The Government’s regular meeting - August 2020

RESOLUTION

THE GOVERNMENT’S REGULAR MEETING – AUGUST 2020

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 delegates and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government’s regular meeting in August 2020, held on September 04, 2020,

DECIDES

1. Regarding the implementation of Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP, Directive No. 11/CT-TTg; the socio-economic situation in August and the first 8 months of 2020

The Government unanimously agreed that: With the extraordinary determination and the drastic participation of the entire political system, the business community and the people of the country, the Covid-19 pandemic had been brought under control, and at the same time socio-economic recovery and development continued to be promoted. Activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Independence Day (September 2) were organized in a solemn and meaningful manner, creating an atmosphere of excitement and confidence among people from all walks of life in the leadership of the Party and the State. Macro-economic conditions remained stable. Inflation was properly controlled. The average Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the first 8 months dropped to 3.96% (the target assigned by the National Assembly was below 4%). Key balances of the economy were guaranteed. The interest rate continued to decrease. Exchange rate and foreign exchange market were stable, foreign currency reserve continued to increase. The stock market showed signs of recovery. In the context of seriously weak global trade, exports in 8 months reached over US$174 billion, up 1.5% over the same period; trade surplus reached nearly US$12 billion, of which the domestic economic sector continued to be a bright spot, up 15.3%. Disbursement of investment capital from the state budget in 8 months reached over 47% of the plan (the same period in 2019 reached 37.9%). Total registered investment capital by foreign investors (FDI) in 8 months reached nearly US$20 billion. The number of newly established enterprises in August increased by 1.6%; registered capital increased by 20.7%. Generally, in 8 months, the whole country recorded 88.7 thousand enterprises registering for new establishment and 32.6 thousand enterprises returning to operation, up by 27.9%. Agricultural and rural production developed stably and recorded good crop performance. Both volume and price of rice for export increased over the same period. People's lives had been improved; the number of hungry households decreased by 75.3% over the same period. People's health care and the implementation of social security policies continued to be focused. The national examinations for high school graduation and university entrance were safely organized in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. In Global Innovation Index (GII), Viet Nam led the group of 29 lower-middle-income economies and was in the top 50 economies achieving the most significant progress. National defense, security, social order and safety were maintained. Traffic safety witnessed positive changes, traffic accidents reduced in all three criteria including the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of injured people. Foreign affairs and international integration continued to be strengthened. In the context of the pandemic, Viet Nam fulfilled its role as the ASEAN’s Chairman, non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and Chairman of AIPA 41. Viet Nam continued to strengthen coordination and support for other countries in the prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the country's economy continued to face various difficulties, and was affected by both internal and external risks and challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic in the world became increasingly complicated and unpredictable. Trade tensions were still escalating; and geopolitical competition was becoming more and more complex. The world economy was forecasted to recover slowly, and global financial and monetary uncertainties were looming. In the country, production and business activities faced many difficulties, especially in the fields of transport, aviation, tourism, accommodation, and catering services. The risks of unemployment, underemployment, and significant drop in income soared sharply. The industrial production index in 8 months increased lowly. That of some industries fell deeply because broken supply chains had not fully recovered while world demand dropped sharply. Foreign investment capital attraction tended to slow down. State budget revenues were low, while many state budget expenditures arose for tasks such as disease prevention, natural disasters, and social security...

In the coming time, the Government required all sectors, all levels, the business community and the people avoid being subjective to the pandemic, resolutely prevent sources of disease transmission, zone off infected areas; continue to focus on implementing the "dual goals": recovery and socio-economic development, striving to achieve the highest growth rate; and drastically contain the pandemic. Accordingly, attention must be paid on some of the following agenda:

- Ministries, agencies and localities, especially ministries and agencies assigned to synthesize, coordinate and direct macroeconomic management, shall continue to comply with the directing and administering viewpoint to  ensure macroeconomic stability and inflation control, have appropriate mechanisms, solutions and policies to strongly stimulate growth drivers, take advantage of and leverage opportunities for rapid recovery and sustainable development of economic and social activities. They were requested to strongly attract sources of social and private investment, especially foreign investment flows, which were shifting to new markets. At the same time, ministries, agencies and localities must effectively overcome shortcomings and weaknesses, renew the governance approach to adapt to the new situation, focus on effectively implementing the national digital transformation program, speeding up digital transformation in each industry, field, and locality to develop the digital economy and create breakthroughs. Attention must be paid to developing agricultural and rural areas as the pillar of the economy in difficult period, improving the internal power of the domestic market, promoting the development of an autonomous economy, and reducing dependence on foreign raw materials and supply chains. It was requested to create a favorable and fair investment and business environment, support and develop all types of businesses, in which attention must be paid to large and leading enterprises capable of leading, spreading, and promoting the development of important sectors and fields of the economy.

- The State Bank of Viet Nam shall continue to operate monetary policy in an active and flexible manner, harmoniously coordinating with fiscal policies and other policies to both stimulate the economy and ensure inflation control, macroeconomic development and stability. It was requested to expeditiously complete the amendment and supplementation of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-NHNN before September 30, 2020 and related regulations in the direction of extending payment period for debts, which were affected by Covid-19 and had been restructured, while maintaining the same debt groups in alignment with the Covid-19 developments and continuing to support the people and businesses. The State Bank of Viet Nam shall urgently submit to the Prime Minister a draft Decision on the pilot application of telecommunications accounts for paying services and goods with small value (mobile money); complete and submit to the Government a proposal to develop a Decree on a controlled testing mechanism for financial technology activities in the banking sector in October 2020.

- The Ministry of Finance shall continue to review and propose tax and fee policies to support businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; to step up the reform of administrative procedures to create favorable conditions for individual and business tax payers; to collaborate with other ministries, agencies and localities to intensify the implementation of measures to combat revenue loss, transfer pricing, trade fraud, and review the collection of tax arrears. The Ministry was requested to promptly submit to the Government for review and promulgation of a draft Decree amending Decree No. 126/2017/ND-CP and Decree No. 32/2018/ND-CP to accelerate the equitization of state-owned enterprises and divestment of state capital in enterprises. It must reach a consensus with the State Bank of Viet Nam on the amendment and supplement of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-NHNN to promptly issue regulations to provide practical support to businesses and borrowers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic under the guidance of the Prime Minister.

- Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall uphold the responsibilities of leaders, drastically direct the successful implementation of guidelines, tasks, solutions, and measures to accelerate the implementation and disbursement of public investment capital which had been proposed by the Government and the Prime Minister. They were requested to actively urge, supervise, and promptly remove problems, prevent untruthful reporting, corruption, waste and loss of State investment capital and assets. The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to continue monitoring, proposing and reporting to the Prime Minister the transfer of capital from inefficient ministries, branches and localities to ministries, branches and localities in good progress of disbursement and in need of additional capital.

- To promote investment cooperation with foreign countries, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall proactively and actively advise and propose to the Working Group strong solutions to promote investment, take advantage of opportunities to attract and filter shifts in supply chains and foreign investment. And at the same time, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in reviewing and adjusting appropriately and feasibly the norms of land use in industrial zones nationwide.

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministries of: Culture, Sports and Tourism, Transport, Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance, and related ministries, agencies and localities shall develop action plans, trade promotion plans, export promotion to potential markets. At the same time, they were requested to stimulate domestic consumption demand, strongly develop the domestic market with specific solutions and policies on domestic tourism, retail, transportation, accommodation, catering services, agricultural products..., and strengthen the prevention of smuggling and trade frauds in all forms, contributing to protecting domestic production and consumption.

- The Ministry of Transport shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and agencies in proposing to reopen international commercial flights between Viet Nam and a number of countries. The Ministry shall speed up the implementation of key transport infrastructure projects such as: Long Thanh International Airport, the Expansion Projects of Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Noi Bai International Airport; the Eastern North - South Expressway Project.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and concerned agencies in closely monitoring weather changes, proactively advising and directing the response to dangerous natural situations, especially long-term heavy rain, strong storms, super storms, flash floods, landslides, floods, droughts, saltwater intrusion, avoid being passive and/or unprepared. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall direct and urge localities to review, inspect and handle key and critical dike locations, dams, and areas prone to (high) flash floods. The Ministry was requested to continue to speed up the repopulation of pig herds, strictly control diseases and pork prices, proactively take measures to promptly handle them, as well as strengthen forest management and protection, and strictly handle violations.

- The Ministry of Education and Training shall direct, localities and educational and training institutions to focus on preparing proper conditions for the new school year 2020-2021 associated with Covid-19 prevention and control, ensuring safe teaching and learning environment for teachers and students. The Ministry was assigned to continue to enhance the application of information technology in teaching and learning.

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities, especially Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, to continue solving problems and difficulties and effectively implementing packages to support people facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

- The Ministry of Health shall urgently guide people on measures to prevent and fight against the Covid-19 pandemic that are simple, easy to understand, easy to implement, effective and safe from the pandemic, propose Covid-19 prevention and control plan to coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to gradually reopen international commercial routes, ensuring safety and compliance with Covid-19 prevention and control requirements. The Ministry was requested to attach importance to improving the capacity of Covid-19 quick tests at airports, tourist resorts, etc. At the same time, the Ministry was requested to strengthen the direction of localities in implementing the control and elimination of outbreaks, preventing the wide and prolonged spread of the pandemic.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications shall continue to promote communication on the efforts of the entire society in the implementation of the "dual goals", promptly refute false information and claims of hostile forces. The Ministry shall study and propose to competent authorities the construction of specialized digital infrastructure for state agencies, and continue to assume the prime responsibility for coordinating with the Government Office and ministries, branches, and localities in the implementation of works and tasks to build e-Government.

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall organize high-level foreign affairs activities in accordance with the Covid-19 pandemic situation, especially the 37th ASEAN Summit and related high-level conferences and forums. The Ministry shall continue to effectively carry out the protection of citizens abroad in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

- The Ministry of National Defense shall closely follow up with developments, analyze and forecast in a timely and accurate manner situations in different areas, especially in the East Sea to take appropriate response measures, firmly protect territorial sovereignty and national interests. The Ministry was requested to properly fulfil military and defense tasks associated with Covid-19 prevention and control tasks.

- The Ministry of Public Security shall direct forces to strengthen management of the locality and residence; continue to organize peak campaigns in fighting and suppressing all kinds of crimes, especially criminal crimes, high-tech crimes, and ensuring security and order, and accelerate the construction of the national database of personal identifiers.

- Ministries and agencies shall, based on their assigned tasks, promptly and fully prepare dossiers, reports, and documents for the 10th session of the 14th National Assembly in accordance with regulations.

2. Socio-economic situation in 2020 and the socio-economic development plan for 2021

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to continue reviewing and completing growth scenarios and plans for direction and administration until the end of 2020 and the socio-economic development plan for 2021; comprehensively collect comments at the meeting and written comments of related ministries and agencies, complete the Report and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making, in which the expected GDP growth rate in 2021 shall be about 6 - 6.5%. On that basis, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall submit to the Government Committee for consideration and opinion before reporting to the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee according to regulations.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for collaborating with ministries and branches, seriously collecting comments of the Central Committee of the Party in order to complete the report and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval. On that basis, the Minister of Planning and Investment was authorized by the Prime Minister to act on behalf of the Government to submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly according to regulations.

3. Some contents related to the implementation of the public investment plan in 2020

a) Regarding adjustments to investment plan using the state budget capital in 2020 assigned to ministries, central agencies, and localities:

The Government unanimously agreed to assign the Ministry of Planning and Investment to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in reviewing and synthesizing the plan and submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making. Particularly, for the capital amount in 2020 that was requested to be returned by ministries, central agencies and localities as reported by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Document No. 5808/BC-BKHDT dated September 3, 2020, the Ministry of Planning and Investment was requested to expeditiously assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in reviewing and reporting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making before September 25, 2020 to accelerate the disbursement of the 2020 capital investment plan.

b) Regarding the implementation and disbursement timeline of the capital investment plan for 2018 and 2019 which had been extended to 2020:

The Government unanimously agreed to allow ministries, central agencies, and localities to disburse all capital investment plans for 2018 and 2019, which had been extended to 2020, until December 31, 2020.

c) Regarding the remaining timeline to allocate the 2020 capital plan that had not been assigned in detail for each project:

The Government agreed on a deadline for ministries, central agencies, and localities to detail the 2020 state budget investment plans for projects until September 30, 2020. After this deadline, the Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in reviewing the number of capital investment plans in 2020 that had not yet been assigned in detail by ministries, central agencies and localities, and integrate them into the plan for reducing and adjusting the 2020 central budget capital investment plans of ministries, central agencies and localities according to the Government's Resolution No. 84/NQ-CP, and report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making on retrieving and transferring budget to other ministries, central agencies and localities in need of supplemental capital and having good disbursement progress.

4. Regarding import tax incentives for Formosa Ha Tinh Corporation’s project

The Government unanimously agreed to continue applying import tax exemption policy for the Formosa’s project as stated in Documents No. 1602/TTg-QHQT dated August 31, 2010, No. 7820/VPCP-KTTH dated November 1, 2010, No. 219/TB-VPCP dated June 2, 2014, and No. 248/TB-VPCP dated June 29, 2014 as reported by the Ministry of Finance in Document No. 109/BC-BTC dated September 3, 2020. The Ministry of Finance was assigned to guide customs authorities through the implementation process.

5. Regarding tax policies for 2,000 units of Eliciae MV20 ventilators imported to serve humanitarian aid

The Government unanimously agreed with the request of the Ministry of Finance to apply policies of import tax and value-added tax for 2,000 units of Eliciae MV20 ventilators imported by Van Lang Healthcare Co., Ltd. and presented to the Government and the Ministry of Health as medical products serving humanitarian aid and non-refundable aid, imported by foreign organizations and individuals to aid domestic agencies or organizations as stated in Report No. 108/BC-BTC dated 03 September 2020. The Ministry of Finance was assigned to guide customs authorities through the implementation process. And at the same time, the Ministry was assigned to review and propose amendments and supplements to legal documents on tax policies applicable to aid goods of domestic organizations and individuals as appropriate.

6. Regarding adjustments to the budget estimates to ensure the operation in 2020 of the General Department of Taxation and the General Department of Customs

The Government unanimously agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Finance mentioned in Report No. 120/TTr-BTC dated June 29, 2020.

- The Minister of Finance was authorized by the Prime Minister to act on behalf of the Government to sign reports and make explanations to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the National Assembly for consideration and decision-making on reallocating the General Department of Taxation and the General Department of Customs’ estimates of recurrent expenditures (funding assigned to ensure the operation in 2020) to estimates of development investment expenditures (expenditures on capital construction investment). The Ministry of Finance was assigned to held accountability for the accuracy of the reported information and data and preparing dossiers and documents to be sent to the National Assembly's agencies in due time.

- After being permitted by competent authorities to adjust capital from recurrent expenditures to investment expenditures, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in submitting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making on the supplementation to the medium-term plan for the period 2016 - 2020 and extend the time limit for arranging and disbursement according to regulations.

7. Regarding the proposal of Hanoi People's Committee to eradicate a number of problems in the adjustment of foreign investment projects with capital over VND 5,000 billion in accordance with the approved planning

Pursuant to Report No. 249/BC-UBND dated September 4, 2020 of Hanoi People's Committee on a proposal to allow Hanoi People's Committee to adjust investment policy decisions for foreign-invested projects with capital of more than VND 5,000 billion in accordance with the planning approved by competent authorities, Report No. 5833/BC-KHĐT dated September 4, 2020 of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Report No. 7324/BC-VPCP dated September 4, 2020 of the Government Office (Section IV); after working with relevant ministries and agencies on September 11, 2020; and following Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung's opinion on the proposal of Hanoi People's Committee, the Government agreed on the following principles:

According to the authority specified by law, the agency that decided on the investment policy shall decide on adjustments to the corresponding investment policy. However, due to inadequacies of Decree No. 118/2015/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the 2014 Law on Investment (effective until 2020) on the authority to decide on investment policy and the authority to decide on investment policy adjustment (Clause 9, Article 31 and Article 35), the Government unanimously agreed to assign Hanoi People's Committee to decide the investment policy adjustments of the project, which was specified in Clause 9, Article 31 of Decree 118/2015/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the 2014 Law on Investment, ensuring compliance with law, publicity, transparency, and strictness.

8. Regarding the Proposal to develop a Decree on mobilization, reception, distribution and use of voluntary contributions to support people overcome difficulties caused by natural disasters, epidemics and incidents, and patients with fatal diseases

The Government unanimously agreed to approve the Proposal to develop a Decree on mobilization, reception, distribution and use of voluntary contributions to support people overcome difficulties caused by natural disasters, epidemics and incidents, and patients with fatal diseases.

The Ministry of Finance was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned agencies in studying and formulating a Decree for submission to the Government in December 2020.

9. Regarding the expansion of the scope and objects of the draft Decree promulgating policies to support tuition fees and living expenses for students who major in pedagogy

The Government unanimously agreed to approve the content of the draft Decree promulgating policies to support tuition fees and living expenses for students majoring in pedagogy after the Ministry of Education and Training had collected comments of Government members on the expansion of tuition fee and living expense support for pedagogical students according to social needs, the expansion of subjects of application for students with good academic results and taking regular courses and/or taking a second degree in the form of formal training at university and college in teacher education majors.

The Ministry of Education and Training was assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Government Office in expeditiously finalizing and submitting to the Prime Minister for signing for promulgation the Decree.

10. Regarding the on-lending appraisal of the Project on “Natural Disaster Prevention and Climate Change using earth observation satellite" using Japanese loans

The Government agreed to:

a) Pursuant to Point b, Clause 1, Article 33 of the 2017 Law on Public Debt Management, which stipulates that public non-business units are eligible for re-borrowing from ODA and concessional loans; Resolution No. 13/NQ-CP dated February 19, 2020 on the domestic financial mechanism for foreign loans of the Project on Natural Disaster Prevention and Climate Change using earth observation satellite using ODA loans from the Government of Japan; Clause 4 Article 16 of Decree No. 97/2018/ND-CP dated June 30, 2018 of the Government on on-lending of ODA loans, foreign concessional loans of the Government, and Viet Nam Space Center under the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology - the re-lending agency of Japanese ODA loans. No loan security shall be required for the on-lending of the Project.

b) On-lending plan of the Project:

- The time for accepting the debt of the Viet Nam Space Center shall be the point when the Government accept debt with JICA for the capital withdrawals for satellite.

- The debt repayment period shall be 05 years, corresponding to the operation time of the satellite in orbit (expected from 2024-2028).

- For all liabilities incurred in the pre-launch period (including principal, interest and fees of the Loan Agreement signed on November 2, 2011; interest and fees of the Loan Agreement which shall be signed for the next period), late repayment shall be allowed and no interest on late payments shall be applied. The Viet Nam Space Center shall be responsible for repaying all debt obligations evenly applied over the 5-year period of the satellite' operation together with other debt obligations incurred in the period.

- Other on-lending conditions (re-lending interest rate, on-lending fee, risk reserve fee) shall follow Decree No. 97/2018/ND-CP.

c) The Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology shall be responsible for:

- Directing and supervising the Viet Nam Space Center to effectively implement the project.

- Arranging sufficient reciprocal capital to pay all fees related to the foreign loan agreement (commitment fee for the Loan Agreement signed on November 2, 2011, capital arrangement fee for the Loan Agreement which shall be signed for the next period). In case of any difficulty or problem, the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology shall report it to the Government and the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making;

- Reporting to competent agencies for consideration and approval to include the satellite operating cost of VND 240 billion into the regular operating budget of the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology in the 05-year operation period of the satellite;

- Adjusting investment decisions of the Project to ensure compliance with the on-lending plan approved by competent authorities.

11. Regarding the approval of the plan for capital allocation for the fiscal year 2019 (implemented in 2020) and register additional foreign capital plans to supplement the 2020 state budget estimates; the list of communes and investment projects using the Irish government's non-refundable ODA fund for communes facing extreme difficulties under Program 135

The Government agreed on the allocation plan, the list of works and the list of communes facing extreme difficulties to receive additional aid from the Irish Government in fiscal year 2019 for 5 provinces: Ha Giang, Hoa Binh, Quang Tri, Kon Tum and Tra Vinh to implement the Project with VND 76,296 million (Seventy six billion two hundred and ninety six million Vietnamese dong) as proposed by the Committee for Ethnic Minorities (Document No. 1100/TTr-UBDT dated August 28, 2020).

- The Minister of Planning and Investment was authorized by the Prime Minister to act on behalf of the Government to sign a report to explain to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the National Assembly on the supplement to the medium-term plan for public investment in period 2016 - 2020 and investment capital plan for 2020 using the Irish Government's non-refundable aid for the period 2017-2020 for the Committee for Ethnic Minorities to implement the Project to support communes facing extreme difficulties under Program 135 as proposed by the Committee for Ethnic Minorities (Report No. 1100/TTr-UBDT dated August 28, 2020). The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall be responsible for preparing dossiers and documents to be submitted to the National Assembly and its agencies in due course.

- The Committee for Ethnic Minorities was assigned to held accountability for the contents and data of the report, allocation plan, and the list of communes and works receiving the aid. The Committee for Ethnic Minority shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries, agencies and donors in directing, examining and evaluating the implementation organization, evaluating the progress and efficiency of capital implementation in localities according to Sponsorship agreement signed between representatives of the two governments of Viet Nam and Ireland, as well as reporting to the Prime Minister according to regulations.

12. Regarding the draft Government’s Report on the results of reviewing legal documents in the fields of state management

The Government unanimously agreed to approve the draft Government’s Report on the results of reviewing legal documents in the fields of state management. The Ministry of Justice was assigned to review and complete the Government's Report to ensure its quality and progress. The Report shall include only the draft Government’s Report on the results of reviewing conflicting and/or overlapping regulations, major problems, shortcomings, and unalignments with practicality, for which legal bases had been clearly identified.

- The Minister of Justice was authorized by the Prime Minister to act on behalf of the Government, to sign the Government's Report to submit to the National Assembly right after the Government’s regular meeting in August 2020.

- Based on the opinions of the National Assembly, the Government assigned the Ministry of Justice to study, collect comments and complete the Report and propose to the Prime Minister solutions to direct relevant ministries and agencies to amend and supplement the Report, or propose amendments and supplements to legal documents according to the competence, functions and tasks of state management in the assigned fields.

13. Regarding the implementation of the tasks assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister

The Government requested: Ministries and ministerial-level agencies to expeditiously submit or coordinate with the Government Office in completing and submitting to the Government and the Prime Minister for consideration and promulgation of detailing documents, which had not been completed, as assigned before September 15, 2020; at the same time concentrating resources, drastically directing the drafting and submission to competent authorities for promulgation 49 documents detailing laws that will take effect from January 1, 2021. At the same time, Ministries and ministerial-level agencies were requested to speed up the formulation progress, submit before September 15, 2020 draft regulations behind schedule in the work program, and in due course 41 draft laws in the work program in September 2020.

14. Regarding solving difficulties for enterprises in the implementation of some provisions of Decree No. 40/2019/ND-CP in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic

The Government unanimously agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Report No. 4729/BTNMT-TCMT dated September 3, 2020) and the Government Office (Report No. 7333/BC-VPCP dated September 4, 2020, and meeting minutes and consensus opinions of relevant Ministries and agencies at the meeting of the Working Group of the Prime Minister dated August 28, 2020) and decided to:

- Permit to extend the deadline for completing the installation of automatic and continuous wastewater and exhaust monitoring systems specified in Clauses 20 and 23, Article 3 of Decree No. 40/2019/ND-CP to the end of December 31, 2021 (instead of December 31, 2020)

- Permit to extend the expiration date until December 31, 2021 for the License for hazardous waste treatment (issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to enterprises) for cases specified in Clause 39, Article 3 of Decree No. 40/2019/ND-CP. At the same time, for cases in which location shall be unchanged or capacity shall not increase, supplemental environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, which had been approved, shall not be requested in accordance with Article 20 of the 2014 Law on Environmental Protection.

- Permit to extend the expiration date until the end of December 31, 2021 for Certification of eligibility for environmental protection in import of scrap for use as raw production materials in the cases specified in Clause 39, Article 3 of Decree No. 40/2019/ND-CP. At the same time, EIA report, which had been approved, shall not be required if the location remains unchanged or capacity shall not increase in accordance with Article 20 of the 2014 Law on Environmental Protection.

- Assign the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to take responsibility for seriously and proactively providing information and guidance publicly and transparently on public media for enterprises and not to give rise to additional administrative procedures during the implementation. At the same time, they Ministry was assigned to continue to review and detect shortcomings and weaknesses in the implementation of Decree No. 40/2019/ND-CP, propose to the Government to amend and supplement in the direction of creating favorable conditions for businesses while ensuring fulfilment of state management requirements, preventing negative corruption behaviors, preventing and combating environmental pollution, and not affecting people's lives.

15. Regarding e-Government development and administrative procedure reform

The Government requested ministries, agencies, and localities to:

- Focus on implementing tasks concluded by the Prime Minister at the meeting of the National Committee on E-Government dated August 26, 2020.

- Urgently complete the development of the Information Reporting System of their ministries, branches, and localities, which shall be connected with the Government Information Reporting System in the fourth quarter of 2020.

- Continue to promote the reform, simplification and digitalization of administrative procedures and promptly handle complaints and recommendations of the people and businesses.

- The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the State Bank of Viet Nam, the Government Office and relevant ministries and agencies in studying and submitting to the Government solutions for the exemption or reduction of fees and charges for online public services and related costs (postage, account) before October 2020.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in proposing solutions to reduce costs of maintaining and operating public digital signatures and report them to the Prime Minister in September 2020.

- The Government Committee on Cipher shall accelerate the decentralization and authorization of a number of government-specific digital signature authentication services under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam in the Government Office’s Document No. 3402/VPCP- KSTT dated April 29, 2020.

- In September 2020, localities shall complete the notarization of electronic copies from the originals and acknowledging the legality of electronic records according to their competence./.