DECIDES:

Article 1.- To establish the Working Commission on non-governmental organizations to assist the Prime Minister in directing the management of non-governmental organizations of Vietnam and foreign non-governmental organizations operating in Vietnam.

Article 2.- The Working Commission on non-governmental organizations has the following main tasks:

1. To compile reports and sum up the suggestions from the Ministries, branches, localities and mass organizations so as to propose policies regarding the non-governmental organizations of Vietnam and foreign non-governmental organizations operating in Vietnam.

2. To coordinate the work of concerned agencies, localities and mass organizations in implementing the policies on non-governmental organizations.

3. To consider the granting, amendment and supplement to, and withdrawal of, the operating licenses, permits for establishing project offices, permits for establishing representative offices of foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam in accordance with the Regulation on operation of foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam issued together with Decision No.340-TTg of May 24, 1996 of the Prime Minister.

4. To observe the regime of periodical reporting to the Prime Minister on the operation of foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.

Article 3.- The Working Commission on non-governmental organizations is composed of:

1. The President of the Commission: The Minister-Head of the Office of the Government.

2. The members:

- A Vice-Chairman of the Government Commission on Organization and Personnel,

- A Vice-Chairman of the External Relations Commission of the Party�s Central Committee,

- A Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs,

- A Deputy Minister of the Interior,

- The Standing Vice-President of the Union of Vietnam Friendship Associations.

3. The Secretary of the Commission: A department-level official of the Office of the Government.

Article 4.- The standing body in charge of the work on foreign non-governmental organizations is the Union of Vietnam Friendship Associations.

The standing body in charge of the management of domestic non-governmental organizations is the Government Commission on Organization and Personnel.

Article 5.- The working regime of the Commission and the assignment of specific responsibilities to the members of the Commission shall be decided by the President of the Commission.

Article 6.- The Working Commission on non-governmental organizations has its own seal.

Article 7.- This Decision takes effect from the date of its signing and replaces Decision No.214-TTg of July 7, 1993 of the Prime Minister on establishing the Steering Commission on non-governmental organizations.

Article 8.- The Ministers, the Heads of the Ministerial-level agencies, the Heads of the agencies attached to the Government, the Presidents of the People�s Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, the President of the Union of Vietnam Friendship Associations and the heads of the central committees of mass organizations shall have to implement this Decision.