Decision No. 165/2003/QĐ-TTg On Issuing the Rules on the Spokesperson of the Prime Minister

DECISION

Regarding the issuance of the Rules on the Spokesperson of the Prime Minister

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;
Pursuant to Decree No. 23/2003/NĐ-CP, dated March 12, 2003, of the Government on the Rules of Operation of the Government;
Object and scope of regulation of this Decree
At the proposal of the Minister and Head of the Government Office,

Pursuant to …;

Clause 4 of Article 6The Rules on the Spokesperson of the Prime Minister are hereby promulgated together with this Decision.

Article 2.This Decision shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 3.The Minister, Head of the Government Office, and the Spokesperson of the Prime Minister shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of these Rules.

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of People's Councils, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and Heads of relevant agencies shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

ON THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE PRIME MINISTER
(Issued together with Decision No. 165/2003/QĐ-TTg, dated August 8, 2003, of the Prime Minister)

Chapter 1:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.The Spokesperson of the Prime Minister(hereinafter referred to as the Spokesperson)is the person assigned by the Prime Minister to speak to the press about major policies, decisions, and important work directives of the Government and the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers to implement the Government's Work Program and other areas as prescribed by law.

Article 2.The activities of the Spokesperson shall comply with the regulations of the Party and State in the field of ideological work and press information, and according to the Rules of Operation of the Government issued together with Decree No. 23/2003/NĐ-CP, dated March 12, 2003, of the Government, and according to these Rules.

Chapter 2:

CONTENTS OF SPEECHES TO THE PRESS BY THE SPOKESPERSON

Article 3.The contents of speeches to the press by the Spokesperson include permitted disclosures of information regarding:

1. Activities and decisions of the Government to perform state management functions as prescribed by the Constitution and the Law on the Organization of the Government.

2. Programs of work and action programs of the Government to implement resolutions of the Party and National Assembly.

3. Resolutions, decrees of the Government, directives, and decisions of the Prime Minister guiding and organizing the implementation of tasks related to national construction and defense; mechanisms and policies for economic, social development, security, defense, foreign affairs...

4. Contents of Government meetings.

5. Reviews by the Government on the direction, management, and implementation of the Rules of Operation of the Government.

6. Views and solutions of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers to domestic and international events, and to important and urgent issues of public concern.

7. Other activities of the Government, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Ministers that need to be disclosed to the press, as decided by the Prime Minister.

Article 4.The contents of speeches to the press by the Spokesperson are official and authoritative information about the activities and views of the Government and the Prime Minister.

The contents of speeches to the press by the Spokesperson shall be disseminated through mass media.

Chapter 3:

TASKS AND POWERS OF THE SPOKESPERSON

Article 5.The Spokesperson of the Prime Minister is a specialist of the Government Office nominated by the Minister, Head of the Government Office, and appointed by the Prime Minister.

Article 6.The Spokesperson has the following tasks:

1. To carry out the task of speaking to the press on the contents prescribed in Article 3 of these Rules.

2. To organize press conferences to inform the press on the contents prescribed in Article 3 of these Rules.

3. To assist the Prime Minister in reviewing interviews by foreign press about the situation in Vietnam.

Article 7.The Spokesperson has the right to refuse to answer questions about the activities of the Government and the Prime Minister that fall outside their authority to speak; and the right to correct false information related to the views and activities of the Government and the Prime Minister.

Chapter 4:

RELATIONSHIP OF WORK BETWEEN THE SPOKESPERSON AND THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE AND OTHER AGENCIES

Article 8.The Spokesperson is directly managed by the Prime Minister and the Minister, Head of the Government Office.

Article 9.The Spokesperson shall coordinate with leaders of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and leaders of provincial and centrally governed city People's Councils and People's Committees on matters related to the spokesperson's duties as prescribed in these Rules.

Chapter 5:

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10.The Spokesperson shall cooperate with the Press Information Center of the Government Office to fulfill the spokesperson's duties as prescribed in these Rules.

Article 11. The Minister, Head of the Government Office, and the Spokesperson of the Prime Minister shall be responsible for coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, People's Councils, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to implement these Rules; and shall report periodically monthly to the Prime Minister on the implementation of these Rules.