Resolution No. 140/NQ-CP dated November 09, 2018 of the Government on the Government's regular meeting - October 2018

THE GOVERNMENT

Resolution No. 140/NQ-CP dated November 09, 2018 of the Government on the Government s regular meeting - October 2018

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 on promulgating the Working Regulation of the Government;

Based on the discussion of the Cabinet members and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government’s regular meeting in October 2018,held on November 03, 2018,

DECIDES

1. Regarding the draft Ordinance amending and supplementing the Ordinances related to planning

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the concerned ministries and agencies in collecting comments from the Government members, finalizing the proposal for the draft Ordinance and reporting to the Prime Minister before submitting it to the National Assembly Standing Committee.

2. Regarding the socio-economic situation in October and the first 10 months of 2018; the implementation progress of the Government s Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 01, 2018

The Government unanimously assessed that: The socio-economic situation in October and the first 10 months of 2018 continued to advance positively. Macroeconomic conditions were relatively stable. Inflation was kept under control. Monetary and credit markets were stable. State budget revenues increased by 15.1% over the same period. Exports reached over USD 200 billion, up 14.2%, of which exports of the domestic sector recorded higher growth than the foreign-invested ones. Export surplus reached USD 6.4 billion. State budget investment capital increased by 17%. The agricultural sector maintained good growth. Yield of paddy rice increased by 2.9-3.3 quintals per hectare, total output increased by 440 thousand tons. Seafood production increased by 6% over the same period. Industrial production increased by 10.4%, the highest growth since 2012. The service sector continued to grow well. The number of international visitors to Vietnam was estimated at 12.8 million, up 22.4% compared with that of the same period last year. Demand increased sharply, total retail sales of goods and consumer services increased by 11.4%. The fields of culture, health care, education, training, science and technology, social security, labor and employment continued to receive due attention. The “Month for the Poor" was implemented in an effective and practical manner. National defense and security were maintained. Many important results were achieved in the field of foreign affairs.

Besides the above-mentioned achievements, the country faces many difficulties and challenges. Inflation pressure remains high, the country’s economic resilience to external changes remains limited. The business environment and competitiveness ratings have been downgraded. Capacity on innovation, research and development of enterprises, application of high technology remains low. Production and business are still difficult. The number of enterprises suspended operation or waiting for dissolution is still high. Exports of some agricultural products tends to decrease. Complicating developments were observed related to smuggling, trade fraud, social order and safety, and crime situation in some areas...

In order to complete the socio-economic development plan in 2018 with the highest results and prepare for the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in 2019, the Government requested the ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies, Chairmen of the People s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities exert their responsibility before the people, their responsibility as leaders, continue to leverage advantages and achievements, concentrate on overcoming the shortcomings and limitations, urgently resolve issues concerned by the National Assembly, the people and voters of the whole country in the sectors and domains under their charge; regularly urge and inspect the performance of official duties by government officials in their respective ministries, agencies and units, to create positive movements throughout the whole system. At the same time, it was requested for creativity and efforts in management and determination to fulfill the tasks set out in the remaining two months of 2018, focusing on the following contents:

- Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue was assigned to direct the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Government Office and other concerned ministries and agencies to finalize the Government s feedback documents on draft Resolutions of the sixth session of the 14^thNational Assembly on the socio-economic development plan in 2019; the State budget estimates in 2019; the central budget allocation plan in 2019; revisions to the medium-term public investment plan for the 2016-2020 period and act on behalf of the Government to sign and send documents to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; closely coordinate with the Committees of the National Assembly in receiving and finalizing the above-mentioned draft Resolutions for submission to the National Assembly for approval, which shall serve as a foundation for the Government to administer.

- Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam was assigned to direct the Ministry of Planning and Investment to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and agencies in reviewing and evaluating 5-years implementation of Resolution No. 19, formulating and submitting to the Government to promulgate a resolution on tasks and measures to improve the business environment and raise the national competitiveness in 2019. The Resolution shall be implemented right from the beginning of the year. It was requested for the Resolution to clearly identify specific solutions and roadmaps to raise the business environment and competitiveness indexes, especially for low ranking indicators and criterion.

- The State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and other ministries, sectors and localities shall closely monitor developments in domestic and international monetary, financial and commodity markets, closely coordinate monetary, credit, fiscal, trade and investment policies, maintain macroeconomic stability and control inflation in line with the set targets.

- The State Bank of Vietnam shall continue to operate monetary policy in a flexible and prudent manner, maintain liquidity at a reasonable level, strictly control credit in real estate and securities markets; take initiative in managing liquidity, interest rates and exchange rates in line with the macroeconomic situation as well as the domestic and foreign market situation, promptly respond to unfavorable impacts of the world financial market, US-China trade war.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and agencies in drafting a Resolution on major tasks and solutions for directing and administering socio-economic development and the State budget plan in 2019. The Resolution shall be submitted to the Government at the regular meeting in November 2018. The Ministry shall conduct research, analysis and forecast of the world and domestic situation, develop economic growth scenario in 2019, and provide suitable solutions and strategies from the beginning of the year. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall review and evaluate the implementation results of the overall strategy for developing Vietnam’s service sector up to 2020; formulate a comprehensive service sector development strategy for Vietnam in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, to ensure uniformity and synchronization with the plan on restructuring of service sectors in accordance with Resolutions of the Party Central Committee and the National Assembly on continuing to renovate the growth model, restructure the economy; at the same time, the Ministry shall study and propose amendments and supplements to relevant mechanisms and policies to remove barriers and promote service sectors’ development.

- Ministries, agencies and localities must consider solving inadequacies, institutional constraints, improving the investment and business environment, facilitating production and business activities as a central and cross-cutting task, additional efforts should be made, and more creativity is required in the implementation of the task. Attention should be paid on speeding up the implementation and disbursement of public investment; soon completing and putting into operation projects, especially key projects, important projects and projects under the National Target Program. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall review, coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in intensifying the inspection and examination of projects which were delayed in disbursement, strictly review the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals causing delays in the implementation of public investment plans, to report to the Prime Minister.

- The Ministry of Finance shall strengthen the financial and budgetary discipline, strictly control State budget revenues and expenditures, public debts and public assets; work out appropriate and timely solutions for the efficient and sustainable development of the securities market; closely coordinate with the functional forces of the concerned ministries, agencies and localities in intensifying the inspection, control, prevention and fight against smuggling and trade frauds and the sale of fake goods and poor quality goods, especially at the end of the year and the Lunar New Year 2019.

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall review and remove difficulties in projects producing exported products; develop a plan to ensure the supply of goods, price stability, prevent the scarcity of goods, causing price fever on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2019; coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to instruct enterprises and people to identify the opportunities and challenges of the CPTPP agreement and free trade agreements that have been signed and/or will be signed by Vietnam.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and agencies in implementing measures to closely control activities related to the trading and transport of pigs and imported pork products, especially at border checkpoints, trails, border crossings, not to allow pigs and pork products from countries infected with African hog cholera to enter Vietnam. The Ministry shall focus on reviewing and applying measures to boost export and raise the value of agricultural commodities which still have potential for growth; direct coastal localities in deploying synchronous and drastic measures to prevent, combat and prevent illegal unreported and unregulated fishing activities; monitor the weather and provide timely warnings and proactively prevent and control natural disasters. Special attention shall be paid to the prevention and fight against cold and bad weather for people and animals in the northern mountainous provinces, droughts in the South-Central Coast and the Central Highlands. In addition, the Ministry shall propose the preparation for a workshop on drought prevention and control in these areas.

- The Ministry of Construction shall closely coordinate with the ministries, sectors and People s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities to focus on raising the quality of the State management over urban development; concentrate on studying and proposing new models of urban development; promptly rectify law violations in construction and investment in urban development; urge the localities to strictly implement Directive No. 29/CT-TTg dated October 09, 2018 of the Prime Minister on enhancing the State management in the apartment or condominium complex management, operation and use. The Ministry of Construction shall directly inspect a number of seriously violated and typical cases and report them to the Prime Minister; promptly collect comments of ministries and sectors and finalize the draft Directive on a number of measures to promote the stable and healthy development of the real estate market and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and promulgation in the 4^thquarter of 2018. The Ministry shall strictly follow up with the real estate market and continue to propose solutions to control and promote the healthy development of the real estate market.

- The Ministry of Transport shall review and adjust the North-South Expressway planning in the east; speed up the preparation for early implementation of key projects such as the Long Thanh International Airport Project, the expansion plan of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the North-South high-speed railway. The Ministry of Transport shall urge, inspect and ensure the quality and accelerate the construction and completion of on-going works according to the approved plan; coordinate with the functional forces of the Ministry of Public Security and localities to strengthen the regulation and organize the strict management of transport activities to meet the needs of the people on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2019; and review and work out a plan to handle black spots with high traffic safety risks.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall direct the implementation of meteorological, hydrological and natural disaster prediction; coordinate with the concerned ministries and sectors in strictly implementing the Prime Minister s Directive No. 27/CT-TTg on enhancing the management of the import and use of scrap materials which are imported as raw materials for production. Attention shall be paid on clarifying the demand for import of scrap materials into Vietnam as raw materials for production; promptly report to the Prime Minister on the list of scrap materials to be permitted for import; assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and concerned ministries and agencies in studying and proposing plans on settling and handling lots of pending scrap materials at seaports according to the current legislation on environment protection and customs. The Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment in unifying the mechanism and funding source for the implementation of the Target Program on thoroughly handling seriously polluting establishments which are categorized as public-utilities in the 2016 – 2020 period, focusing on the treatment for environmental pollution caused by pesticide residues. The Ministry shall coordinate with the National Committee for E-Government and the Government Office in building a geographic database and report it to the Prime Minister.

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall direct the review and overcoming the limitations and inadequacies of the tourism sector in order to work out solutions to raise the quality, operation efficiency and competitiveness of the sector; enhance the management and quality control of tourist service business and tourist facilities.

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall continue to implement social welfare policies to create jobs and reduce poverty, especially for people in remote and isolated areas; continue to mobilize social resources to support and assist the poor; coordinate with localities to focus on handling outstanding dossiers to recognize people with meritorious service; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in reviewing and evaluating the impacts of preferential policies for people with meritorious service and elderly people, propose solutions to ensure equality and create social consensus; strictly handle enterprises violating laws on labor export activities.

- The Government agreed to apply the base salary stipulated in Decree No. 72/2018/ND-CP as the price of medical examination and treatment. The Ministry of Health shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and agencies in reporting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on specific application timeline in 2018.

- The Ministry of Health shall actively implement the Government s Action Program to deploy the Party Central Committee’s Resolution on Health and Population; strengthen the application of information technology in health insurance payment and in the management of medical examination and treatment; take initiative in closely coordinating with ministries, sectors and localities in intensifying the inspection and supervision of food safety, strictly and openly handling violations of food safety.

- The Ministry of Education and Training shall proactively exchange and broaden dialogue activities to enhance the professional quality of the policy-making staff and create social consensus in undertaking comprehensive educational reforms.

- The Ministry of Science and Technology shall speed up the implementation and efficient exploitation of a Project on developing a Digital Vietnamese knowledge system and national database on science and technology; continue to promote the application of science and technology, especially fundamental technologies to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; provide timely support and recognition of initiatives and innovations of people and enterprises in order to bring into full play the innovation and creativity capacity of the whole society, and well implement intellectual property protection.

- The Ministry of Justice shall continue to promote legal communication and education activities; coordinate with press agencies to allocate appropriate time for this work; monitor, urge and guide the handling of unlawful documents, synthesize and report to the Prime Minister on the review of responsibilities of individuals or units that had promulgated unlawful documents.

- The Ministry of Home Affairs and other ministries, sectors and localities shall actively execute the Government s action program to implement the Party’s Central Committee’s Resolution on the renovation, reorganization, staff reduction and capacity building of a cadre of government officials at all levels; raising operation efficiency of public non-business units; and wage and salary policy. The Working Group of the Prime Minister on public duty inspection shall continue to urge and inspect the performance of public duties. Attention shall be paid to cases on petty corruption, activities of public non-business units, which will be publicly reported at the Government’s regular meetings.

- The Government Inspectorate shall urge all levels and sectors to strictly implement the reception of citizens, settlement of complaints and denunciations; attach importance to the synchronous implementation of measures to prevent and combat corruption.

- The Ministry of Defence shall closely monitor the situation, take initiative in preventing destroying plots and promptly responding to new situations to ensure national defense and maintain the independence and sovereignty within the national territorial borders.

- The Ministry of Public Security shall direct and strengthen the work of grasping the situation, promptly and effectively provide resolutions to arising complicated situations of security and order; focus on the fight against conspiracy and demolition activities of hostile and reactionary forces; actively open focus attacks to suppress and hunt down crimes, ensure the security, social order and safety during the Lunar New Year in 2019. Types of crimes that need special attention include robbery, theft, gambling, "black credit" activities, debt collection, narcotics, smuggling, counterfeit goods, banned goods, violations of food safety regulations, illegal fire-cracker trading and storing...

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with ministries and sectors to implement well the conclusion of the 12^thASEM and P4G Summits; well prepare for external activities of the Party and the State leaders from now until the end of 2018; continue mobilizing other countries to support Vietnam to be nominated for a position as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council; strive to sign and ratify the EVFTA Agreement in the first half of 2019.

- The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall promptly coordinate with the State Capital Management Committee in handing over the management dossiers of state-owned groups and corporations according to the timeline prescribed in Decree No. 131/2018/ND-CP. The Committee for State Capital Management at Enterprises, ministries and state management agencies shall work out a coordination mechanism in performing the tasks of national defense and security assurance, terrorism prevention, aviation and maritime safety, anti-corruption, anti-smuggling and trade fraud ... according to the respective assigned functions and tasks.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications shall work out plans to study mechanisms and policies to promote the development of postal services as a foundation for e-commerce; coordinate with other countries in forming a Regional Network Security and Safety Center of ASEAN; formulate a Project on national number conversion; formulate preferential policies to prioritize the development of social networks in the country; promote the development of Vietnam s digital ecosystem. The Ministry shall direct news agencies to continue promoting information and communication on the country s socio-economic situation, promoting good ethical values and lifestyles, promptly providing official information to create social consensus and successfully implement and achieve assigned goals and tasks.

- It was requested that the heads of ministries, sectors and localities to strictly observe the Party s Central Committee’s Regulation No. 08-QD/TW on the responsibility for setting examples of heads of all levels, sectors, agencies, units and agencies and other administration disciplines and order. The Government members shall earnestly provide answers to questions raised by the National Assembly deputies; urgently draw up plans to implement the commitments to the National Assembly and voters nationwide at the sixth session of the 14^thNational Assembly.

3. Regarding the extension of the timeline for capital disbursement from 2017 to 2018 of projects under the National Target Program

The Government agreed to extend the time for implementation and disbursement of the investment capital using the central budget in 2017 of projects under the National Target Program to the end of December 31, 2018. The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to notify the principles and guide the implementation of provincial-level People s Committees.

The Prime Minister shall specify the principles of extending implementation and disbursement timeline of the investment capital using the central budget in a Decision assigning the implementation plan of the National Target Program in the 2016 - 2020 period to the years 2019 and 2020.

4. Regarding the Project to upgrade the road connecting Phu Yen and Gia Lai provinces, passing through the territory of Phu Yen province

The Government agreed to apply the transitional provision stipulated in Clause 7, Article 72 of Decree No. 15/2015/ND-CP dated February 14, 2015, which was replaced by Clause 8, Article 76 of Decree 63/2018/ND-CP dated May 04, 2018 to continue the Project to upgrade the road connecting Phu Yen and Gia Lai provinces, passing through the territory of Phu Yen province (phase 1) in the form of a Build-Transfer contract signed with investors, using VND 700 billion of government bond in the 2016-2020 period to pay for investors.

The People s Committee of Phu Yen province shall be responsible for the overall results of the review of total investment and investment phases in accordance with the verification results by the Ministry of Transport, the completion of investment procedures, allocation of sufficient local budgets to fill the capital gaps to complete the project and foster investment efficiency.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to synthesize and report to the competent agencies to allocate of the above-mentioned capital amounts in the medium-term public investment plan in the 2016-2020 period.

5. Regarding the implementation of new general education curriculum and textbooks

The Ministry of Education and Training shall organize the application of new general education curriculum and textbooks according to the roadmap prescribed in the National Assembly s Resolution No. 51/2017/QH14; prepare the necessary conditions for the application. The Minister of Education and Training was authorized by the Prime Minister to report on behalf of the Government to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the National Assembly.

6. Regarding the national high school examination in 2019

The Ministry of Education and Training shall direct and organize the national high school examination in 2019 according to its competence, on the foundation of continuing to leverage the positive aspects and at the same time overcoming shortcomings and weaknesses of the past examinations, especially the development of exam questions, examination monitoring, grading methodologies, to ensure accuracy, honesty and objectivity.

7. Regarding the promulgation progress of detailing legal documents; the promulgation progress of documents to cut down on business conditions and specialized examination procedures; the inspection results of the Prime Minister s Working Group in October 2018

a) Regarding the promulgation of detailed legal documents:

- The ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall actively carry out and fulfill the assigned tasks and projects according to their working programs, ensuring the timeline and quality; expeditiously submit to the Government or the Prime Minister for promulgation, or promulgate according to their respective competence detailing legal documents, particularly pending documents and documents detailing laws and ordinances which shall be effective from January 01, 2019, to ensure simultaneous enforcement with the respective laws and ordinances, not to give arise to any new backlogs of pending documents.

- The Ministry of Justice shall closely coordinate with the Government Office in monitoring, urging and inspecting the elaboration and promulgation of detailing legal documents; promptly advise the Government and/or the Prime Minister on solutions to remove obstacles, speed up the drafting and promulgation of documents.

b) Regarding the promulgation of documents to reduce business conditions and specialized inspection procedures:

The ministries and specialized management agencies shall concentrate on finalizing and submitting to the Government for promulgation or promulgating according to their competence the documents to reform specialized inspection activities, simplify and reduce business conditions. At the same time, they will evaluate and determine the economic efficiency of the reduction and simplification of procedures and lists of specialized inspection goods and business investment conditions in the respective sectors or domains under their management; send the report to the Government Office before November 20, 2018 and publish it on the website of the respective Ministry and/or agency. The Government Office was assigned to synthesize and report this at the regular meeting of the Government in November 2018.

c) Regarding the inspection results of the Working Group:

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice and concerned ministries and agencies in reporting to the Government plans to resolve the interests of laborers in enterprises which ceased operation, dissolved, went bankrupt or fled.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications shall expeditiously complete and submit to the Government and the Prime Minister a draft Decree replacing Decree No. 102/2009/ND-CP and a draft Decision replacing Decision No. 80/2014/QD-TTg to remove obstacles in information technology investment and promote e-government adoption.

- The Vietnam Social Insurance shall promptly formulate and submit to the Prime Minister a Project on "Renovating and rearranging the organizational apparatus of the Vietnam Social Insurance in the direction of raising the operational quality, effectiveness and efficiency"; a draft Decision on granting, management and use of electronic health insurance cards.

8. Regarding the proposal for the elaboration of a Decree replacing the Government s Decree No. 126/2007/ND-CP dated August 01, 2007, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese workers working overseas

The Government agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs on the elaboration of a Decree replacing the Government s Decree No. 126/2007/ND-CP dated August 1, 2007, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese workers working overseas. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the concerned ministries and agencies in elaborating the draft Decree and submit it to the Government according to regulations.

9. Regarding the scope extension of the Prime Minister s Decision No. 29/2014/QD-TTg on credit for HIV infected households and people, post-detoxified drug addicts, drug addicts treated by substitute therapies, and redeemed prostitutes

The Government agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the concerned ministries and agencies in submitting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision the amendment of Decision No. 29/2014/QD-TTg.

10. Regarding the policy on the exemption of tuition fees for junior high school students in public schools in Ho Chi Minh City

The Government unanimously agreed that for the time being, the People s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City shall continue to apply the tuition policy for junior high school students in accordance with the current law.

11. Regarding the plan to handle the application to extend a deadline for dissolution of agro-forestry one-member limited liability companies of Dak Nong Provincial People s Committee.

The Government agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on extending the deadline for the dissolution of agro-forestry companies under Dak Nong Provincial People s Committee according to the plan and roadmap stated in the Letter No. 4004/TTr-UBND dated August 14, 2018 of Dak Nong Provincial People s Committee.

Dak Nong Provincial People s Committee was assigned to promptly direct the local authorities to clearly review the responsibilities of concerned individuals and organizations, which had caused delays to the dissolution. At the same time, the Provincial People’s Committee shall to promptly direct the concerned agencies and units to thoroughly settle pending problems, to ensure the completion of the dissolution.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and agencies in, formulating a draft Decree replacing Decree No. 172/2013/ND-CP and submitting it to the Government as prescribed./.

For the Government

The Prime Minister

Nguyen Xuan Phuc