The Government’s plan of action for the 2007-2011 term outlined 197 specific issues for ministries and agencies to carry out to fulfil the tasks set for the 2006-2010 period. Accordingly, the Government will continue to promote economic growth, increase the sustainability and competitiveness of the national economy, develop education, training, science and technology, improve the quality of human resources, and strengthen environmental protection. In addition, it will accelerate administrative reform, increase the efficient operation of the State apparatus, step up the fight against corruption, and maintain national defence, security and social order.

As the Government has more than three years to go to fulfil the tasks for 2006-2010, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked ministries and sectors to examine their tasks and strengthen the monitoring and implementation of these tasks, with a focus on building and finalising institutions. He asked them to step up the construction tempo of economic infrastructure development projects, create a breakthrough in vocational training, settle complaints and petitions efficiently, curb traffic accidents, accelerate administrative reform and fight corruption.

To renew the Government’s performance in the new term, Minister and head of the Government Office Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that the Government finalise institutions, identify functions and duties of ministries and agencies, and heighten the role and responsibility of Cabinet members.

PM Dung pointed out weaknesses in the Government’s working regulations, including slow progress and poor coordination in administering affairs, as well as unclear rights and responsibilities of the Government.

He asked Cabinet members to identify causes and devise solutions for stepping up the formulation and issuance of legal documents.

He agreed with several proposals made by the Government Office to renew the working methods and amend the working regulations of the Government. He asked the Office to gather Cabinet members’ opinions and finalise the regulations to be submitted to the upcoming Government meeting in October.

Cabinet members discussed a decree on regulating the organisational structure and duties of ministries and ministerial-level agencies. They looked specifically at the six newly-merged ministries, namely the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. They agreed that all ministries should focus on multiple industries or areas while avoiding the overlap of things from the central to local levels.

Cabinet members also discussed the implementation of socio-economic tasks in the past eight months and the remaining four months, administrative reform and the fight against corruption.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the national economy continued to develop steadily in the past eight months, with industrial production increasing by 17 percent to fetch VND377 trillion and exports by 19 percent to reach US$31 billion. The country attracted nearly US$3 billion in foreign direct investment, up 20 percent from a year earlier. About 150,000 jobs were created in the reviewed period. Thanks to effective measures taken in August, the consumer price index only increased by 0.55 percent compared to 0.77 percent in May, 0.85 percent in June and 0.94 percent in July. 

To achieve the Government’s 8.5 percent GDP growth target this year, the ministry said the economic growth must reach 9 percent in the remaining four months of the year.

The ministers also gave opinions on the law making programme of the National Assembly and the Government in 2008, and the draft law on atomic energy.