56th session of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly: Ensuring the effective implementation of special mechanisms and policies, preventing losses.

The President of the National Assembly, Tran Thanh Man, delivered a speech during this session. The President of the National Assembly, Tran Thanh Man, chaired the session. In his brief presentation of the draft decree, Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang stated that the publication of this decree aims to implement the provisions of the state budget law of 2025 in order to carry out tasks in line with the specific characteristics of certain foreign policy activities.

The project includes 4 chapters and 17 articles, governing the collection and use of state budget funds for certain foreign policy activities; the preparation, execution, regulation, and publication of the budget for certain foreign policy activities, in accordance with the state budget law of 2025. The foreign policy activities of senior Party and state officials are not covered by this decree.

Entities involved include ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, central agencies, centrally-run provinces and cities, and organizations and individuals involved in managing and using budgets for foreign policy activities. Presenting the verification report, the President of the Economic and Financial Committee, Phan Van Mai, stated that the Permanent Committee of the Economic and Financial Committee had found the government’s submission to the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly for review and comments before implementation to be within its competence and in accordance with the provisions of Article 76, paragraph 1, related to the implementation of specific content of the state budget law for 2025.

Regarding the type of currency used in budget planning and accounting for Vietnamese agencies abroad, the Permanent Committee of the Economic and Financial Committee found that this regulation is not unique and complies with Article 13, paragraph 1, of the state budget law.

The main practical difficulty involves supplementary budgeting when the exchange rate set by the Ministry of Finance during budget preparation differs from the actual exchange rate. Therefore, if the actual exchange rate is higher than the one set during budget preparation, a supplementary budget is necessary; conversely, if it is lower, the budget is canceled at the end of the year, following the state budget law. As a result, we propose that the government regulate this issue through a decree within its jurisdiction, in compliance with the Constitution and the state budget law.

In conclusion of the session, the Vice President of the National Assembly, Nguyen Duc Hai, stated that the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly had approved the publication of a governmental decree regulating the management and use of the state budget for certain foreign policy activities, and fundamentally approved the content of the draft decree. The Vice President of the National Assembly requested the government to take into account the opinions of the Permanent Commission of the National Assembly and the audit agency to finalize the decree project. It is important to clearly define the amount of advances and the repayment deadline to the state budget, by the next budget year at the latest, when advances are taken from the state budget reserve fund, in accordance with budget laws, accounting laws, and other applicable laws. Furthermore, the decree must clearly define the responsibilities of the head of the entity using the state budget and establish a strict inspection and control mechanism to prevent any abuse.

Concerning the type of currency used for establishing the state budget for Vietnamese representation agencies abroad, we propose that the government issue regulations within its jurisdiction, in accordance with the state budget law.

Moreover, the decree project should be revised to ensure its consistency with the legal system, avoid duplication, ensure feasibility, prevent legal loopholes, and manage and use funds economically, efficiently, and in compliance with regulations. The opinions of the audit agency regarding the application of laws related to expenses related to the foreign policy activities of “people’s organizations” should be examined to ensure appropriate regulation. The government is responsible for the content of the decree and organizing its implementation, as well as for the specific policies and mechanisms put in place to ensure its effectiveness, economy, and prevent losses.