The Government’s regular meeting - February 2022

RESOLUTION

THE GOVERNMENT'S REGULAR MEETING IN FEBRUARY 2022

THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015; the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Governments dated November 22, 2019;

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 Government members, inputs of delegates and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government's regular meeting in February, held on March 3, 2022,

RESOLVES

1. Regarding the socio-economic situation in February and the first two months of 2022; the implementation progress of the Government's Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP and the socio-economic recovery and development program

The Government unanimously assessed that: In February, the world situation witnessed many complicated and unpredictable developments. In the country, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread wider with the number of infections increasing rapidly in many provinces. In that context, under the timely and transparent leadership of the Party, the supervision and companionship of the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, as well as the drastic and synchronous participation of the whole political system, the consensus and support of all classes of the people and the business community, the Government and the Prime Minister continued to direct and administer drastically, uniformly, and synchronously the implementation of many tasks and solutions to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic and organize the Lunar New Year celebration for the people to protect themselves in a safe, appreciative, joyful, healthy, and thrifty manner. Right after Tet, ministries, branches, localities, organizations, and individuals proactively focused on implementing tasks and handling assignments from the first working day in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister in Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated February 8, 2022.

The socio-economic situation in February and the first two months of the year continued to change positively, with many bright spots. The COVID-19 pandemic was basically put under control nationwide; Provinces effectively implemented the Spring Vaccination Campaign in 2022. Up to now, the vaccination coverage rate for people aged 18 years and over having received the 2nd and 3rd dose reached 98.4% and 37.4%, respectively; coverage rate for children from 12-17 years old having received the 2nd dose reached 93.5%. As a result, despite the recent rapid spike of COVID-19 infections, the rate of morbidity and mortality decreased sharply. The macro-economic conditions were relatively stable, inflation was properly controlled, major balances were secured. The average consumer price index (CPI) in 02 months increased by 1.68% over the same period. Currency and foreign exchange markets, basic exchange rates were stable; low lending interest rates were maintained. State budget revenue in the first two months of the year reached 22.9%, up 10.8% over the same period last year. Disbursement of public investment capital in the first two months of the year reached 8.61%, higher than the same period in 2021 (5.09%). Import and export of goods in February increased by 17.6% over the same period; in general, in the first two months of the year, exports increased by 10.2% over the same period in 2021. Total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in the first two months of the year increased by 123.8%; newly established enterprises increased by 11.9% over the same period last year. The index of industrial production (IIP) in February increased by 8.5% over the same period (in February of the same period decreased by 7.2%), of which the processing and manufacturing industry increased by 10% (5.8% lower than the same period in 2021). Trade and services continued to prosper. Total retail sales of goods and services in February increased by 3.1% over the same period, domestic petroleum supply was secured.

National defense and political security received due attention; the ceremony to receive new enlistments in 2022 was successfully organized as planned, while ensuring the implementation of disease safety measures. Independence, sovereignty, territorial unity, and integrity were maintained. Security, order, and social safety were guaranteed, traffic accidents reduced in all 3 criteria. Social welfare, cultural and social work received due attention and were enhanced; policies to support employees and employers delivered practical effects. During the Lunar New Year, 57.81 million policy beneficiaries and employees were promptly supported with a total budget of VND 9,287 billion. The labor market recovered quickly. Supply chains and production were gradually resumed in the new normal. Amusement, entertainment, culture, and art activities were reopened. Accommodation, food, and tourism services grew significantly. The number of international visitors to the country in February increased by 49.6% compared to the previous month. External relations and international integration continued to be implemented effectively, thereby affirming the country's position and prestige in the international arena. Vaccine diplomacy continued to be promoted.

However, besides the achieved results, there were various socio-economic shortcomings and limitations in February and the first two months of the year. Potential risks existed in the macroeconomic conditions and major balances, including the influence of the global political and military conflicts. The COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly; the application of epidemic prevention and control measures in some localities remained weak; grassroots medical capacity and supply of medical equipment did not meet requirements; negligence, subjectivity, loss of vigilance occurred here and there. A part of workers had to take time off work for medical isolation, causing a temporary labor shortage. Input costs for production increased with a looming local shortage of petroleum in the country. Goods and agricultural products were congested at border gates.

It was forecasted that in the coming time, the world political situation would continue to be complicated, especially political tension between major countries and the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Economic recovery in countries would be unstable and uneven. The price of crude oil and many other basic commodities would increase, boosting production, transportation, and logistics costs. Inside the country, the COVID-19 pandemic would continue to develop complicatedly; economic recovery may be slow down without drastic actions taken, focusing on fully implementing tasks, solutions, and measures to prevent and combat the epidemic and develop socio-economic; risks of inflation and bad debts might increase; natural disasters and climate change would persistently be potential risks.

Confronting this situation, the Government required ministries, agencies, localities, all levels, branches and the whole political system, businesses and people nationwide to make greater efforts and determination in direction and administration, as well as in production, business and social life activities to soon overcome difficulties and challenges and take advantage of time to accelerate the national socio-economic recovery and development, striving to achieve a high growth rate right in the first quarter of 2022, contributing to the successful implementation of the set goals, targets and tasks of socio-economic development in 2022; in which, attention shall be paid to the following main tasks:

1. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, based on their assigned functions, tasks and powers shall:

a) Continue to implement regulations, mottos and methods of epidemic prevention and control fully, synchronously, and in accordance with the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister; strictly comply with 5K requirements for individuals, COVID-19 safety requirements for organizations, agencies, units, and other epidemic prevention measures; minimize unnecessary gatherings of people, especially during festival activities, and strictly handle violating behaviors.

b) Continue to implement more effectively the Spring 2022 rapid vaccination campaign, in a safe, scientific, and effective manner; review and address the causes of low vaccination rates, especially in localities that had not completed the second vaccination as set out goals; complete the 3rd injection for people aged 18 years and over in March 2022. Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees shall take responsibility for the delayed vaccination in the respective provinces.

c) Strictly comply with regulations and guidelines on treatment, minimizing the number of severe cases and deaths; proactively ensure adequate supply of on-site human resources, facilities, medical equipment and other conditions for treatment in each province corresponding to epidemic scenarios; promptly notify the Ministry of Health of the need for support in terms of human resources, materials and medicines when necessary, especially in areas with a high number of cases and high-risk groups. Prevent the health system being overwhelmed.

d) Implement the opening of schools in association with ensuring safety in epidemic prevention and control; timely control and handle infections, maintaining the highest level of safety for students and teachers. Regularly update information and regulations on epidemic prevention and control at schools adopted by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training; closely follow the developments of the epidemic, promptly and proactively handle the situation according to their competence and report to the competent authorities to update and complete the implementation plan for each province in a safe, efficient, scientific, and appropriate manner. Actively coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in organizing tourism activities to ensure safety, efficiency, and convenience for tourists.

dd) Strengthen discipline and order, underscoring the roles and responsibilities of the head, focusing on directing the synchronous, drastic and effective implementation of the tasks and solutions set out in Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 30, 2022 of the Government and Official Letter No. 126/CD-TTg dated February 12, 2022 of the Prime Minister; regularly check, urge and evaluate; proactively and promptly handle arising issues according to their respective competence or report them to competent authorities as prescribed.

e) Expeditiously review and develop a list of tasks, projects, plans for allocation of public investment capital under the Socio-economic recovery and development program, and a plan for flexibly adjusting public investment capital sources of the Medium-term Public Investment Program and Plan for the 2021-2025 period, and submit them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment as prescribed.

Accelerate the implementation and disbursement of the 2021-2025 medium-term public investment capital plan, investment capital under the socio-economic recovery and development program, national target programs, and ensure disbursement of all allocated capital, while preventing corruption, negativity, and waste of resources.

Promote the role of the Special Working Group on reviewing and removing difficulties and obstacles and promoting the implementation of investment projects at ministries, branches, and localities; view the acceleration of disbursements as one of the key political tasks; strive to allocate detailed public investment capital plans and disbursement of national target programs right in March 2022.

g) Closely adhere to the work program of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the National Assembly to complete projects, schemes and documents submitted according to regulations while ensuring their quality. Focus on developing institutions, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement; promote administrative reforms, strengthen decentralization in handling administrative procedures; streamline organizational apparatus to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency. Finalize and submit to the Government in March 2022 for consideration and promulgation of a decree defining functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of ministries and agencies.

Organize the drastic and effective implementation of the Program on reduction and simplification of regulations related to production and business activities in the 2020-2025 period; The project to renovate the implementation of the single-window and inter-agency single-window mechanisms in handling administrative procedures; E-Government development strategy towards digital government in the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030; and the Prime Minister's Decision 06/QD-TTg dated January 6, 2022 on the Scheme to develop population data, digital authentication identifiers for national digital transformation in the 2022-2025 period, with a vision to 2030.

h) Ministries of: Planning and Investment, Finance, Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, Education and Training, the State Bank Vietnam and relevant ministries and agencies shall, based on their assigned functions, tasks and powers, actively monitor the political and economic situation in the world and the region, especially the impact of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the speed of economic recovery and the management of fiscal and monetary policies of key economies and major trading partners, strategic competition in the region, as well as emerging areas and issues in the country in order to take timely, appropriate and effective response measures, taking into account impacts on economic relations, bilateral trade, commodity prices (especially essential goods such as petroleum, basic goods, input materials for production, etc.), energy security, food, global supply chains, related investment projects, payment activities, international payments, adjustments in policies on currency, trade and investment, the situation of Vietnamese workers and students abroad...

i) Actively grasp the situation of labor disputes to coordinate with relevant agencies to identify solutions to timely support and effectively handle issues and protect the legitimate and rightful interests of employees.

k) Strengthen the direction, reminding and inspection of the organization and implementation of regulations on citizen reception, settlement of complaints and denunciations; firmly grasp the situation of complaints and denunciations in provinces; promptly, definitively, and properly handle complaints and denunciations that fall within their jurisdiction right from the outset, prevent them from becoming hot spots; strengthen exchange and coordination between central and local agencies, create unity in the process of settling complaints and denunciations, especially in complicated and prolonged cases involving a large number of people.

l) Direct functional forces (Police, Customs, Border Guard, Coast Guard, Market Management, specialized inspection agencies) to continue to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement directives of the Government, the Prime Minister and Plans of  138/CP and 389 National Steering Committees in the prevention and combat of crime, smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeiting; proactively develop and implement thematic plans to dismantle criminal lines, gangs, smuggling groups, trade frauds and counterfeit goods, especially for commodities and in key areas.

m) Assign the People's Committees of Nam Dinh, Son La, Hoa Binh, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Lang Son provinces to urgently complete procedures for submitting and approving investment policies for group A projects at Ninh Binh - Nam Dinh - Thai Binh - Hai Phong, Hoa Binh - Moc Chau, Ha Giang - Tuyen Quang, and Highway 4B through Lang Son sections under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program and submit them to competent authorities to make decision on investment policies.

2. The Ministry of Health shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Urgently finalize the draft Decree detailing a number of articles of Resolution No. 12/2021/UBTVQH15 dated December 30, 2021, of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly approving the implementation of a number of mechanisms and policies in the health sector to serve COVID-19 prevention and control and submit them to the Government for review and promulgation in March 2022.

b) Expeditiously receive vaccines and direct vaccination for children from 5 to under 12 years old; focus on researching and advising on the fourth COVID-19 vaccination in a scientifically, safely, and effectively.

c) Review and re-evaluate the criteria on pandemic risk levels, regulations on management of people infected with SARS-CoV-2, people in close contact with infected ones for prompt adjustments in alignment with practicality; accurately assess the epidemic situation, refer to international experience, to take appropriate and effective measures to progress toward normalizing the COVID-19 pandemic and consider it an endemic disease. In case it is necessary to continue to maintain case statistics, the order and procedures must be reviewed to ensure simplicity, ease of implementation, minimalizing direct contact and accuracy of data. Continue to update and further improve the F0 domestic medical care process.

d) Promote the issuance of circulation permits and instructions on the use of COVID-19 treatment drugs and supplements in the direction of simplifying administrative procedures, ensuring proactive treatment drugs sourcing; improve capacity in consulting and supporting COVID-19 treatment; promptly remove obstacles and inadequacies in regulations on procedures for prescribing and selling COVID-19 treatment drugs to facilitate people's access to medicines. Strictly control prices of testing services, test kits, COVID-19 treatment drugs and supplements in accordance with regulations to prevent price increases, speculation, profiteering, loss of control, and negative behaviors; promptly handle strictly acts of producing, storing, and trading in fake COVID-19 treatment drugs and test kits, smuggled drugs, violations of origin, etc.

d) Expeditiously develop epidemic response scenarios; review and promptly provide support and aid to provinces with rapid increase in the number of severe cases; update and complete medical measures for patients after COVID-19 treatment.

e) Provide guidance on testing, isolating, and monitoring the health of children and students (pay attention to children with underlying diseases or health problems when being infected); review regulations on home isolation period for children and students in close contact with people infected with SARS-CoV-2 appropriately and scientifically.

g) Expeditiously advise and propose competent authorities to promulgate specific preferential policies and regimes for civil servants and public employees working at public health facilities and medical staff; handle inadequacies related to health insurance policies, social insurance, price management of medical examination and treatment, drugs, biological products, medical supplies, to create a favorable environment for patient examination and treatment, and report to the Prime Minister before March 20, 2022.

h) Immediately amend regulations and requirements for tourists' entry to align with the new situation and in accordance with outcomes of the meeting on February 15, 2022, and the direction of the Prime Minister at Notice No. 43/TB-VPCP dated February 16, 2022; submit them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism before March 8, 2022, to synthesize and finalize the Plan for reopening tourism activities.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Synthesize the list of tasks, projects, and capital allocation plan for 02 years 2022 – 2023 collectively and for each year of 2022 and 2023 in the Socio-economic recovery and development program as proposed by ministries, agencies, and localities, ensuring investment focus; and report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making in March 2022.

b) Develop a plan to flexibly adjust public investment capital in the medium-term public investment plan for the 2021 – 2025 period and the public investment capital of Programs in 2022 - 2023, report to the Government and Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making in March 2022.

c) Issue documents guiding the order, procedures, evaluation criteria, appraisal and decision-making procedures on the appointment of contractors within the competence of the Prime Minister, ministries and agencies for consultancy bidding packages, bidding packages for relocation of technical infrastructure, bidding packages for compensation, site clearance, resettlement, and construction, and installation bidding packages of important national projects, important and urgent large-scale infrastructure projects in transportation and health infrastructure under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program, the Eastern North-South Expressway Construction Project in the 2021-2025 period, to ensure their compliance with Resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government. These must be completed in March 2022.

d) Urgently advise and promulgate the Prime Minister's Decision on decentralization of the Provincial People's Committee to provinces with sufficient management capacity and experience to act as the governing body for projects in the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program.

dd) Strengthen investment promotion activities (both direct and indirect investment) in potential markets; review and adjust foreign investment policies in line with the reality to maintain capital flows and promote foreign investment attraction into Vietnam.

e) Expeditiously complete the appraisal of important national traffic projects and expressway projects, ensuring the reporting progress to the National Assembly as prescribed.

g) Monitor, stock-take and evaluate the implementation results of the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program, promptly report to the Government and the Prime Minister to adjust, and supplement necessary policies and solutions; quarterly report on the situation and implementation results of the Program at the Government's regular meetings and make ad-hoc reports when problems arise or at the request of the Prime Minister.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Ensure adequate and timely allocation of funds for state budget expenditure tasks in general as well as expenditure tasks under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program. Continue to cut, simplify procedures, shorten the time to control expenses; coordinate with relevant agencies and units to promptly handle payment and settlement problems.

b) Formulate and submit to the Prime Minister to promulgate a Decision on lending to students for computer purchase for online learning due to COVID-19 impact; a Decision guiding the implementation of interest rate support for the Bank for Social Policies to implement policies specified in the Government's Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 30, 2022. These tasks must be completed in March 2022

c) Urgently submit to the Government for consideration and promulgation a Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 126/2020/ND-CP dated October 19, 2020, detailing a number of articles of the Law on Management Tax, Decree on extending the deadline for paying tax and land lease in 2022.

5. The State Bank of Vietnam shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries and agencies in continuing to administer monetary policy proactively, synchronously and flexibly, closely combining it with fiscal policy and administration of prices of goods under the state's price management and other policies to contribute to maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, securing the system of credit institutions, actively supporting the socio-economic recovery and development. Continue to control and urgently propose competent authorities a mechanism to handle weak credit institutions.

6. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Take timely solutions to remove obstacles to effectively exploit electricity supplies to meet production and business needs, as well as the economic recovery and development. Review and clarify roles and necessity of the Petroleum Price Stabilization Fund, promptly report, and propose amendments and supplements to mechanisms and policies to improve the management and licensing efficiency of petroleum supply according to the market mechanism, ensuring domestic and imported output to meet actual consumption demand.

b) Strengthen market management, proactively plan to regulate supply, ensure supply and circulation of goods; focus on inspection, supervision and management of wholesalers, distributors and retailers of oil and gas. Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and localities in timely handling of congestion of goods and agricultural products at land border gates; advise and propose immediate and long-term solutions. Make good use of market opening opportunities to boost exports, strengthen import management, and pay attention to markets with a large trade deficit.

c) Promote industrial production activities at the beginning of the year, especially large projects; focus on removing difficulties for production and business, restoring the supply chain, and creating new production capacity.

7. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries, agencies and localities in, studying and proposing policies to stabilize the prices of input materials for agricultural production, contributing to reducing input costs and stabilizing agricultural production; formulate solutions to orient production according to master plans and plans in order to ensure the conditions for agricultural product export in line with international commodity trading norms and practices.

8. The Ministry of Construction shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to quickly formulate and implement solutions to revamp the real estate market; promote housing development for workers, especially in industrial zones.

9. The Ministry of Transport shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Urgently complete procedures for submission and approval of investment policies for group A projects including the An Huu - Cao Lanh expressway and the Dai Ngai bridge under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program and submit it to competent authorities for deciding on investment policies.

b) Direct the Vietnam Railways Corporation to study and develop a plan to improve the capacity and output of international intermodal rail transport in service of goods import and export activities, and report to the Prime Minister in March 2022.

10. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall urgently issue documents guiding the implementation of special mechanisms on mineral mining for use as common building materials in the construction materials survey dossiers for national important transport infrastructure projects under the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program. This must be completed in March 2022.

11. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Stock-take and evaluate support policies according to Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP dated July 1, 2021, of the Government, Decision No. 23/2021/QD-TTg of July 7, 2021, of the Prime Minister Government; propose and report to competent authorities for consideration and continued implementation of support policies for people and workers facing difficulties due to COVID-19 impact.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies in, submitting to the Prime Minister for promulgation a Decision on housing rent support for employees who have an employment relationship, are renting, staying at, or working at industrial parks, export processing zones and key economic zones.

c) Expeditiously appraise the list of poor districts, communes with severe difficulties along banks, coastal areas, and islands in the 2021 – 2025 period and submit them to the Prime Minister for approval in March 2022.

d) Strengthen the connection of labor supply and demand nationwide on online platforms; focus on services and support for disadvantaged people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

dd) Advise and report to competent authorities on month and annual overtime adjustments of employees, so as to create conditions for recovery and development of production and business.

12. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Finalize the Plan for reopening tourism activities under new normal conditions in the spirit of "safe adaptation, flexibility, and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic"; according to its authority, announce the plan to reopen tourism activities from March 15, 2022.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport and relevant ministries and agencies in, agreeing on contents and regulations on welcoming international tourists; formulate detailed instructions on the reopening of international tourism activities so that units and localities can actively organize the implementation; promptly correct errors and provide direction to ensure consistency among localities in applying the Government's measures on reopening tourism and accommodation for international visitors.

13. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities in, focusing on directing solutions for technological innovation, technology incubation, science and technology enterprises, technology decoding, commercialization of results of scientific research and technological development serving production and business activities at enterprises. Continue to implement solutions to improve Vietnam's ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII).

14. The Ministry of Education and Training shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities in regularly assessing the pandemic situation and risks of COVID-19 outbreak when sending students back to school; identify forms to organize teaching activities and epidemic prevention and control measures suitable to each pandemic risk level. Continue to update and complete online and television teaching.

15. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Accelerate administrative reforms, effectiveness, and efficiency of the state apparatus to accelerate the implementation of the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program.

b) Urgently submit to the Government for consideration and promulgation a Decree amending and supplementing a number of Government regulations on cadres, civil servants and public employees in Decrees No. 115/2020/ND-CP, 138/2020/ND-CP, 159/2020/ND-CP, 90/2020/ND-CP, 112/2020/ND-CP, and 46/2010/ND-CP; a Decree on retirement at an older age for leading and managerial cadres and civil servants (replacing Decrees No. 53/2015/ND-CP dated May 29, 2015 and Decree No. 104/2020 /ND-CP dated September 4, 2020 of the Government regulating retirement at an older age for cadres and civil servants); a Decree on retirement at an older age for public employees with high professional and technical qualifications in public non-business units (in accordance with new provisions in Clause 4, Article 169 of the Labor Code 2019). .

16. The Ministry of Justice shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries and agencies in, drastically implementing the law- and ordinance-making program in 2022 and submitting it to the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, while ensuring the law-making progress and quality. The Ministry of Justice was assigned to closely coordinate with other ministries and agencies to expeditiously develop documents to implement the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program.

17. The Government Inspectorate shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Effectively implement the 2022 inspection program and plan approved by the Prime Minister; soon issue inspection conclusions on the management and use of funds, the procurement of medical equipment in service of COVID-19 prevention and control, the implementation of the Power Master Plan VII and the observance of the Government policies and regulations in the state management of petroleum.

b) Expeditiously complete the project on building the national database on asset and income control and the draft (revised) Law on Inspection, ensuring its timeliness and meeting requirements of inspection, corruption prevention and combat.

c) Cooperate with the Ministry of Justice, relevant ministries, branches, and localities in urgently examining, reviewing, and solving difficulties and problems related to projects and land in inspection, examination, and judgment conclusions in some localities (Ha Noi, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City) according to Decision No. 153/QD-TTg dated January 29, 2022, of the Prime Minister on the establishment of a Prime Minister's Working Group; Recommend appropriate handling measures.

d) Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to actively monitor and grasp the implementation of major infrastructure construction investment projects (highways, airports, etc.) to promptly detect problems, signs of violations related to acts of collusion, fraud in volume and quality, violations of regulations on land in order to take measures to prevent it from the beginning, at the early stage, and from afar before negative events or corruption could occur; report to competent authorities to take handling measures according to regulations.

18. The Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs shall promptly promulgate according to its authority documents guiding the implementation of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

19. The Ministry of National Defense shall strengthen and consolidate defense posture; resolutely and persistently strive to firmly protect national independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, avoid being passive or unprepared in any situation.

20. The Ministry of Public Security shall synchronously implement measures to enhance political security, social order, and safety; step up crime prevention and combat, especially those that infringe on life, health, honor, and human dignity, causing public outrage in recent years. Effectively implement measures to ensure traffic order and safety, prevent and fight fire and explosion; increase patrolling, control, strictly and firmly handle traffic safety violations according to regulations.

21. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other ministries, agencies, and localities to:

a) Expeditiously and effectively implement the Prime Minister's directive on the protection of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities in Official Dispatch No. 201/CD-TTg dated February 26, 2022.

b) Report to the Prime Minister on the restoration of entry for foreigners entering Viet Nam, ensuring to meet requirements for reopening tourism activities from March 15, 2022; step up negotiations and mutual recognition of vaccine passports with other countries.

22. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall assume the prime responsibility for, and closely and effectively coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies in, continuously updating and improving software and information technology tools for effective pandemic prevention and combat, as well as ensuring social security, maintaining social order and safety; strengthen information, communication, and promotion of policies on economic and international tourism reopening.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, Viet Nam Television, Voice of Viet Nam, Viet Nam News Agency and other media and press agencies shall, according to their assigned functions, tasks and powers, coordinate closely, effectively with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, relevant ministries, agencies and localities to continue updating information, proactively building communication programs , prioritizing to give specific, scientific, reasonable and effective guidance on COVID-19 the prevention and control, the results achieved in all fields, especially in terms of socio-economic recovery and development, the implementation of health and social security policies, ensuring compliance with the guidelines of the Party and State.

23. The Government Office shall urge and guide the reform of administrative procedures, implement the single-window and inter-agency single-window mechanisms in handling administrative procedures and effectively deploying and operating the e-Government platform systems serving the direction and administration of the Government and Prime Minister.

24. The Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences, the Viet Nam Social Insurance shall, based on their assigned functions and tasks, assume the prime responsibility for, or coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to properly perform the tasks set out, especially the Socio-Economic Recovery and Development Program and the COVID-19 prevention and control.

II. COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control program (2022 - 2023)

In principle, the Government agreed on the main contents of the draft Resolution promulgating the Program on COVID-19 prevention and control (2022 - 2023) submitted by the Ministry of Health to the Government at the meeting.

The Ministry of Health was assigned, based on the direction of the competent authority, to study and collect feedbacks at the meeting, carefully review and finalize the draft Resolution, and report to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam for direction and ensure alignment with the practicality; urgently submit to the Prime Minister for consideration, promulgation, and timely implementation.

III. Preparation for the 31st SEA Games

To organize a successful, safe, and truly professional SEA Games, not to chase after the scale and achievements, affirming the prestige and position of Viet Nam in the region, the Government requested:

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries, agencies and localities in continuing to accelerate the preparation for the 31st SEA Games as planned, timely report and propose to immediately solve arising problems beyond their authority, including coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to agree on organization funding (2nd phase) and financial support for Laos in preparation and participation at the 31st SEA Games. Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance shall urgently appraise and submit to the Prime Minister for approval; reach consensus with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security on visa exemption as proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to support and create favorable conditions for subjects attending the 31st SEA Games. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was assigned to report to the Prime Minister.

2. Concerned ministries, agencies and localities shall actively strengthen direction, inspection and supervision to ensure the progress and quality of the assigned work, in which: the Ministry of Health, the People's Committee of the city Ha Noi and related agencies and localities shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to urgently complete specific plans on disease prevention and control; Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Public Security shall proactively implement the above tasks and other related work according to their assigned functions and tasks.

IV. Feasibility Study Report of the Ring Road No. 4 Project in Ha Noi Capital and the Ring Road No. 3 Project in Ho Chi Minh City

The Government agreed on the contents stated in Report No. 1274/BC-BKHDT dated March 2, 2022, of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the appraisal of the pre-feasibility study report of the Ring Road No. 4 Project in Ha Noi Capital and the Ring Road No. 3 Project in Ho Chi Minh City. The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to collect feedbacks of the Government Members, complete the appraisal report before March 7, 2022, and coordinate with the Government Office to request for the Government Member's feedbacks in writing, and submit them to the Prime Minister on March 7, 2022.

The Government requested ministries, agencies, and localities, according to their assigned functions and tasks, to seriously and effectively implement the tasks and solutions mentioned in this Resolution; regularly inspect and evaluate the implementation; promptly report and propose to the Government and the Prime Minister any arising problems beyond their competence.

The Government Office was assigned to monitor, urge, synthesize and report to the Government and the Prime Minister on the implementation results of this Resolution./.

For reference only