Solution to stabilize gasoline prices
Questioning Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, Delegate Tran Hong Nguyen (Binh Thuan delegation) said that recently the State has taken many measures to reduce gasoline prices. However, this is an essential item that serves people's daily needs and the price is currently still high. Partly because there are many taxes and fees that account for a high percentage such as the fee for bringing gasoline and oil from abroad; Fees for bringing gasoline from the refinery to the port.
“Please let the Minister know how these costs are calculated and what percentage of gasoline and oil prices they account for? By calculating like that, does the price closely follow the actual situation in the current context of world fluctuations? At the same time, does the Minister have any solutions to reduce some taxes and fees in gasoline prices to stabilize prices" - Ms. Nguyen asked.
In response, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc informed that gasoline prices are built based on factors such as: purchase price from the factory or from abroad plus intermediate costs. Initial formation costs account for about 65-77%. Other taxes, such as import tax, special consumption tax, VAT or environmental tax on gasoline and oil, account for 15-29%. The standard profit cost is from 1,2-2%.
According to Mr. Phoc, in recent years to ensure a reduction in gasoline prices, the Ministry of Finance has advised the Government and National Assembly to reduce environmental protection taxes in gasoline and oil business by 50%. In the environmental protection tax structure in petroleum business, for example, 4.000 VND/liter will be reduced to 2.000 VND/liter, only 50% and will last from 2021 until now.
“Perhaps it will be implemented until the end of this year to stabilize gasoline prices. When we limit fossil energy to renewable energy, it is true that these taxes should increase day by day, but we must ensure to stimulate demand and solve difficulties for the economy, so we have taken measures to reduce taxes. As for the standard cost, which actually accounts for 7-12% of the transportation cost, the key petroleum importing enterprises will compile statistics on contracts and send documents to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The Ministry of Industry and Trade gathered to determine the structure of gasoline prices, then agreed with the Ministry of Finance. Once the agreement with the Ministry of Finance is complete, it will return to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to announce the base gasoline price" - Mr. Phoc said.
Tighten the activities of auditing companies
According to Delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap delegation), the country currently has 200 independent auditing businesses. In recent times, businesses have performed good audits, but there are also businesses with errors and negatives. Recently, there were 3 auditing companies making mistakes. Request the Minister to clarify solutions to resolve the above situation.
Responding, Minister Ho Duc Phoc said that recently an independent audit had some violations in a number of criminal cases related to many factors. First, the capacity of audit staff in audit companies; Second is the sense of responsibility of the staff doing direct audit work; Third, cases of collusion to intentionally violate the law to do wrong cannot be ruled out.
Regarding auditing work, the Ministry of Finance has directed and tightened the auditor stage. In order to be granted an auditor certificate, conditions must be set in accordance with the law, training and organization will be provided. Exams, usually auditors have never passed the exam and passed the exam with over 30%, the highest year only achieved 30%. Thus, auditing standards and auditing methods have been seriously issued by the Ministry of Finance.
"In the coming time, the Ministry of Finance will continue to tighten the operations of auditing companies to re-check records, and if any violations are found, they will be strictly handled" - Mr. Phoc said.
Regarding the violations of valuation companies, Mr. Phoc said that there are only a few hundred valuation companies in the country, and the Ministry of Finance also very strictly manages the certification exam process for valuation companies. appraisers, recent violations were mainly caused by appraisers intentionally making mistakes.
Negotiations are underway with 80 countries on bilateral visa exemption
Questioning Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Delegate Ta Thi Yen (Dien Bien province National Assembly delegation) said that in recent years, Vietnam has always been voted as a favorite destination for tourists, and has signed Visa exemption agreements for some countries to attract tourism. However, currently there are only a few countries that waive visas for Vietnamese citizens and applying for visas for Vietnamese citizens is still difficult. "Request the Minister to explain the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this issue and solutions to improve the situation, creating conditions for Vietnamese citizens when traveling abroad and vice versa" - Ms. Yen asked.
In response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that our country has an increasingly strong position, fortune and potential like never before, as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has affirmed. This shows that countries are very interested in, increasing visits and tourism, considering Vietnam a very safe and effective destination, with many scenic and historical attractions, receiving great attention from international friends. international.
According to Mr. Son, the problem is that in the current trend of opening up deep international integration, not only countries come to Vietnam, but Vietnamese citizens have a great need to go outside to do business, travel, and visit. animal. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promoted exchanges. Continue to coordinate with ministries and branches to simplify immigration procedures for foreign citizens, as well as our compatriots abroad returning home. The National Assembly has passed the Immigration Law for Vietnamese citizens as well as foreign citizens, which greatly facilitates their stay in Vietnam and increases the issuance of tourist visas. During our recent visit to Australia, Australian friends highly appreciated our deployment of tourist visas, which is very convenient.
“In addition, there are 13 countries where we unilaterally waive visas for citizens coming to Vietnam for tourism. These are key tourist areas. The Ministry has coordinated with ministries and branches to negotiate directly with countries, reaching 15 countries with bilateral visa exemption agreements. So we have 25 countries where citizens can travel together. This is the main direction that will be deployed in the near future to help our citizens go abroad as well as ensure citizens of other countries enter Vietnam, thus our position will also increase. In the absence of a common passport, the Ministry is negotiating with 80 countries on bilateral visa exemption, meaning reciprocity on diplomatic and official passports. This creates conditions for leaders, ministries, branches and localities to travel abroad on business trips much more conveniently. On the contrary, in the past time, we have created good advantages" - Mr. Son said and said that in the future, we will continue to follow the direction of the Government to negotiate and sign bilateral visa exemption between the two countries. create opportunities for Vietnamese citizens to go abroad, and vice versa for foreign citizens to enter Vietnam.
Strengthen connections to the global knowledge network
Delegate Nguyen Thi Ngoc Xuan (Binh Duong Province National Assembly Delegation) also asked Minister Bui Thanh Son to mention solutions to strengthen activities connecting the global knowledge network of Vietnamese people. “Request the Minister to provide breakthrough solutions to enhance activities connecting global knowledge networks of Vietnamese people in each essential field group and have a worthy remuneration regime for Vietnamese knowledge make practical contributions to the Fatherland? – Ms. Xuan questioned.
Regarding this issue, Mr. Son said, this is a very large team, with about 6 million overseas Vietnamese living abroad in 130 countries and territories, of which 80% are in developed countries. Over the past 3 decades, overseas Vietnamese remittances alone have been about 200 billion USD, an average of 15-17 billion USD/year, contributing greatly to socio-economic development. But what is more important is that overseas Vietnamese knowledge sources account for about 10% of the total number of Vietnamese people living abroad, along with local ministries and branches to find some solutions to take advantage of.
Accordingly, the overseas Vietnamese knowledge network is organized and representative agencies mobilize people to establish scientific and technological knowledge associations. Recently, the Prime Minister came to Australia and there are many networks, including scientific and technical associations and overseas Vietnamese knowledge associations. The leaders also met with overseas Vietnamese knowledge associations and coordinated with ministries and branches to connect the knowledge community of more than 10% of the total scientific and technological knowledge among overseas Vietnamese through various forums. Every year, the Ministry organizes many forums, and will soon organize a conference of overseas Vietnamese around the world, in which, together with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, we will organize a conference on the knowledge of our overseas Vietnamese abroad to contribute freely. only institutional knowledge but also resources.
