At the meeting, permanent Government members discussed and gave opinions on: developing the National Rare Earth Strategy; the draft Government Resolution on mechanisms to remove difficulties and obstacles for transitional Build-Transfer (BT) projects; the draft Decree detailing the handling of obstacles for transport BT projects; and several other issues.

Regarding the development of the National Rare Earth Strategy, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to strengthen state management in this field and develop the rare earth industry to contribute to strategic autonomy.

He outlined tasks and solutions including: building and perfecting institutions, mechanisms, and policies with a priority on deep processing; investing financially and mobilizing state resources, public-private partnership (PPP) resources, and investor resources; developing infrastructure; transferring and mastering suitable advanced technology; promoting public-private cooperation; and implementing smart governance based on digital transformation.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies to coordinate, incorporate opinions raised at the meeting, and finalize drafts, reports, and schemes for submission to competent authorities for review.

Regarding the mechanism to remove difficulties and obstacles for transitional BT projects, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to incorporate opinions, finalize documents, and submit them for the promulgation of a Government Resolution under simplified procedures.

The Prime Minister emphasized the requirement to strictly comply with and correctly apply regulations and laws within proper authority, ensuring harmony of interests and risk-sharing among the State, enterprises, and the people.

On that basis, projects with inspection conclusions must be reviewed and handled. For projects without inspection conclusions, Provincial People’s Committees are assigned to conduct inspections and handle them according to their competence, in the spirit of “localities deciding, localities acting, and localities taking responsibility.” Ministries and sectors shall implement tasks within their authority; if issues go beyond their competence, they must report to the Government and the Prime Minister.