Tightly manage e-commerce platforms, continue to investigate typical cases

On the afternoon of November 9, in Hanoi, the Government Office held a regular press conference for October 2024, chaired by Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son. At the press conference, representatives of leaders of a number of ministries and branches answered questions from journalists regarding issues of public concern.

Scene of the regular Government press conference in October 2024 (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac).

Management Tighten up e-commerce platforms

Regarding the management of e-commerce platforms, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long said that the Ministry has actively worked with functional units, as well as with the legal units of the above cross-border e-commerce platforms, requiring them to urgently register according to legal regulations in November. During the registration process, these platforms need to officially notify the applications and websites that they are carrying out the registration procedure; this process must stop all commercial activities, services, advertising, and marketing to protect consumers.

In addition, the Deputy Minister also said that the ministry is also urgently studying other relevant legal regulations on e-commerce, taxes and other regulations... to meet the requirements of compliance with Vietnamese law. Currently, the two e-commerce platforms are cooperating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and must complete the legal regulations in November.

Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Government Spokesperson, chaired the regular Government press conference in October 2024. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Ministry also issued warnings and implemented that if these platforms do not comply with Vietnamese law, it will coordinate with competent authorities to implement technical measures such as blocking applications and blocking domain names. The Ministry and competent authorities will actively and strongly strengthen inspection measures, communication and guidance for consumers, warn of risks when trading with unlicensed platforms, and promote communication of the Campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods".

The Ministry of Industry and Trade reports to the Prime Minister to review relevant legal regulations and propose research on measures to perfect the legal framework in the coming time.

Regarding tax management, Mr. Mai Son - Deputy General Director of the General Department of Taxation (Ministry of Finance) said that according to the tax regulations of e-commerce activities, e-commerce platforms, cross-border e-commerce such as Temu, Shein must be responsible for registering, self-calculating, self-declaring and paying taxes on the Electronic Information Portal for foreign suppliers of the General Department of Taxation. If it is discovered that a foreign supplier has declared incorrect revenue, the tax authority will compare data to determine whether Temu and the foreign supplier have fulfilled their obligations and conduct an inspection according to regulations if there are signs of tax evasion.

To date, 116 foreign suppliers have registered to declare and pay taxes via the Electronic Information Portal, with a cumulative revenue of VND 20,174 billion, of which in 2024 this tax amount is VND 8,600 billion, an increase of 25.7% compared to 2023.

Regarding Temu Company, Mr. Mai Son said on September 4, Lemun Company - the owner Temu Company has registered for tax via the Electronic Information Portal. According to Circular 80, foreign suppliers must declare quarterly. Therefore, on October 30, 2024, this company declared and submitted the tax declaration for the third quarter of 2024, declaring revenue as 0. This company also provided an explanation that the revenue generated in October will be fully declared in the declaration for the fourth quarter of 2024.

Mr. Mai Son affirmed that the Ministry of Finance will closely monitor and urge Temu's tax declaration and payment activities, ensuring that the state budget is collected in accordance with the law. In addition, the Ministry will closely coordinate with management agencies related to cross-border e-commerce platform activities, and carry out tax management work promptly and fully.

Regarding tax management of sellers and e-commerce floor business households in general, the Ministry of Finance has reported to the Government to amend the Law on Tax Management. In which, it stipulates that the organization managing e-commerce floors (domestic and foreign) has the function of payment, deduction, and tax payment on behalf of business households and individuals doing business on the floor. Thus, when the law is passed, specific regulations will be issued for the floors to coordinate and support with tax authorities, ensuring the uniform implementation of tax regulations.

Push speed up investigation of key cases

Information about the case that occurred at Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) was announced by Major General Hoang Anh Tuyen, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, on September 16, the Investigation Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security initiated a case of embezzlement of property and abuse of position while performing official duties that occurred at SJC and related units.

To date, the Ministry of Public Security has prosecuted six defendants on two groups of charges: "embezzlement of property" and "abuse of position and power while performing official duties". Initial investigation results show that the defendants took advantage of the gold price stabilization business to create false documents and books, and appropriated property.

Currently, the Ministry of Public Security is focusing on consolidating evidence, expanding the investigation, and thoroughly recovering the misappropriated assets.

Regarding violations related to Thuan An Group, Major General Hoang Anh Tuyen said that at the end of October 2024, the investigation agency initiated a case and prosecuted the accused for bribery in Dak Lak province. The three people prosecuted include: Mr. Pham Van Ha, former Director of the Project Management Board for Investment in Construction of Traffic Works and Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak Province; Mr. Le Dinh Hai, Director of Saigon Construction and Trading Company Limited and Mr. Hoang Dinh Chuong, Director of An Nguyen Company Limited.

Currently, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency is continuing to investigate and clarify signs of violations in bidding and project implementation of Thuan An Group, while focusing forces to expand the investigation of the case, thoroughly recover assets for the State, and propose strict handling of violations by the defendants.

During the investigation, the defendants admitted their wrongdoings, voluntarily paid, and encouraged their families to remedy the consequences of the case. To date, the investigation agency has seized 122 billion VND and 130,000 USD related to the wrongdoings of the defendants and people involved in the case.

Regarding the latest developments related to the case at Thai Duong Group Joint Stock Company, Vietnam Rare Earth Joint Stock Company and related units, Major General Hoang Anh Tuyen said that on October 27, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency initiated additional prosecution of the environmental pollution case, prosecuted the accused, and applied preventive measures against 3 people for the crime of causing environmental pollution.

Remove It is difficult to solve the two projects of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Hospital, Facility 2.

Deputy Minister of Health Le Duc Luan: The Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Hospital 2 project has been under construction since 2015. During the project implementation, construction, and contract implementation, there were many related problems. In early 2021, the project was temporarily suspended. Since then, the problems have not been resolved, and there is no mechanism to handle difficulties related to the project.

Deputy Minister of Health Le Duc Luan informed the press about the progress of resolving problems related to the two projects of Viet Duc Hospital and Bach Mai Hospital, branch 2. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Faced with that situation, in 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision 40/QD-TCT, establishing a Government working group, including representatives of the Ministry of Health, and with the participation of relevant ministries and branches such as the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, and the Government Office, to carry out the task of reviewing the difficulties and obstacles of the project, proposing solutions to resolve, remove, and handle the project so that it can continue and be completed to serve the people.

In the past time, the Working Group of the Government and the Ministry of Health have repeatedly reviewed the project documents and comprehensively assessed the legal issues and related violations; studied and identified the basic difficulties and obstacles that need to be resolved. On that basis, proposed solutions for handling and resolving. The Ministry of Health and the Working Group have sent many reports to the Government and directly reported at meetings. Up to now, the Ministry is finalizing the plan for further reporting, and will propose and propose to the Government and competent authorities on solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles for these two projects. Implementing the direction of the Government, the Government Standing Committee, and the Ministry of Health are coordinating with ministries and branches to have feasible solutions, and soon submit them to competent authorities for permission to have a mechanism to resolve these difficulties and obstacles. On that basis, these hospitals will continue to be built and put into operation.

Regarding Bach Mai Hospital, the completed volume is also over 90%, Viet Duc Hospital about 60%. Today, Viet Duc Hospital contractor is restarting and continuing the project.

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