The Government’s regular meeting - September 2021

RESOLUTION

ADOPTED FOLLOWING THE GOVERNMENT’S MEETING WITH LOCALITIES ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF 2021

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, recommendations of provinces and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government’s regular virtual meeting in September 2021, held on October 02, 2021,

DECIDES

The Government unanimously assessed that: In September, under the close and timely leadership and direction of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and key leaders; the support and companionship of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee; the drastic and timely direction and management of the Government and the Prime Minister; along with the dynamism and creativity, radical engagement, closely follow-ups with the situation in the implementation organization of all levels, branches and localities; and the efforts of the entire Party, people and army, the COVID-19 prevention and control continued to witness many positive changes. In general, the pandemic situation was put under control nationwide. There was a noticeable decrease in the rate of infection and death in hotspot areas. Vaccine sources were significantly supplemented, and vaccination was organized more quickly and in a timely manner, especially in key areas. Many localities begun to gradually ease social distancing measures. The socio-economic situation in 9 months of 2021 continued to achieve certain positive results. Macro-economic conditions were stable. Inflation rate was low. Major balances of the economy were guaranteed. Although economic growth in the third quarter decreased due to social distancing in many localities, including major economic centers, in 9 months overall, the economy still maintained a growth rate of 1.42%. The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 1.82% over the same period. Currency and foreign exchange markets were stable. Credit in the first 9 months increased by 7.39%; loan interest rates were lower than before. Budget revenue in 9 months reached nearly 81% of the estimate, up 9.2% over the same period in 2020. Total newly registered FDI capital in 9 months increased by 22.3% over the same period. Agricultural production was relatively stable, food security was guaranteed. Many localities made earnest efforts and determination and achieved important results in epidemic prevention and control as well as socio-economic recovery and development, contributing to the overall results of the whole country.

Institutional reform continued to be focused; many mechanisms and policies were promptly revised, supplemented, and promulgated to ensure social security, support people, employees and employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures were actively implemented to respond to, prevent and control natural disasters. Culture and society continued to receive due attention. The opening of the new school year was organized in a flexible, practical, and safe manner, in accordance with the pandemic situation. Both national defense and security were maintained. Social order and safety were guaranteed. Foreign affairs, especially vaccine diplomacy, achieved many important results. Information and communication were promoted, contributing to creating social consensus and strengthening the people's trust in the Party and the State.

However, due to the severe impact of the fourth wave of COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant, economic growth in the third quarter of 2021 decreased in most industries, fields, and localities, especially in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and some localities in the key southern economic region. Production, business, and goods circulation stalled at some points of time and in some places; costs rose; domestic competitiveness and purchasing power decreased; some production chains were broken locally. Potential risk of bad debts increased. Disbursement of public investment capital was low. Jobs and people's lives were affected, especially in areas where social distancing measures had to be reinforced. Many limitations related to the capacity and resources of the health system were revealed in, especially at the grassroots level. At times, some localities could not manage to organize the implementation of measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 in a unified or synchronous manner; social distancing was not implemented either in alignment with the epidemic situation or with clear goals, causing delays in the implementation of health measures.

In the coming time, the COVID-19 pandemic was forecasted to continue to develop complicatedly and unpredictably, with many potential risks. The Government required all levels, branches and localities to actively monitor and forecast the actual situation, take drastic action, continue to perform synchronously and effectively the tasks and solutions set out in the Decree No. Resolutions and directives of the Party, National Assembly, Government and Prime Minister, especially the Conclusions of the 4th Plenum of the Central Committee (Term 13th), viewing epidemic control a prerequisite for people's life stabilization and socio-economic recovery and development; gradually open the economy in line with epidemic developments and vaccine coverage; strive to loosen pandemic control and prevention measures, and restore production and business activities in places with apposite conditions, ensuring safety from October 2021. Accordingly, attention must be paid on the following key areas:

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

a) Uphold the responsibility of the leader, tighten discipline and order, promote the results achieved in COVID-19 prevention and control, especially in the epidemic-affected localities, overcome the shortcomings and limitations, draw lessons to continue to focus and prioritize COVID-19 prevention and control and socio-economic recovery and development with the motto "safe adaptation, flexibility and effective control of the COVID-19 epidemic”.

b) Strengthen the leadership and direction of COVID-19 prevention and control at all levels of government, especially at grassroots level; continue to coordinate more closely among localities in directing and administering, avoid partition or separation, applying extreme prevention and control measures; absolutely avoid subjectiveness, negligence, lose vigilance, make the best efforts to prevent and control the pandemic; flexibly, creatively and timely adjust measures to prevent and control the pandemic in accordance with the reality of each locality; where an outbreak is detected, if social distancing is required, make sure to carry it out in the narrowest scope, associated with the application of medical measures in a scientific and fastest manner possible; strengthen mobile health. Continue to strictly implement the 5K principle vaccine and drugs technology people's awareness of pandemic prevention and control.

c) Based on the specific conditions of each locality, expeditiously develop, and implement a plan for socio-economic recovery and development, striving to achieve the highest level of the set targets and objectives of 2021.

d) Localities take the initiative in formulating plans to organize production and business safely, adapting to epidemic developments in line with the actual conditions of localities and enterprises, especially in concentrated industrial parks, export processing zones, and high-tech zones…; gradually open factories and production workshops, ensuring smooth circulation of goods; focus on dialogue with businesses to promptly remove problems at the facility in order to accelerate the recovery of production and business activities of enterprises, especially enterprises that play an important role in the supply chain, using a large number of labors.

dd) Not to promulgate new regulations and immediately abolish requirements and conditions that are contrary to regulations of central agencies and cause difficulties for workers, enterprises, production, and business establishments. Localities shall closely coordinate to organize the travelling of people and workers to ensure order, safety, and security; support and create conditions for workers to stay in the locality for working.

e) Organize direct teaching and learning in areas where COVID-19 has been put under control and safety has been secured from October 2021.

g) Continue to promptly and effectively implement policies and solutions to support people, workers, enterprises, cooperatives, and individual business households to soon stabilize and restore production and business. Strictly follow the direction of the Prime Minister, set up special working groups at ministries, agencies, and localities to remove difficulties and obstacles for businesses and people affected by the COVID-19 and put them into operation from October 2021.

h) Promptly address according to competence or submit to competent authorities for handling complaints and recommendations of people and enterprises about problems and difficulties in the implementation of administrative and public mechanisms, policies, and procedures; announce the processing results on the National Public Service Portal; and report to the Prime Minister on the progress and results before the 20th of the last month of the quarter.

i) Urgently promote disbursement of public investment capital, paying attention to ODA capital, ensuring progress and quality according to the direction of the Prime Minister at the National Virtual Conference with ministries and agencies central and provincial governments on accelerating disbursement of public investment capital plan in 2021 (Notice No. 262/TB-VPCP dated October 5, 2021 of the Government Office); proactively and actively solve problems according to their competence; for cases beyond their competence promptly report to the Prime Minister.

k) Direct functional agencies to strictly implement the impact assessment of policies and administrative procedures in the draft legal documents or projects; only maintain administrative procedures that are really necessary, reasonable, lawful and have the lowest compliance costs. Send the report on implementation results to the Ministry of Justice before the 20th of the last month of the quarter for synthesis and reporting to the Prime Minister.

l) Ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall urgently issue circulars guiding the functions, tasks and powers of specialized agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and districts within the scope of their respective management sectors and domains; urgently develop a list of basic and essential public non-business services according to Decree No. 120/2020/ND-CP dated October 7, 2020 and issue a circular guiding economic - technical norms of public services to offer units and localities a legal foundation to exercise autonomy in public administrative units and consolidate and arrange local organizational apparatus.

m) The Ministry of Health and the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally run cities shall direct inspection agencies and functional forces to inspect and examine the management and use of funding sources, procurement of medical equipment for COVID-19 prevention and control, preventing waste, corruption, negativity, group interests, and strictly handling violations of the legislation.

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

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, agencies, and localities in, expeditiously finalizing the draft Government's resolution promulgating temporary regulations for "safe, flexible, and effective adaptation and control the COVID-19 pandemic" in association with the roadmap for restoring economic and social activities in the new normal. These regulations must be submitted before October 15, 2021; to clarify the conditions for organizing safe production, bringing workers back to work... so that localities and enterprises have a basis for implementation.

b) Continue to study and summarize practices to supplement, improve and enhance implementation effectiveness of pandemic prevention and control measures, in which zoning and isolation shall be conducted on the narrowest possible scope. Develop a specific plan to secure the vaccine source and speed up the vaccine import schedule; organize timely and effective vaccination according to the set strategic objectives, prevent wastefulness; urgently develop a prudent, safe, and scientific route for children's injections. Actively develop strategies for supply and production of drugs to treat COVID-19, prevent passiveness of medical supplies. Research and evaluate the effectiveness of antibody among those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 to supplement and complete solutions to restore production, business in an appropriate and flexible manner.

c) Strictly manage the procurement and aid of equipment, supplies, biological products, vaccines effectively and in accordance with regulations, prevent loss, waste, corruption; promptly report and propose to competent authorities of arising problems.

d) Assume the prime responsibility for, and closely coordinate with, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities in directing functional forces to strengthen inspection and examination, prevent behaviors taking advantage of the pandemic to unreasonably raise prices of drugs and medical supplies, causing public outrage, affecting the effectiveness of direction and administration of pandemic prevention and control. In the immediate term, urgently check and clarify issues associated with prices of COVID-19 test kits, which attracted lots of public attention recently, to report to the Prime Minister, and continue to promptly inform the public, ensuring public safety, openness, and transparency.

dd) Review and assess the capacity of the health system, production capacity, and supply of domestic medical supplies and equipment to develop plans and propose immediate and long-term solutions to strengthen the capacity of the health system, especially the grassroots health sector, and autonomous capability in supplying medical supplies and equipment.

e) Report to the Prime Minister in October 2021 on the mobilization effectiveness of non-public health resources for COVID-19 prevention and control.

g) Complete the Master Strategy on Safe Adaptation to COVID-19 in the new normal, and report to the Government Standing Committee in October 2021.

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

a) Expeditiously complete the pilot project on separating site clearance and resettlement from investment projects and report it to the National Assembly Standing Committee for submission to the 15th National Assembly at the earlies meeting as prescribed.

b) Expeditiously complete the program on socio-economic recovery and development; and report to the Government Standing Committee before October 15, 2021.

c) Strengthen and urge the effective and practical implementation of Resolution No. 105/NQ-CP dated September 9, 2021, on supporting enterprises, cooperatives, and business households in the COVID-19 context; promptly guide the settlement of problems, causing difficulties for the supported subjects. Urgently finalize the Resolution to support and develop enterprises for the 2021-2025 period and submit it to the Government for promulgation in October 2021.

d) Synthesize and propose plans to adjust the domestic central budget investment plan in 2021 that have not yet been disbursed by ministries, central agencies and localities for reallocation to other ministries, agencies and localities to implement key and urgent projects, connectivity projects with high spillover effects in order to improve the capacity of strategic infrastructure systems, infrastructure for digital transformation and other necessary projects on the list of medium-term public investment plan in 2021-2025 period that needs additional capital. The plans must be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making before b being authorized by the Prime Minister to report on behalf of the Government to the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly as prescribed.

dd) Ministries, agencies, and localities, which have no demand for additional capital plans in 2021 for implementation of national target programs, shall report to competent authorities to transfer the undisbursed capital investment plans using the domestic central budget in 2021 by ministries, central agencies and localities, and the investment capital allocated for the National Target Program from 2021 to 2022 for implementation and disbursement. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in, finalizing and submitting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making before being authorized by the Prime Minister to report on behalf of the Government to the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly as prescribed.

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

a) Actively administer the fiscal policy flexibly, ensuring the balance between state budget revenues and expenditures; drastically implement thrift practices, minimize recurrent spending and inefficient investment; proactively plan to mobilize resources to promptly meet the spending needs of pandemic prevention and control, support the people and the economy, overcome consequences, and provide relief from natural disasters, storms, and floods.

b) Implement resolutely and effectively tax management solutions, especially mechanisms, policies, and infrastructure for the deployment of e-invoices, ensuring accurate and sufficient collection of taxable invoices of the purchase and sale of goods and provision of services, which are popular, but invoices have not yet been applied (such as catering services, retailing of petrol and oil, etc.).

c) Review fiscal management regulations for charity fundraising activities; promptly take measures to rectify and strengthen management, ensure their publicity and transparency, and resolve issues concerned by the public; report to the Prime Minister before October 15, 2021. Urgently finalize the draft Decree to replace Decree No. 64/2008/ND-CP dated May 14, 2008 and submit it to the Government for consideration and decision-making.

d) Study and propose appropriate tax and fee management mechanisms and policies for revenue from border and border-gate trade activities, to create motivations encouraging localities to develop border trade activities, increase budget revenue and supplement local resources.

dd) Study and propose to the competent authorities an appropriate plan to issue local government bonds and public bonds in foreign currency, adjust to increase the overspending rate within the allowable public debt threshold, and ensuring efficient and sustainable use.

5. The State Bank of Viet Nam shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies to:

a) Continue to operate monetary policy proactively and flexibly, closely coordinate with fiscal policy to maintain macroeconomic stability, control inflation, and at the same time contribute to boosting production and business, as well as socio-economic recovery and development; closely monitor the bad debt situation of credit institutions, ensure the system’s safety.

b) Appropriately manage credit at credit institutions with suitable conditions to offer credit granting for businesses affected by the COVID-19 to recover their production and business activities; continue to provide effective and practical support for enterprises to restructure debt repayment terms, exempt and reduce loan interest, and strive to reduce lending interest rates.

c) Study the development and implementation of large-scale credit programs for industries, fields, projects, and enterprises that are capable of creating breakthroughs and having great growth spillover effects.

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

a) Formulate practical solutions to support enterprises to connect, maintain and restore orders for the end of 2021 and 2022; promote export promotion activities to key markets with great demand such as North America, the EU, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, especially at the end of the year.

b) Develop and implement sales promotion programs and national trade promotion activities to stimulate domestic consumption during the end of 2021, at the beginning of 2022, and during the Lunar New Year.

c) Actively coordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries and agencies to urgently guide the conditions for safe production in the new situation so that enterprises can feel confident and take the initiative in developing plans to stabilize and foster manufacturing and business activities.

7. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies and localities to:

a) Firmly grasp the production and consumption of agricultural products, especially for key commodities and in key agricultural production regions such as the Mekong River Delta, the Southeast...; promptly detect, proactively take appropriate solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles, avoid disrupting the production and supply chain of agricultural products; in case confronting issues exceeding its competence, the Ministry was requested to report to the Prime Minister.

b) Review and propose amendments to Decree No. 02/2017/ND-CP dated January 9, 2017, on mechanisms and policies to support agricultural production to restore production in areas damaged by natural disasters or the pandemic, ensuring compliance with practical requirements; and report to the Prime Minister in October 2021.

c) Actively monitor developments, promptly direct the implementation of natural disaster prevention and control; disease prevention and control on plants and animals; restoring livestock production, ensuring to meet food demand, especially at the beginning of 2022 and during the Lunar New Year.

d) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies in, researching and organizing a conference on solutions to restore and develop effectively and sustainably agricultural economic space in the Mekong Delta; report and propose them to the Prime Minister in October 2021.

dd) Expeditiously propose solutions to remove problems related to licensing, certificate granting, quality control in the field of agriculture and rural development due to the enactment of social distancing measures to prevent and control the COVID-19, ensuring the proper performance of state management and creating conditions to prevent delays or interrupts of production and business activities; report to the Government and the Prime Minister for consideration and decision-making according to their competence.

8. The Ministry of Construction shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies and localities in, drastically organizing the implementation of Decree No. 69/2021/ND-CP dated July 15, 2021, on renovating and rebuilding old apartment buildings and policies for social housing development; research and propose pilot policies to develop commercial housing suitable for low and middle-income people to contribute to economic recovery in the new normal.

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

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Health and major cities that are key domestic and international traffic hubs (such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, Hai Phong) to assess the current situation, request the reopening of major traffic routes, while ensuring pandemic prevention and control measures, to urgently consider and decide according to their competence the reopening of traffic routes and types, ensuring the effective implementation of “dual goal”; and report to the Prime Minister before October 15, 2021.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies in, summarizing the Government's Resolution No. 12/NQ-CP dated February 19, 2019, on measures to enhance traffic order and safety and combat traffic congestion approved for the 2019 - 2021 period. This must be implemented in November 2021 and shall serve as a basis for the development of a new Government’s Resolution for the 2021 - 2025 period.

c) Formulate an action plan for the implementation of the National Strategy to ensure road traffic order and safety in the 2021 - 2030 period with a vision to 2045 and report it to the Prime Minister in October 2021.

10. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies and localities to:

a) Expeditiously complete documents detailing the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection in 2020 and ensure its quality and progress. These documents must be developed in the direction of promoting decentralization and delegation of the design and formulation of tools and mechanisms for checking, monitoring, supervising, and minimizing negative impacts and burdens associated with administrative procedures and costs for businesses, especially in the current COVID-19 context.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant ministries and agencies in, promoting the transition to clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing impacts and adapting to climate change; strengthen international cooperation to complement and connect resources for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change and other major international agreements.

c) Proactively forecast and provide warnings of natural disasters, storms, floods, and heavy rains in the coming time, promptly provide information to functional agencies, localities, and people to take measures to prevent and minimize damage and formulate an appropriate and adaptive agricultural production plan.

d) Assume the prime responsibility for and closely coordinate with relevant agencies in finalizing dossiers to submit to the National Assembly on the National Land Use and Development Master Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050 and the National Land Use Plan in the 2021 - 2025 period; advise the Government and the Prime Minister to direct the implementation immediately after it had been approved by the National Assembly. Accelerate the construction of a national database on land.

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

a) Strengthen inspection, urge, and guide agencies and localities to accelerate the implementation of Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP dated July 1, 2021, and No. 116/NQ-CP dated September 24, 2021, on policies to support workers and employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Propose solutions to overcome the disruption of the labor market to restore production and business.

b) Regularly grasp the developments of the labor market in order to develop a plan to restore the labor market, ensure that workers could return to work, and solve labor shortages in key production regions and areas associated with disease control and safety assurance. Formulate a plan to train and organize workers who relocated to localities due to the impact of the pandemic.

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to research, develop a scheme and integrate the national database on labor and employment with the national database on population, and report to the Prime Minister in December 2021.

d) Conduct a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of support packages for COVID-19 prevention and control so as to propose appropriate adjustment plans, and report to the Prime Minister before October 20, 2021.

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

a) Direct and organize art programs suitable for epidemic prevention and control to continue to arouse the spirit of great national unity, union, and determination to overcome the pandemic.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, agencies, and localities in, studying and proposing a pilot step-by-step opening of the international tourism market in association with the application of vaccine passports and conditions for vaccination; report to the Prime Minister in October 2021 to create favorable conditions to urgently restore the tourism market once the pandemic has been put under control.

c) Prepare carefully and thoroughly for the organization of the national cultural conference in November 2021. Effectively implement the external strategy for culture.

13. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies and localities to:

a) Promote scientific research, development and application of technology to contribute to improving the capacity of COVID-19 prevention and control, in which, the Ministry was requested to mobilize a team of experts, scientists and businesses to focus on researching and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutic drugs, and equipment to meet the requirements of different outbreak levels; quickly and effectively implement the national key science and technology programs on research and production of vaccines for human use by 2030.

b) Continue to promote public-private cooperation in scientific research and technology application. Improve the legal framework for the effective implementation of the National Science and Technology Market Development Program by 2030; the National Technological Innovation Program up to 2030; the National Program for High-tech Development by 2030 and other national-level science and technology programs to serve development needs.

14. The Ministry of Education and Training shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies and localities to:

a) Expeditiously develop and issue safety guidelines for schools to resume face-to-face teaching in accordance with the pandemic situation. Assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with Viet Nam Television Station and relevant agencies in, continuing to produce and broadcast teaching programs on television and digital platforms; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to propose competent authorities to decide on additional funding sources to ensure the implementation.

b) Coordinate with relevant agencies to review, formulate specific and effective solutions, and pay more attention to college enrollment.

c) Work closely with the Ministry of Information and Communications to promptly and effectively deploy the program "Waves and computers for children", ensuring the program to reach the right audience, provide practical support for disadvantaged students and pupils to access online learning.

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

a) Thoroughly grasp guidelines of the Party, Resolutions of the National Assembly and the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister; coordinate with ministries and agencies to drastically review and arrange their internal organization, reduce focal points, reduce intermediate stages; urgently finalize the draft Decree defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies, and submit them to the Government for consideration and promulgation.

b) Step up emulation work, promptly detect, honor, and replicate innovative examples; improve the quality of reward work, ensure its timeliness, objectiveness, openness, transparency, alignment with the law, to create a spillover effect in society, especially in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

16. The Ministry of Justice shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries and agencies in, focusing on implementing the National Assembly's 2021 law- and ordinance-making program; continue to review institutional and legal problems to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles for people and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

a) Assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant agencies in, setting up a working group to work out and inspect the situation of settlement and resolution of problems according to the inspection conclusions for local investment projects that faced many difficulties and obstacles, causing waste and loss of state and business properties, especially land and natural resources; report and propose to the Prime Minister.

b) Formulate a plan to inspect the procurement of medical equipment, biological products and testing kits in service of the pandemic prevention and control to combat waste, negativity, and group interests.

c) Focus on reviewing and settling complicated and lengthy complaints and denunciations; coordinate with agencies of the National Assembly to implement the request of the National Assembly Standing Committee on thematic supervision of "the implementation of the law on citizen reception and settlement of complaints and denunciations from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2021” and supervise the settlement of complicated and lengthy complaints and denunciations.

18. The Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs shall coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to continue improving the operation model of boarding schools for ethnic minorities, ethnic language training for cadres, civil servants and public employees working in ethnic minority areas.

19. The Ministry of National Defense shall actively monitor the situation, take measures to respond in a timely manner, ensuring the preservation of national sovereignty; prepare plans to participate in the prevention and control of the pandemic and natural disasters; direct border guards to strengthen patrolling, entry and exit control in association with pandemic prevention and control, and socio-economic recovery and development.

20. The Ministry of Public Security shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies and localities to:

a) Effectively implement solutions to ensure security, social order, and safety; participate in the prevention and control of the pandemic and natural disasters; strengthen the management of entry and exit; prevent and combat new crimes, especially transnational crimes.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications and relevant ministries and agencies in, formulating and submitting to the Government to promulgate a Decree on electronic identification and authentication; In the immediate future, in order to prepare a legal basis for nationwide deployment, the Ministry of Public Security shall develop and submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation of a Decision on electronic identification and authentication in November 2021.

c) Continue to strengthen patrols, control and handling of traffic order and safety violations in association with pandemic prevention and control requirements, to prevent traffic jams at control points from obstructing goods and people's movement and increasing the risk of disease spread.

d) Closely coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications to promptly detect and strictly address acts of distorting, spreading fake news, bad news, and unfounded news against the pandemic prevention and control, and raising suspicions, dissent, affecting the psychology of forces participating in the pandemic prevention and control.

21. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies in, properly organizing external activities of senior leaders, focusing on vaccine diplomacy; coordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to develop criteria and mechanisms for mutual recognition and permitting of the direct use in Viet Nam of foreign vaccination certificates and vaccine passports in order to facilitate procedures and shorten time for isolation for experts and foreign workers entering Viet Nam, in accordance with reality and provisions of Viet Nam’s regulations as well as international law.

22. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with agencies and localities to:

a) Continue to proactively inform and propagate in a timely and accurate manner important political events of the country, the people's lives, policies and solutions for disease prevention and control, and the Program on socio-economic recovery and development under the motto on "safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic".

b) Promptly respond to and correct inaccurate information, refute misleading or false information causing loss of people's confidence, affecting unity and consensus of the whole country in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in utilizing the national database on population to formulate effective technological solutions for the management and control of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of social security in the direction of creating most favorable to the people.

d) Expeditiously gather funding sources of the program "Waves and computers for children" to soon hand them over to the Ministry of Education and Training to organize online learning for students; and at the same time ensure coverage and transmission speed (broadband) for students and pupils to study and engage in other social network activities.

dd) Accelerate and strongly promote national digital transformation, especially increasing the proportion of online public services, enterprise and industry transformation and the development of a digital society according to the functions and tasks assigned. In close coordination with the State Bank of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Information and Communications was assigned to propose specific, practical, and effective measures to accelerate digital transformation in the banking and financial sectors.

23. The Viet Nam Television Station, the Voice of Viet Nam, and the Viet Nam News Agency shall closely follow up with the COVID-19 developments, proactively and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries, agencies and localities to timely, candidly, objectively and accurately communicate on the pandemic situation and social security policies to create social consensus, making people know, understand, believe, follow, and collaborate to overcome the pandemic and promote socio-economic recovery and development.

24. The Committee for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises shall concentrate on directing State-owned Groups and Corporations under its management to strive to overcome difficulties, promote production and business, and strive for fulfilling the plan in 2021 at the highest quality; urgently develop a plan to reorganize, equitize and divest state capital in enterprises to ensure effective implementation for the 2021 - 2025 period.

25. The Government requested the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to promote the spirit of great national unity, propagate, mobilize, gather people from all walks of life, and strengthen social consensus to make people know, understand, believe, follow, and collaborate to overcome the pandemic and promote socio-economic recovery and development.

The Government requested ministries, agencies, and localities to implement their assigned functions and tasks seriously and effectively./.

For reference only