On January 30 and 31, the Government held its January 2001 regular meeting to discuss and resolve the following issues:

It heard the Minister of Planning and Investment who is the chairman of the State Evaluation Council for Son La Hydro-electric power project, presenting the evaluation report on Son La Hydro-electric power project. It unanimously adopted the plan for building Son La hydro-electric power plant with investment capital source mobilized mainly in the country. It assigned the Minister of Planning and Investment, to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with concerned agencies in gathering cabinet members? opinions, finalizing the project?s dossier and submitting it to the Prime Minister, and at the same time, to make expeditious preparation for starting the construction of this project in 2004-2005.

It heard the General Director of Customs presenting the Customs Bill. It assigned the General Department of Customs to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with concerned agencies in gathering cabinet members? opinions, adjusting and finalizing the bill and submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision of further submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly.

It heard the Minister-Director of the Government Office reporting on the situation in Tan Ty lunar new year festival and considered the Planning and Investment Minister?s report on the situation of implementation of the January 2001 plan. It requested the ministries, branches and localities to well organize the implementation of the following tasks in the immediate future:

- To expeditiously concretize the 2001 tasks and working programs, already approved by the Government, into their respective specific tasks and action programs, at the same time, to well organize the implementation thereof, ensuring the time-limit for solving socio-economic issues.

- To complete the assignment of plans to grassroots units by the end of February 2001 at the latest; to reform the administrative procedures at the same time, step up the tempo of implementation of capital construction investment projects according to the set plans.

- To continue implementing measures to surmount consequences of natural calamities, stabilize agricultural production.

- To closely monitor the situation of international and domestic market prices, to take rational demand-pull measures, to step up the product consumption, to limit trade deficit, to create conditions for development of production and business activities of all economic sectors.

- To take effective measures to limit traffic accidents, actively prevent and combat crimes and social evils.

It considered the report on the work of inspection and settlement of complaints and denunciations in the fourth quarter of 2000, presented by the State Inspector General.- (Summary)