A number of National Assembly deputies yesterday, March 18, recommended a tender process for the exploration and exploitation of natural resources.

Trucks transport coal at a coal mine in Quang Ninh Province.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen said the licensing process for mineral exploitation was still not tight enough to prevent speculation.

The economic committee suggested the Government hold a trial bidding process for some mineral exploitation areas to formulate regulations to tie up successful bidders to paying the required taxes and fees.

NA Social Affairs Committee chairwoman Truong Thi Mai expressed her concern that companies already involved in exploring the areas would be permitted to bid and they had the potential to misinform the Government on the extent or value of mineral reserves.

“Is it possible that they could be dishonest to the Government about mineral reserves?” she asked.

The draft amended law also includes provisions on management competence and responsibilities of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment local People’s Committees.

It also widens the law’s sphere to regulate mineral processing activities.

However, Assembly Legal Committee chairman Nguyen Van Thuan disagreed with the proposal to regulate mineral processing activities, saying the matter had already been regulated by another law.

And while the current law stated exporting crude minerals must be limited, the Government should cease mineral exportation, Thuan said, arguing the country could face minerals exhaustion.

Many deputies agreed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must be responsible for the management of mineral activities nationwide.

Council of Nationalities Chairman K’sor Phuoc proposed further investigation and examination activities be carried out, especially at the grassroots level.

He said the amended law should include regulations on supervision of minerals investigation, exploration and exploitation.

People’s Aspiration Committee chairman Tran The Vuong said the law must increase discipline in minerals exploitation to stop loss and waste.

“Major issues must be considered by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources,” he said.

Justice Ministry

Most members of the National Assembly Standing Committee think the Ministry of Justice proposed law to govern adoption fees are too ambiguous and want them re-written.

The fees are intended to prevent the trafficking or exploitation of adopted children.

The proposed law would have would-be foster parents pay an introductory fee as well as fees for the support and education of the child from the time of introduction until the procedures necessary for adoption are completed.

This would include passport and visa fees.

Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong told the committee in Ha Noi yesterday that such fees were necessary.

They conformed with both Viet Nam’s law and international convention, he said.

But National Assembly Nationalities Council chairman K’sor Phuoc, Social Affairs Committee chairwoman Truong Thi Mai and Ombudsmen director Tran The Vuong argued the regulation was too vague.

All asked its writers to reconsider their draft to ensure that it would be impossible to take advantage of it.

The Ombudsman director said Clause 10, which governs fees for the support and education of the child from the time of introduction until the procedures necessary for adoption are completed, was unacceptable.

Child adoption should serve humanity, he said.

“I don’t know how long it will take from when a child is introduced to his prospective foster parents and the procedures are completed.

“I also can’t imagine how much the total cost will be.”

Other participants also shared this opinion.

Law Committee chairman Nguyen Van Thuan also asked if the regulation of child-adoption fees was appropriate.

“The regulation might well be taken advantage of,” he warned.

“I feel uneasy because it should not cost too much to support a child for a few months before he or she is adopted.”

Justice Minister Cuong disagreed.

A shortage of funds had forced many centres that raised orphans and homeless children to close, he said.

1,000 children

Almost 1,000 children were adopted last year.

But the figure had previously reached between 4,000 and 5,000 children.

National Assembly vice chairman Uong Chu Luu agreed with the necessity to have adoption fees regulated.

But he asked the justice ministry to take the views of the Standing Committee members seriously. The Government should provide the details as to how it conformed with international convention, he said.

The Standing Committee also discussed a draft Postal Services Law.

Most accepted the version prepared by the assembly’s Science, Technology and Environment Committee. The draft met international commitments and treaties and satisfied the demand for integration, the members agreed.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News