Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for a continued review of tasks and solutions related to the reorganisation and merger of provincial-and communal-level administrative units, stressing the need to avoid overlapping responsibilities while ensuring that no duties are neglected, paving the way for a more efficient two-tier political system at the local level.
The PM made the request while chairing a meeting of the Government’s Steering Committee tasked with reviewing the implementation of the 12th Party Central Committee’s Resolution on continued reform and reorganisation of political system to ensure it is more streamlined, effective and efficient, in Hanoi on April 14.
The steering committee reported that the 13th Party Central Committee, during its 11th meeting from April 10-12, decided to reduce the number of provinces and centrally-run cities to 34 and cut commune-level units by 60-70%, paving the way for a leaner administrative structure.
Also on April 14, the PM approved the Government’s restructuring plan. He urged ministries and agencies to proactively address emerging challenges, proposing solutions to higher authorities when needed.
Ministers and heads of sectors must act decisively, ensuring the right person, task, timeline, responsibility, and authority to deliver expected outcomes, he said.
The Government Office, alongside relevant ministries, must guide, monitor, and expedite the restructuring process. A key requirement of the reform is the establishment of a public administrative service centre at each commune and an one-stop investment portal at the provincial level. These aim to simplify administrative and investment procedures, benefiting citizens and businesses alike. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and other agencies were tasked with developing tools and guidelines to ensure seamless implementation.
The government leader stressed the urgent need to amend the Law on the Organisation of Local Governments, follow the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation, and remove barriers to Project 06, which leverages population, identification and electronic authentication data to advance national digital transformation.
Regarding asset and infrastructure management during the restructuring, he directed that surplus facilities be repurposed for public use, prioritising healthcare, education, culture, and community services./.
