Circular No. 01/2009/TT-BNG on the Standards for the Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the Standards for Directors of Provincial Departments of Foreign Affairs

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Based on Decree No. 15/2008/NĐ-CP dated February 4, 2008, issued by the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Based on Decree No. 13/2008/NĐ-CP dated February 4, 2008, issued by the Government, regarding the organization of specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government;

Based on Decision No. 82/2004/QĐ-BNV dated November 17, 2004, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs, concerning the issuance of standards for directors of provincial departments and equivalent positions under provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government;

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hereby stipulates the standards for appointing directors of provincial departments of foreign affairs as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular guides the standards for the position of Director of Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs.

Article 2. This Circular applies to cadres and civil servants who are considered for appointment to the position of Director of Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs by the Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces directly under the Central Government (hereinafter referred to as "province").

Article 2. Position and Responsibilities of the Director of the Department

Clause 1. The Director of the Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs is a civil servant heading the Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs; responsible for leading, directing, and managing the activities of the department to fulfill its advisory and support functions for the provincial People's Committee in managing external activities within the province.

Clause 2. The Director of the Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs is accountable to the provincial People's Committee, the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, and simultaneously accountable to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the law in the performance of their external management functions within the province as prescribed by law.

Article 3. Duties of the Director of the Department

Clause 1. To lead the development and submission to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee of long-term and annual plans for external activities in political, economic, cultural, information, and overseas Vietnamese sectors within the province.

Clause 2. To lead and coordinate with relevant agencies in drafting, proposing amendments and supplements to regulatory legal documents and policies in the field of external relations at the local level, and submit them to competent authorities for consideration and promulgation.

Clause 3. To organize guidance, inspection, and auditing of the implementation of regulatory legal documents and policies already issued within the scope of the Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs' functions and tasks in the province.

Clause 4. To periodically review, summarize, and evaluate the results of external activities according to assigned functions and tasks.

Clause 5. To organize the collection, statistics, reporting, and archiving of information on external activities of the province.

Clause 6. To direct and provide guidance on external affairs business to local functional agencies.

Clause 7. To lead or participate in scientific research topics in the field of external relations.

Clause 8. To manage staff, civil servants, officials, and affiliated units of the Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs. To manage and utilize financial resources and assets effectively in accordance with regulations.

Clause 9. To lead or coordinate in resolving recommendations and complaints related to assigned external activities.

Clause 10. To perform other tasks assigned by the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

Chapter II

STANDARDS FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Article 4. Qualities

Patriotic, firmly adhering to the Party's reform policy, national independence, and socialism. Diligently serving the people with high responsibility, efficiency, thrift, integrity, impartiality, honesty, straightforwardness, and a spirit of self-criticism and criticism. Unity, democracy, sincerity with colleagues and subordinates, trusted by the collective. Close ties with the people, trusted by the residents. Observant of organizational discipline, exemplary in complying with laws and state regulations, protecting state secrets, and having a spirit of self-criticism and criticism. Resolute in combating corruption and not engaging in it.

Article 5. Competencies

Point 1. Possess the ability to advise and implement the Party and State's policies on external relations.

Point 2. Possess the ability to study and draft regulatory legal documents, propose management solutions and methods to serve the provincial People's Committee's state management work on external relations.

Point 3. Possess leadership skills, capable of uniting, organizing, and mobilizing staff and officials in the department to carry out assigned tasks and coordinate with relevant levels and agencies.

Article 6. Knowledge

Point 1. Profound understanding of the Party and State's policies on external relations.

Point 2. Profound knowledge of regulatory legal documents on external relations and local regulations related to external activities.

Point 3. Understanding of management practices related to external relations and experience in organizing and managing such activities.

Point 4. Familiarity with the political, economic, and social situation of the locality, the country, and other countries around the world.

Article 7. Qualifications

Point 1. Meet the professional standards of a Senior Specialist grade or higher.

Point 2. Hold a bachelor's degree in diplomacy or international relations. In cases where a bachelor's degree in another major is held, completion of a diplomatic affairs training program at the Diplomatic Academy is required.

Point 3. Hold a postgraduate diploma in political theory.

Point 4. Hold a postgraduate diploma in administrative state management at the Senior Specialist grade or higher.

Point 5. Be proficient in a commonly used foreign language at Level C. For provinces bordering neighboring countries, preference is given to those proficient in the language of the bordering country.

Point 6. Be proficient in using computers and office equipment for work purposes.

Article 8. Other conditions

1. Having at least five years of experience in foreign affairs work, including at least three years in management of consular affairs.

2. The initial appointment age shall not exceed fifty-five years for males and fifty years for females;

3. Possessing health sufficient for the work.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 9. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The People's Committee of the province shall base on the provisions of this Circular to develop plans for training, planning, and considering the appointment of the Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2. The Chairman of the People's Committee of the province when appointing the Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs must base on the conditions and standards stipulated in this Circular and consult the opinion of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

3. In cases of appointments made before this document comes into effect but do not meet the standards prescribed in Article 7 of this Circular, such individuals must be trained to meet the required standards.

Article 10. Effective date:

1\. This Circular takes effect forty-five days from the date of issuance.

2. During the implementation process, if difficulties and obstacles arise, the provinces and centrally governed cities need to promptly reflect these issues to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consideration and appropriate amendments and supplements./.