Circular No. 10/2025/TT-BNG provides detailed regulations and guidance on implementing Article 13 and Article 14 of Decree No. 134/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 12, 2025, of the Government regarding decentralization and delegation in the field of foreign affairs.

CIRCULAR

Providing detailed guidance on the implementation of Article 13 and Article 14

of Decree No. 134/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 12, 2025

of the Governmentconcerning decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of foreign affairs

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Diplomatic Rank and Grade 1995;

Pursuant to Decree No. 13-CP dated March 16, 1996 of the Government providing detailed guidance on the implementation of the Ordinance on Diplomatic Rank and Grade;

Pursuant to Decree No. 134/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government concerning decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of foreign affairs;

Pursuant to Decree No. 28/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 24, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, organizational structure, and operational regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

At the proposal of Director of the Cadre and Civil Service Department;

The Minister of Foreign Affairs issues this Circular providing detailed guidance on the implementation of Article 13 and Article 14 of Decree No. 134/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government concerning decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of foreign affairs.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

This Circular provides detailed guidance on the implementation of the authority to establish, define functions, tasks, powers, organizational structure, and operational regulations of the Advisory Council on Diplomatic Rank and Grade; the authority to define the format of certification documents and procedures for issuing such certificates as stipulated in Article 13 and Article 14 of Decree No. 134/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government concerning decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of foreign affairs.

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

This Circular applies to central administrative agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the field of foreign affairs.

Article 2. Establishment of the Advisory Council on Diplomatic Rank and Grade

1. Annually, the Director of the Cadre and Civil Service Department shall submit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for a decision to establish the Advisory Council on Diplomatic Rank and Grade (hereinafter referred to as the Council).

2. The dossier submitted to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for establishing the Council includes:

a) A draft proposal regarding the establishment of the Council, specifying its functions, tasks, powers, proposed membership, duration of operation, opinions of relevant units, and responses to comments from the drafting unit.

b) A draft Decision on the establishment of the Council.

c) Written opinions of relevant units.

3. Based on the dossier submitted by the Director of the Cadre and Civil Service Department under Clause 2 of this Article, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shall examine and approve the Decision on the establishment of the Council.

4. The Council will automatically dissolve upon completion of its term of operation.

Article 3. Functions, Tasks, and Powers of the Council

1. The Council has the function of researching and advising the Minister of Foreign Affairs on decisions regarding the granting, promotion, demotion, and revocation of diplomatic rank.

2. The Council has the task and power to review and provide opinions on proposals for granting, promoting, demoting, and revoking diplomatic rank to advise the Minister of Foreign Affairs or to propose to the competent authority for consideration and decision.

Article 4. Organizational Structure and Operational Regulations of the Council

1. Members of the Council include:

a) The Chairman of the Council is a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs;

b) The Vice-Chairman of the Council is the Director of the Cadre and Civil Service Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

c) Other members of the Council include the Deputy Secretary in charge of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, heads of administrative units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Director of the Diplomatic Academy.

2. Operational regulations of the Council:

a) The Council operates on the principle of centralized democracy.

b) The Chairman of the Council is responsible to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the performance of assigned tasks; organizes the implementation of Council tasks; directs, assigns tasks to Council members; convenes, chairs, and concludes meetings of the Council.

c) Council members work on a part-time basis, are responsible for fully participating in Council activities, and are individually accountable to the Chairman of the Council for assigned tasks.

d) The Council meets when at least 70% of its total membership is present. Members unable to attend due to force majeure may vote by proxy and have their deputy attend and present their views before the Council. The Chairman of the Council chairs the meeting or delegates the Vice-Chairman to chair it.

đ) For applications for granting, promoting, demoting, and revoking the rank of Ambassador, the Council provides opinions through secret ballot voting. The Chairman of the Council decides based on the majority principle (more than 75% of votes).

e) For applications for granting, promoting, demoting, and revoking the rank from Attaché to Consul, the Council provides opinions in writing. The Chairman of the Council decides based on the majority principle (more than 75% of votes).

Article 5. Model of the Diplomatic Rank and Grade Certificate

1. The Diplomatic Rank and Grade Certificate (hereinafter referred to as the certificate) shall be printed on thick glossy paper with size A6, folded in half.

2. On the right outer side of the certificate, there shall be printed the National Emblem and the phrase "Diplomatic Rank and Grade Certificate".

3. On the left outer side of the certificate, there shall be printed the phrase "The holder of this certificate is entitled to assistance and favorable conditions from state agencies, and is protected against all threats or obstacles to perform diplomatic tasks".

4. On the left inner side of the certificate, there shall be affixed the photograph of the certificate holder, the number and date of issuance of the Decision conferring the diplomatic rank, the signature of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

5. On the right outer side of the certificate, there shall be printed the information of the certificate holder, including full name, date of birth, conferred diplomatic rank and grade.

6. The model of the certificate is specified in Appendix 1 attached hereto.

Article 6. Competence, Procedure, Formalities, and Documents for Issuing the Certificate

1. In cases where the diplomatic rank and grade have already been conferred, individuals shall submit one set of documents including: one application for issuing the certificate according to the form prescribed in Appendix 2 attached hereto, one copy of the decision conferring the diplomatic rank, to the Department of Organization and Cadres of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Department of Organization and Cadres shall examine the documents and submit them to the Minister for issuing the certificate within thirty days from the date of receipt of the documents. The number of certificates issued shall be one original copy.

2. In cases where an individual is requesting the conferment of a diplomatic rank, they shall submit one set of documents including: one application for issuing the certificate according to the form prescribed in Appendix 2 attached hereto. The documents shall be submitted together with the application for conferring the diplomatic rank. The Department of Organization and Cadres of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall submit to the Minister for issuing the certificate within thirty days from the date the decision conferring the diplomatic rank takes effect. The number of certificates issued shall be one original copy.

Article 7. Reissuance of the Certificate

In cases where an individual requests reissuance of the certificate due to loss, fire, tear, damage, or destruction in other forms, the individual shall submit a request for reissuance according to the form prescribed in Appendix 3 attached hereto to the Department of Organization and Cadres of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Department of Organization and Cadres of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall submit to the Minister for considering and reissuing the certificate within ten days from the date of receipt of the request.

Article 8. Revocation of the Certificate

1. In cases where an individual's diplomatic rank is revoked or reduced, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shall issue a revocation document and send it to the individual who has been issued the certificate. The certificate shall become invalid from the date the competent authority issues the revocation document.

2. Within thirty days from the date of issuance of the certificate, the individual must return the issued certificate to the Department of Organization and Cadres of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 9. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2025.

2. In cases where the legal normative documents cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced by other legal normative documents, implementation shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the amended, supplemented, or replacing documents.

3. In cases where the Advisory Council on Diplomatic Rank and Grade was established before the effective date of this Circular, it shall continue to perform its functions and tasks as prescribed.

4. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Organization and Cadres) for consideration and resolution. /