minority investor protection, tax payment time, time for power access.

 However, some ministries, agencies and localities have not paid full attention to implementing the tasks and solutions enshrined by the Resolution. Many important solutions such as administrative reform, repeal or abolition of business conditions no longer appropriate, changing methods to manage imports, etc. have not been implemented effectively.

The Government requests ministries, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to continue strict implementation of the tasks and solutions in the Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP dated March 18, 2014 and Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP dated March 12, 2015, in which focusing on solving problems and applying risk management method in professional management of imports and exports and accelerate the application of information technology; immediately terminate the issuance of regulations on business conditions ultra vires, review and amend rules which are no longer appropriate; streamline procedures and shorten time to obtain construction permits and register property.

The Government agreed to issue a Resolution on the tasks and solutions to improve business and investment environment, enhance competitiveness in 2016 - 2017, with an orientation to 2020, continue to focus on implementing 03 strategic breakthroughs associated with economic restructuring, growth model innovation, improvement of productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness; strive to improve scores and rankings of business environment and national competitiveness.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies, and the National Council on Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Building to collect comments from Cabinet members, complete the Resolution, and quickly submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and signing.

3. Regarding the implementation progress of the Resolution No. 36a/NQ-CP dated October 14, 2015 of the Government on e-Government

To continue implementation of the Resolution No. 36a/NQ-CP dated October 14, 2015 on e-government, the Government requests Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to directly instruct the implementation of the following tasks:

- Complete interconnection of electronic documents with the Government Office and prepare necessary technical conditions for testing integrated public services on the National Public Services Portal before July 1, 2016.

- Actively implement tasks and complete the issuance of an action plan to implement the Resolution No 36a/NQ-CP; provide online public services at levels 3 and 4 in 2016 according to the list decided by the Prime Minister.

4. Regarding the implementation of the Government’s Program on law and ordinance building and the promulgation of documents detailing the implementation of laws and ordinances in the first quarter of 2016

The Government highly appreciated the efforts of ministries and ministerial-level agencies in drafting and submitting to the Government, the Prime Minister draft laws and ordinances; the responsible coordination with agencies of the National Assembly in collection of comments, revision and finalization of draft laws and ordinances submitted to the National Assembly at the 11th session of the 13^th National Assembly.

However, there remained adjustments to agenda, slow submission of a number of draft laws to the National Assembly; promulgation of documents detailing the implementation of laws and ordinances has not fully met the requirements. The number of suspended documents, which detail the implementation of laws and ordinances, remained high, especially circular documents.

The Government required that ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies must directly instruct the study and development of draft laws, ordinances and other documents detailing the implementation which have been assigned in 2016 to ensure the progress and quality of these documents; strictly implement the solutions approved by the National Assembly, the Government and the Prime Minister to beef up progress and quality assurance of documents developed and issued, thoroughly handling backlogs of documents guiding the implementation of laws and ordinances.

The Ministry of Justice shall:

- Lead and coordinate with the Government Office, ministries and agencies to review and evaluate documents detailing the implementation which will expire from July 1, 2016 together with related laws and ordinances; and propose plans to handle arising issues.

- Strengthen further the monitoring, acceleration and efficiency improvement of inspection, promptly propose appropriate solutions to step up the development and issuance of circulars, joint circulars, reduce backlogs; propose appropriate plan to overcome problems related to the abolition of the issuance of joint circulars starting from July 1, 2016 in accordance with the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents 2015.

5. Regarding the Reports on: The implementation progress of the Resolutions of the Government’s regular meetings, the tasks assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister and the work plan of the Government and the Prime Minister; inspection, settlement of complaints and denunciations and the combat against corruption; and administrative reform in the first quarter of 2016.

The Government Office, the Government Inspectorate and the Ministry of Home Affairs shall collect comments of the Cabinet members, finalize and issue the report within their authority for deployment.

6. Regarding the draft law and ordinance building program for 2017 and adjustments to the draft law and ordinance building program for 2016

The Government agreed on the principles to develop the proposal of the Government on the draft law and ordinance building program for 2017 and adjustments to the draft law and ordinance building program for 2016. These principles include ensuring a certain level of flexibility, conformity with implementation requirements of the Resolution of the 12^th National Party Congress and proactiveness in international integration, in which prioritizing the inclusion of draft laws and ordinances supporting institutional building and development of the socialist-oriented market economy; draft laws and ordinances to enforce the Constitution 2013; draft laws and ordinances to ensure the implementation of the Free Trade Agreements to which Viet Nam is a signatory, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership; draft laws and ordinances to meet urgent demand for socio-economic development and country management in the new situation.

The Ministry of Justice shall lead and coordinate with the Government Office and relevant ministries and agencies to collect comments from the Cabinet members, synthesize and complete the proposal of the Government on the draft law and ordinance building program for 2017 and adjustments to the draft law and ordinance building program for 2016, then report to the Prime Minister before submitting to the National Assembly Standing Committee.

7. Regarding removing difficulties for enterprises which have more than 49% foreign ownership having transportation activities before effective date of the Decree No. 86/2014/ND-CP dated September 10, 2014.

The Government agreed to allow the provision of badges for freight cars of the enterprises having 49% foreign ownership and above. These cars must serve the enterprises’ main production and business activities.

The Ministry of Transport shall mull over the amendments to the Decree No. 86/2014/ND-CP dated September 10, 2014 of the Government on business and conditions for transportation business by automobile, ensuring consistency with the relevant regulations./.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT

PRIME MINISTER

(Signed)

Nguyen Tan Dung