Overview of the second meeting on streamlining the Government apparatus. (Source: VGP)

On the morning of December 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Government's Steering Committee on summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 of the 6th Central Conference of the 12th tenure "Some issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently" chaired the second meeting of the Steering Committee.

Also attending were Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee; Deputy Prime Ministers Tran Hong Ha, Le Thanh Long, Ho Duc Phoc, Bui Thanh Son and a number of Ministers who are members of the Steering Committee.

According to the Steering Committee, implementing the request of the Central Steering Committee on summarizing Resolution 18-NQ/TW, the Government, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government have urgently deployed the reorganization of the political system towards streamlining, effective and efficient operations. Up to now, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government have basically completed the planned reorganization of the apparatus.

The Steering Committee has issued a plan to guide the arrangement and streamlining of the Government's organizational apparatus. Accordingly, 8 ministries and ministerial-level agencies will be maintained; 14 ministries and ministerial-level agencies will be restructured, arranged and merged. After the arrangement, there will be 13 ministries and 4 ministerial-level agencies (a reduction of 5 ministries); 4 agencies under the Government (a reduction of 4 agencies). Along with that, at ministries, ministerial-level agencies and agencies under the Government, the number of internal organizational units will be reduced by at least 15%-20%.

At the meeting, the Steering Committee reviewed the implementation of tasks since the first meeting and tasks for the coming time; considered the Draft General Report on the reorganization of the Government's apparatus; the Draft Report of the Government Party Committee on the summary of the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW; and the reorganization of the Party in ministries, branches and agencies under the Government.

At the same time, the Steering Committee will consider the submission of the Government Party Committee to develop a Decree on the regime and policies for cadres, civil servants and public employees in the reorganization of the political system; the management of public finance, assets, and public investment projects in the reorganization of the political system; the reorganization of state-owned enterprises... On that basis, the Steering Committee will complete the submission to the Politburo and the Central Steering Committee on the summary of the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the second meeting on streamlining the Government apparatus. (Source: VGP)

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed, acknowledged and highly appreciated the opinions of the Steering Committee members; assigned the Ministry of Home Affairs - the standing agency of the Steering Committee to receive the opinions and coordinate with relevant agencies to continue perfecting the documents submitted to the Steering Committee.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that the results of this meeting be announced to ministries, branches, and agencies as a basis for continuing to perfect the projects of ministries, branches, and agencies, under the direction of the assigned Deputy Prime Ministers.

In the spirit of “clear thinking, high determination, great effort, and resolute action; whatever you do, finish it,” the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches, and agencies to uphold their responsibilities, put national and ethnic interests first and foremost; and reorganize the apparatus in accordance with Vietnam’s circumstances and conditions, with reference to international experience.

From there, we will streamline the organizational structure in a streamlined but effective and efficient manner; not eliminate functions and tasks, even increase tasks for the organization, but must be effective and efficient; reduce focal points, reduce intermediaries, strengthen the grassroots; increase the application of digital transformation in State management, avoid the mechanism of asking and giving, and fight petty corruption.

The Prime Minister requested that in the process of restructuring the apparatus, it is necessary to fight against group interests and personal interests; to do a good job of ideological work for cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers, along with building policies and ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of ministries, civil servants, public employees, and workers. During the restructuring process, it is necessary to ensure that the tasks of ministries, branches, agencies, and units continue to be promoted, uninterrupted, and completed as set out.

For State-owned corporations and general companies, the Prime Minister directs the classification of enterprises and plans for arrangement, ensuring state management in parallel with promoting the operational efficiency of enterprises. Along with that, continue to improve related laws, ensure decentralization, delegation of authority, and assign more responsibilities to enterprises.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Home Affairs - the standing agency of the Steering Committee to continue guiding and supporting ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government to complete the project; on that basis, complete the general project of the Government to submit to competent authorities to ensure the time and quality according to the requirements of the Central Steering Committee.