DECISION No. 31/1998/QD-TTg OF FEBRUARY 10, 1998 ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992;

To ensure the Government's uniform direction on the process of Vietnam's joining and taking part in the activities of international and regional economic and trade organizations;

At the proposals of the Minister-Head of the Government Commission for Organization and Personnel, the Minister of Trade, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister-Director of the Office of the Government,

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To establish the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation which is composed of:

- The chairman: Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam.

- The vice chairman: Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen.

- Members:

+ The Secretary General and also head of the government delegation for international economic and trade negotiations: a Vice Minister of Trade.

+ A Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.

+ A Vice Minister of Planning and Investment

+ A Vice Minister of Finance.

+ A Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Environment.

+ A Vice Minister of Industry.

+ A Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

+ A Vice Minister of Culture and Information.

+ A Vice Minister of Justice.

+ A Deputy Director of the Office of the Government.

+ A Deputy Governor of the State Bank.

+ The General Director of the General Department of Customs.

+ The General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Article 2.- The National Committee for International Economic Cooperation shall have the following principal tasks and powers:

1. To assist the Prime Minister in directing and coordinating activities of the ministries, branches and localities in relation to Vietnam's participation in economic and trade activities in the Association of the Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Europe Meetings (ASEM); the negotiations on the joining and activities in the World Trade Organization (WTO); the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and other regional and international economic and trade organizations.

2. To assist the Prime Minister in considering and deciding the general negotiation policies and plans to serve as basis for formulating negotiation plans of the ministries and branches and directing the government delegation for international economic and trade negotiations in the process of negotiation on joining the above-mentioned regional and international economic and trade organizations; to direct the activities of the concerned ministries and branches relating to various fields of activities of these organizations.

3. To assist the Prime Minister in directing the ministries and branches to adjust, supplement and perfect the system of national economic and trade laws and policies to be compatible with the regulations of the regional and international economic and trade organizations which Vietnam has joined.

4. To assist the Prime Minister in urging and supervising the ministries, branches, localities and establishments in to fulfill Vietnam's commitments and obligations as well as to protect Vietnam's rights and interests in the regional and international economic and trade organizations.

5. To promptly report to the Prime Minister the negotiation process and the direction of the ministries and branches in the process of joining the regional and international economic and trade organizations.

6. To perform other tasks assigned by the Prime Minister.

Article 3.- Apart from the chairman, the vice chairman and other members, the organizational structure of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation shall consist of :

1. An assisting apparatus of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation which is the Committee's Office located within the Ministry of Trade.

The functions, powers and staff of the Committee's Office shall be decided by the chairman of the Committee on the basis of the proposals of the Minister-Head of the Government Commission for Organization and Personnel and the Minister of trade.

2. The government delegation for international economic and trade negotiation (set up by a separate decision of the Prime Minister).

Article 4.- To establish at the concerned ministries and branches specialized divisions in charge of the work of Vietnam's joining and activities in the regional and international economic and trade organizations related to such ministries and branches.

The National Committee for International Economic Cooperation and the Government Commission for Organization and Personnel shall provide guidance for the setting up of such specialized divisions in the concerned ministries and branches.

Article 5.-

1. The fund of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation shall be supplied from the State budget and included in the fund of the Ministry of Trade.

2. The National Committee for International Economic Cooperation shall draft a regulation on its organization and operation then submit it to the Prime Minister for decision.

Article 6.- This Decision takes effect 15 days after its signing.

Article 7.- The Chairman of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation, the ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies and agencies attached to the Government and the presidents of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government shall have to implement this Decision.

The Prime Minister

PHAN VAN KHAI