On February 26 and 27, 2001, the Government held its February regular meeting, discussing and resolving the following issues:

The Government heard a report summing up the cabinet members� comments on the bill amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Land Law. The Government assessed that the land policy was a very complicated and sensitive matter, thus requiring time to study and review the actual situation. Therefore, the comprehensive amendment of the Land Law must be carried out step by step, in a way suitable to the renewal of economic management mechanism. In the immediate future, as required by the current socio-economic development, such existing problems as competence to allot land, land lease, land recovery, granting of land use right certificates, determination of land prices, compensation for ground clearance,� should be soon settled with new amendments and supplements in order to clear difficulties and obstacles in the managerial and executive activities of the Government and local administrations, creating favorable conditions for land users.

It passed the land traffic bill presented by the Minister of Communications and Transport; the draft ordinance on food safety and hygiene, presented by the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment; the draft ordinance on charges and fees, presented by the Minister of Finance; the draft decree detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Entry, Exit and Residence in Vietnam by Foreigners, presented by the Ministry of Public Security, assigning the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with relevant agencies in finalizing the draft decree, then submitting it to the Prime Minister for signing and promulgation in March 2001.

It also passed the draft decree on tour business and tourist guides, assigning the General Department of Tourism to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with relevant agencies in finalizing the draft decree, then submitting it to the Prime Minister for signing and promulgation in March 2001.

The Government heard the Communications and Transport Ministry�s report on urgent measures to ensure traffic safety. In the immediate future, the Government requested the ministries, branches and the provincial/municipal People�s Committees to further boost the implementation of measures to limit traffic accidents and traffic jam; enforce the wearing of safety helmets by motorcycle riders as from June 2001; intensify the safety inspection of transport means; allocate more fund for eliminating "black pots" on roads where accidents frequently occur; resolutely handle cases of encroachment upon road-beds, pavements and traffic work protection corridors.

The Government heard the Minister of Trade reporting on a number of measures to boost rice and coffee export in the year 2001; and the Minister of Planning and Investment reporting on the implementation of plans in February and in the first two months of 2001.

On the consumption of paddy and rice in Mekong River delta:

To continue boosting trade promotion activities, looking for markets for long-term rice export, on the basis of additionally signing agreements with foreign countries. The Government shall apply necessary measures to encourage the development of new markets.

To assign the Southern Food Corporation and other food companies in Mekong River delta provinces to purchase for temporary reserve about 1 million tons of the 2000-2001 Winter-Spring rice.

To assign the State Bank to direct the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss with the concerned provincial People�s Committees about debt reschedule and provision of new loans to rice producers and rice-exporting enterprises.

The Ministry of Trade shall discuss with Vietnam Food Association and rice-exporting enterprises about building export rice trading centers.

To assign the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct the Southern Food Corporation to discuss with the concerned provincial People�s Committees about the experimental building of centralized farm produce markets.

The Ministry of Finance shall reduce import tariff and annul the collection of price differences for assorted fertilizer; effect the exemption and reduction of agricultural land use tax imposed on rice-growing land in the spirit of the Government�s Resolution No. 09/2000/NQ-CP; amend and supplement a number of financial policies so as to create favorable conditions for rice-exporting enterprises.

On the consumption of coffee in Central Highlands:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall direct enterprises to quickly complete the purchase for temporary reserve of 150,000 tons of coffee.

To effect the exemption and reduction of agricultural land use tax imposed on coffee-growing land in the spirit of the Government�s Resolution No. 09/2000/NQ-CP.- (Summary)