On October 6 and 7, 1999, the Government held its September 1999 regular meeting to discuss and resolve the following issues:

- It heard Mr. Truong Dinh Tuyen, Trade Minister and Vice President of the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation, presenting the "Overall strategy for international economic cooperation". The Government reiterated Vietnam�s international economic integration process on the principle of firmly maintaining its national independence and sovereignty, holding up the socialist orientation and strengthening the country. In the international economic integration process, special attention must be paid to making the economic restructure in line with the new trend of the time, acceleration of renewal of technologies, machinery and equipment, with a view to raising Vietnamese products� competitiveness on the international market, readjustment of mechanisms and policies to make them appropriate to the international integration process. The Government assigned the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the Government Office and the concerned agencies in gathering the cabinet members� comments on, and synthesize two proposed plans on "Orientation of and measures for readjusting the production and investment structure of branches in the integration process" and "Overall strategy for international economic cooperation" into one general plan.

- It gave its comments on the report on "Execution of the 1999 plan and the 2000 socio-economic development plan" presented by the Minister of Planning and Investment, and report on "Implementation of the 1999 State budget and the 2000 State budget draft" presented by the Minister of Finance.

- It also gave its comments on the "The Government�s plan for materialization of the Resolution of the 7th plenum of the Party Central Committee, VIIIth congress" presented by the Minister-Head of the Government Commission for Organization and Personnel.

- The Government unanimously adopted the "Report on the undertaking of preparation works for the election of deputies to the People�s Councils at all levels, the 1999-2004 tenure" presented by the Minister-Head of the Government Commission of Organization and Personnel and the "Review of the Government�s direction and administration activities, and the implementation of its working regulation in the first 9 months of 1999" presented by the Minister-Director of the Government Office.

- The Minister of Planning and Investment presented to the Government the "Report on the socio-economic situation in September and in the first 9 months of 1999" and the "Preliminary report on the inspection of the 1999 capital construction work".

The socio-economic situation in the first 9 months of 1999, despite of numerous difficulties, showed some positive changes: The agricultural production enjoyed bumper crops, the industrial production made progresses, the exports rose markedly and the State budget revenues increased. Yet, the tasks for the last 3 months remain heavy. The Government requested the ministries and branches to pay special attentions to the acceleration of investment programs, disbursement of idle capital sources, creation of purchase power of people of all strata, promotion of export and enhancing of the product saleability, in order to stimulate the production development and solve the imperative social issues, particularly employment and social evils.- (Summary)