Decision No. 836/QD-BKHDT dated May 15th, 2023 by the Minister of Planning and Investment.

Article 1. Position and functions

Foreign Economic Relations Department is an affiliated unit under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, which helps the Minister perform state management functions on strategies of development, planning, plans, development investment in terms of official development assistance (ODA), concessional loans, non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance and Vietnam's aid to countries; performing the task of socio-economic development cooperation with the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia; synthesis of foreign economic relations; synthesis of foreign relations with foreign partners, international economic integration, Economic Cooperation Program of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and other regional cooperation initiatives fall under the Ministry's management.

Article 2. Tasks

1. Researching, coordinating and participating in building socio-economic development strategies, 5-year and annual socio-economic development plans, national master plan and regional planning on related contents including: general foreign economic affairs, ODA capital, concessional loans, and non-refundable aid that is not part of Vietnam's official development assistance and aid to countries.

2. Researching, coordinating and participating in building strategies and plans for cooperation between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, international economic integration, Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economic cooperation program, and other cooperation initiatives.

3. Coordinating with ministries and branches to synthesize foreign economic relations for Ministry leaders, Government and superior agencies.

4. Acting as a focal point in state management of ODA capital, concessional loans, non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance, and Vietnam's aid to countries:

a) Presiding over research, drafting and submitting to the Minister or submitting to the Minister to submit to competent authorities for promulgation of legal documents and guiding documents on the management and use of ODA capital, concessional loans and non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance, and Vietnam's aid to countries.

b) Presiding over research, advising and submitting to the Minister or submitting to the Minister to submit to competent authorities for promulgation of strategies, policies, and orientations for attracting and using ODA capital, and concessional loans from foreign donors to Vietnam.

c) Presiding over the preparation of content and coordination of ODA capital sources, concessional loans, and non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance in accordance with the strategy and orientation of attracting and using ODA capital, concessional loans, and non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance.

d) Presiding over and coordinating with relevant agencies to submit to the Minister for submission to the Government the signing of framework international treaties and specific international treaties on non-refundable ODA according to the provisions of law; submitting to the Minister to submit to the Prime Minister for signing an agreement on non-refundable ODA capital according to authority.

e) Presiding over and coordinating with relevant agencies to synthesize and submit to the Minister for submission to competent authorities:

Deciding on proposal of investment programs and projects using ODA loans and concessional loans;

Deciding on investment policies for investment programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans;

Approving the policy of implementing technical assistance projects and non-projects using non-refundable ODA capital;

Approving the list of Vietnam's aid programs and projects for countries according to its authority.

f) Presiding over the appraisal of non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance, submitting to the Minister for submission to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval for non-refundable aid amounts that is not part of official development assistance under the Prime Minister's authority.

g) Acting as a focal point to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to determine domestic financial mechanisms applicable to programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans.

h) Presiding over and coordinating with relevant agencies to synthesize and make annual and medium-term public investment plans for programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans from foreign donors; reviewing, synthesizing, adjusting and supplementing medium-term and annual counterpart capital plans from budget capital to prepare and implement programs and projects using ODA and concessional loans from foreign donors subject to central budget allocation.

i) Presiding over reviewing, synthesizing, adjusting and supplementing annual and medium-term public investment plans for programs and projects using ODA capital, concessional loans, reporting to the Minister for submission to competent authorities for approval.

k) Presiding over appraisal of capital sources and ability to balance ODA capital and concessional loans of programs and projects according to authority.

l) Presiding over synthesizing the need to supplement and adjusting the foreign capital plan from the central budget in the annual budget estimate plan, medium-term and annual public investment plan of ODA capital and concessional loans.

m) Presiding over appraising or synthesizing and submitting to the Minister for approval technical assistance project and non-project documents using ODA capital, concessional loans, non-refundable aid amounts that is not part of official development assistance under the Prime Minister's authority; participating in appraisal of investment programs and projects using ODA capital and concessional loans under the approval authority of the Prime Minister.

n) Presiding over monitoring and evaluating the implementation of programs and projects using ODA capital, concessional loans, non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance and Vietnam's aid to countries; inspecting and monitoring the implementation of planning, plans, programs and projects using ODA capital, concessional loans, non-refundable aid that is not part of official development assistance, and Vietnam's aid to countries; synthesizing and implementing reporting regime on the attraction, management and use of ODA capital, concessional loans, non-refundable aid amounts that is not part of official development assistance and Vietnam’s aid to countries according to the provisions of law.

o) Acting as a focal point to submit to Ministry Leaders for handling according to authority or propose to the Prime Minister to handle issues related to many Ministries, branches and localities to ensure implementation progress and promote disbursement of ODA capital, concessional loans and non-refundable aid amounts that is not part of official development assistance and Vietnam’s aid to countries.

p) Presiding over organizing the implementation of synchronous measures to improve the efficiency of management and use of ODA capital, concessional loans, non-refundable aid amounts that is not part of official development assistance and Vietnam’s aid to countries.

q) Presiding over the task of monitoring and evaluating Vietnam's aid programs and projects for countries directly managed by the assigned Ministry.

r) Presiding over the compilation and dissemination of professional guidance documents on mobilization, preparation, appraisal, implementation management, monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects using ODA capital, concessional loans, non-refundable aid amounts that is not part of official development assistance and Vietnam’s aid to countries; supporting training in program and project management in a professional and sustainable manner.

5. Performing the tasks of Deputy Head of the Secretariat assisting the National Steering Committee on ODA and concessional loans of the Government.

6. Regarding cooperation with Laos and Cambodia:

a) Assisting the Minister in performing permanent tasks and Chairman of the Vietnam Cooperation Committee in the Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; working as Secretary of the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Committee. Preparing Strategies, Treaties and Agreements on economic, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; developing plans and organizing the implementation of cooperation programs between Vietnam and Laos, between Vietnam and Cambodia on the basis of signed Strategies, Treaties, Agreements and Minutes.

b) Researching and synthesizing mechanisms and policies and developing long-term, 5-year and annual cooperation plans on economic, cultural and scientific and technical cooperation activities with Laos; guiding, inspecting and managing ministries, branches and localities and periodically report on the implementation of cooperation plans with Laos; managing the implementation of programs and projects using aid capital from the Government of Vietnam for the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

c) Performing permanent tasks to assist the Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam Coordination Committee on the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle Area, proposing mechanisms, policies and measures to direct, administer, and promote economic cooperation in the Triangle region of the three countries; drafting programs and content for cooperation and coordination of activities between the three countries of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Guiding, inspecting and managing ministries, branches and localities in implementing signed agreements.

7. Regarding economic cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion and a number of other cooperation initiatives:

a) Performing the tasks of national coordinator of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program and a number of other cooperation initiatives;

b) Performing the tasks of National Permanent Secretary of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program.

8. Regarding international integration and bilateral cooperation:

a) Acting as the focal point for international integration within the assigned tasks of the Ministry of Planning and Investment;

b) Presiding over and acting as a focal point to participate in intergovernmental committees and joint committees on economic cooperation between Vietnam and other countries and international organizations.

c) Monitoring, managing and reporting on the implementation of international integration tasks by units within the Ministry.

9. Presiding over the task of synthesizing weekly, monthly, and quarterly information on the international socio-economic situation from official sources to report to the Ministry's Leadership.

10. Presiding and coordinating with Department of Legislation to organize the codification and consolidation of legal documents in the fields of responsibility according to regulations.

11. Presiding over the implementation of management tasks for associations and unions whose main fields of operation fall under the state management function of the Department according to the provisions of law.

12. Coordinating with units under the Ministry to perform relevant tasks within the scope of management of the sectors or fields of responsibility.

13. Performing other tasks as assigned by the Minister.

Article 3. Organizational structure

Foreign Economic Relations Department has one Director General and a number of Deputy Directors General; Foreign Economic Relations Department works under the Leader regime and Specialist regime; The Department’s staffing is decided by the Minister; the Head of Department decides to assign staff and tasks to divisions, ensuring the criteria for establishing divisions according to regulations.

Foreign Economic Relations Department has functional divisions as follows:

1. Department of synthesis and cooperation with international and foreign non-governmental organizations;

2. Department of cooperation with Asia, America and international economic integration;

3. Department of cooperation with Europe and Africa;

4. Department of cooperation with international financial organizations;

5. Department of cooperation with Laos and Cambodia.

Article 4. Enforcement

This Decision has come into force since the date of signing and replaces the Decision No. 1896/QD-BKHDT dated December 22^nd, 2017 by the Minister of Planning and Investment on the functions, tasks and organizational structure of Foreign Economic Relations Department.

Article 5. Implementation responsibility

Director General of Department of Organization and Personnel, Chief of the Ministry Office, Director General of Foreign Economic Relations Department and the heads of units and organizations under the Ministry are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

Ministry of Planning and Investment