Joint Circular No. 103/2001/TTLT-BTC-BVGCP-BVHTT-BNG guiding the implementation of subsidies for the transportation costs of cultural publications and airfare for artistic troupes performing for overseas Vietnamese communities.

JOINT CIRCULAR

for use area Subsidies for transportation costs of cultural publications and airfare tickets for artistic groups performing to serve overseas Vietnamese communities

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Pursuant to Decision No. 210/1999/QĐ-TTg dated October 27, 1999 of the Government on certain policies for overseas Vietnamese;

Pursuant to Decision No. 114/2001/QĐ-TTg dated July 31, 2001 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decision No. 210/1999/QĐ-TTg dated October 27, 1999 on certain policies for overseas Vietnamese;

The Ministry of Finance, the State Management Board for Prices, the Ministry of Culture and Information, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly issue guidelines for implementing subsidies for transportation costs of films, books, cultural products, promotional materials for tourism, and propaganda materials for overseas Vietnamese communities; subsidies for airfare tickets for domestic artistic groups performing to serve overseas Vietnamese communities as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Implement subsidies for transportation costs of films, books, cultural products, promotional materials for tourism, and propaganda materials (hereinafter referred to collectively as cultural publications) for overseas Vietnamese communities; subsidies for airfare tickets for domestic artistic groups performing to serve overseas Vietnamese communities.

2. Conditions for subsidizing transportation costs of cultural publications

- Organizations with functions in operating businesses in the field of publishing and distributing cultural publications are permitted to export such publications abroad.

- Cultural publications have been published and widely distributed throughout the country to serve political tasks, propaganda of Party and State policies without violating Article 22 of the Law on Publishing.

- Within the scope of the list and quantity of cultural publications selected for subsidized transportation costs to serve overseas Vietnamese communities.

3. Conditions for subsidizing airfare tickets

- Artistic groups have distinctive performance programs that meet the requirements of disseminating and propagandizing the policies of the Party and State.

- Introduced by the Ministry of Culture and Information or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to perform for overseas Vietnamese communities.

4. Principles for implementing subsidies

a. Provide subsidies for transportation costs to units responsible for sending cultural publications abroad to serve overseas Vietnamese communities based on the actual number of publications transported and not exceeding the announced quantity and types.

b. Provide subsidies for airfare tickets for artistic groups based on the actual number of people, and subsidies for transportation costs of stage props (directly serving the artistic program) actually transported abroad for performances to serve overseas Vietnamese communities and not exceeding the number of people and props allowed.

c. Do not provide subsidies for transportation costs or airfare for units fully funded by the state budget or having other sources of funding.

5. Amount of subsidy

- Subsidize at 50% of the total actual transportation costs of cultural publications paid to transport units (road, rail, waterway, air, postal services).

- Subsidize at 50% of the airfare ticket price (economy class); 50% of the actual transportation costs of stage props paid to Vietnam National Airlines or other air carriers (in cases where Vietnam National Airlines does not have direct flights).

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

A- ESTABLISHING PLANS AND BUDGETS FOR SUBSIDY COSTS

1. Annually, based on the need for propaganda for overseas Vietnamese communities; Based on the actual cultural publications issued domestically, and the artistic programs staged and performed; Based on the annual budget balance capacity of the State Budget, the Ministry of Culture and Information will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and sectors to develop specific plans regarding the quantity of each type of cultural publication and the number of people and props for artistic groups with performance programs to serve overseas Vietnamese communities. On this basis, the Ministry of Culture and Information will prepare a general budget estimate for subsidy costs and submit it to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment along with their annual budget plans.

2. Based on the budget estimate for subsidy costs prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Finance will take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to review and incorporate it into the State Budget Plan to be reported to the Government for submission to the National Assembly for decision within the total annual subsidy and transportation cost budget of the State Budget.

B- IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SUBSIDY FUNDS

1. Based on the approved subsidy funds allocated in the state budget; The Ministry of Culture and Information is responsible for notifying the quantity of cultural publications, the number of people, and props for artistic groups performing to serve overseas Vietnamese communities and proposing the allocation of subsidy funds to eligible units. Based on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Finance will notify the budget limit for each unit to implement. Subsidy funds notified in a year must be implemented in that year. If not implemented in the year, they cannot be carried over to the next year.

2. Units included in the list of those receiving subsidy funds, after completing the transportation of cultural publications or finishing performances abroad, shall be responsible for preparing a request for subsidy funds according to the actual number of cultural publications transported and the actual number of performers and props used for performances to serve overseas Vietnamese communities, and submit it to the Ministry of Finance and simultaneously send it to the provincial Department of Finance and Prices where the unit is headquartered (if under local management) for examination and distribution of subsidy funds.

3. Documents for requesting subsidy funds include:

- Notification or introduction letter from the Ministry of Culture and Information or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the transportation of cultural publications and artistic performances to serve overseas Vietnamese communities.

- List of performers, quantity of props belonging to the artistic group approved by the Ministry of Culture and Information, airfare invoices, invoices for transportation costs of props, and invoices for transportation of cultural publications.

- Confirmation from the diplomatic agency where the performing arts group arrives or where the cultural publication is transported to and distributed.

- Request letter for reimbursement of subsidized airfare expenses for the performing arts group, request for reimbursement of transportation subsidy costs for the unit implementing the export of cultural publications.

- Notification document of the financial limit issued by the Ministry of Finance to the unit.

4/ The Ministry of Finance shall review and issue subsidies directly to units as follows:

a- For units exporting cultural publications, central performing arts groups, the Ministry of Finance shall issue the subsidy directly to the units through payment orders.

b- For units transporting cultural publications, local performing arts groups, the Ministry of Finance shall issue the subsidy through the provincial or municipal finance and price bureaus under the direct control of the central government.

c- The accounting of the subsidy funds shall be carried out according to the current state budget accounting regulations.

5/ Units receiving state budget subsidies have the responsibility to use the funds for their intended purpose and settle accounts for the subsidy funds in accordance with the current financial management regulations. The provincial or municipal finance and price bureaus shall settle accounts for the delegated funds with the Ministry of Finance according to current regulations.

It is strictly prohibited to use the subsidy funds for other purposes.

III. IMPLEMENTATION

1/ The subsidization of transportation costs for cultural publications and airfare for performing arts groups going abroad to serve the overseas Vietnamese community will be implemented gradually in accordance with actual conditions and the capacity of the state budget.

2/ To facilitate the implementation of the subsidization serving the overseas Vietnamese community, the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall immediately prepare the budget estimate for the subsidy as the basis for allocating the state budget for the year 2002.

3/ Inspection and supervision work: The inter-ministerial agencies shall coordinate to inspect the use of subsidy funds for transportation costs of cultural publications and airfares for performing arts groups going abroad to serve the overseas Vietnamese community, promptly handle any violations according to current regulations.

4/ This Circular takes effect from the date of signature.

In the course of implementation, if there are any difficulties, please report to the Ministry of Finance, the Government Price Control Board, the Ministry of Culture and Information, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for research and resolution.