Directive No. 21/CT-TTg on the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Foreign Information from 2011 to 2020

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the Implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Foreign Information Work during the Period of 2011-2020

___________________________________

In recent years, foreign information work has played a significant role in the process of international integration, enhancing Vietnam's position in the region and on the global stage, making the world understand and correctly perceive Vietnam, thereby gaining support from international friends to serve the cause of building and defending the country. However, compared to requirements and tasks, foreign information work still has some limitations, lacks coordination, and has not effectively mobilized social forces to participate in implementing these tasks.

On February 14, 2012, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Term XI, issued Conclusion No. 16-KL/TW on the Strategy for the Development of Foreign Information Work during the Period of 2011-2020, clearly stating that "foreign information work is a very important part of the Party's propaganda and ideological work; it is a regular and long-term task."

To implement the Politburo's conclusion, the Prime Minister requests that ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial people's committees under central cities (hereinafter referred to as ministries, sectors, and localities) focus on implementing the following key tasks:

1. General Tasks

a) Coordinate with relevant agencies of the Party to disseminate and ensure understanding of the Strategy for the Development of Foreign Information Work during the Period of 2011-2020 among ministries, sectors, and localities (to be completed before December 31, 2012).

b) Promptly organize the assignment of units and personnel responsible for carrying out foreign information work.

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications to develop the Government's Action Program to implement the Strategy for the Development of Foreign Information Work during the Period of 2011-2020.

d) Develop annual plans and budget estimates for foreign information activities and submit them to the competent authority for approval, notifying the Ministry of Information and Communications for monitoring and coordination.

đ) Allocate funds from the state budget and mobilize other sources of funding to implement foreign information activities.

2. Ministry of Information and Communications

a) Develop and promulgate regulations on state management of foreign information work within their jurisdiction or submit them to the competent authorities for issuance.

b) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, sectors, localities, and certain press agencies to develop the Government's Action Program to implement the Strategy for the Development of Foreign Information Work during the Period of 2011-2020 to be submitted to the Government in the fourth quarter of 2012.

c) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to regularly inspect, urge, evaluate, and summarize the implementation of the Regulation on State Management of Foreign Information Work issued together with Decision No. 79/2010/QĐ-TTg dated November 30, 2010, and report to the Prime Minister.

d) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other ministries, sectors, and localities to develop mechanisms, policies, organizational structures, and staffing for dedicated foreign information work personnel in ministries, sectors, and localities, ensuring that by 2015, all ministries, sectors, and localities have dedicated staffing for foreign information work.

đ) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and related ministries to study and develop a proposal for a Fund to Support the Development of Foreign Information Work to be submitted to the Government for consideration and approval in 2013.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

a) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications, ministries, sectors, and localities to implement foreign information activities abroad, especially during major national anniversaries, high-level diplomatic activities, and even-numbered anniversary years in diplomatic relations between Vietnam and other countries.

b) Regularly provide information about the global and regional situation and diplomatic activities of the Party and the State to relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to guide foreign information work.

c) Direct, guide, and provide information and foreign information products to Vietnamese representative offices abroad to fulfill foreign information tasks.

4. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministries, sectors, and localities to organize and implement events and programs of international cultural, sports, and tourism activities at the national and international levels to promote foreign information work, introduce and promote the image of the country and its people to the international community and overseas Vietnamese.

5. The Ministry of Finance

Allocate the budget to implement approved Programs and Plans for foreign information work according to regulations.

6. Provincial People's Committees and Municipal People's Committees under the Central Government

a) Organize training to enhance awareness among local officials regarding foreign information work.

b) Proactively provide timely information to domestic and foreign media about issues related to the locality as stipulated.

c) Regularly summarize and conclude foreign information work within the locality and report to the Prime Minister through the Ministry of Information and Communications.

d) Allocate human resources and funding to carry out foreign information tasks and projects at the local level. Pay special attention to foreign information work in urban areas with frequent exchanges and trade with foreign countries, border areas, and islands.

7. Implementation

a) Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, and chairpersons of provincial people's committees under central cities are responsible for organizing and directing the implementation of this Directive.

b) The Ministry of Information and Communications shall take the lead and coordinate with related ministries, sectors, and provincial people's committees under central cities to develop implementation plans, organize inspections, urge progress, compile reports, and periodically report the results of implementing this Directive to the Prime Minister./.