Decree No. 24/2008/NĐ-CP stipulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

DECREE

Regulations on functions, tasks, powers

and the organizational structure of the Vietnam News Agency

THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

CONSIDERING the proposal of the General Director of the Vietnam News Agency and the Minister of Interior Affairs,

DECREE:

Article 1. Position and Functions

1. The Vietnam News Agency is a public service entity under the Government, performing the function of state news agency in disseminating official information of the Party and State; providing information to meet leadership requirements of the Party and management needs of the State; collecting and disseminating information through various forms of press to serve domestic and foreign demanders.

2. The Vietnam News Agency has the abbreviated name in Vietnamese as VNA and the international trading name in English as Vietnam News Agency, abbreviated as VNA.

3. The Vietnam News Agency is subject to state management by the Ministry of Information and Communications regarding press activities.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

The Vietnam News Agency performs the following tasks and authorities:

1. Submit to the Government draft Decrees to define, amend, and supplement the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of the Vietnam News Agency.

2. Submitting to the Prime Minister for approval the strategic plans, planning, long-term development plans, five-year plans, annual plans, and other important projects and programs of the Vietnam News Agency; organizing the implementation of these strategies, plans, projects, and programs after they have been approved.

3. Submitting to the Prime Minister for decision on establishment, merger, dissolution, and renaming of organizations under the jurisdiction of the Vietnam News Agency that fall within the authority of the Prime Minister.

4. Uniformly disseminate official documents and information of the Party and State; collect, compile news, images, materials, books, and reference materials to promptly serve leadership requirements of the Party and management needs of the State.

5. Collect, compile, and disseminate, publish information (news, articles, materials, documents, newspapers, magazines, books, images, audiovisual products, multimedia information products) to serve all entities with needs both domestically and internationally as prescribed by law.

6. Being authorized to announce the official stance of the State on current issues, correct information that does not align with national interests, and issue corrections for false information; when necessary, issue statements to refute misleading information.

7. Implementing external information work of the Party and State according to the provisions of law.

8. Implementing the archiving of information materials; building databases on information materials and managing national image archives according to the provisions of law.

9. Cooperating with relevant agencies to perform common tasks related to information and other related tasks serving defense and security work.

10. Organizing research and application of scientific and technological progress in news operations and information technology to serve news and press functions.

11. Regarding the management of state-owned enterprises directly under its jurisdiction:

a) Performing specific duties and powers concerning the representation of state ownership interest at state-owned enterprises under the Vietnam News Agency according to the provisions of law;

b) Directing the organization and implementation of projects for establishing, restructuring, dissolving, or privatizing state-owned enterprises under the jurisdiction of the Vietnam News Agency after approval by the Prime Minister;

c) Approving charters and appointing, dismissing Directors, Deputy Directors, and Chief Accountants for state-owned enterprises under the jurisdiction of the Vietnam News Agency that have not yet been privatized.

12. Implementing international cooperation in the field of news and press according to the provisions of law.

13. Manage investment and construction projects within its authority as prescribed by law.

14. Participating in building important projects and programs related to the functions, tasks, and powers of the Vietnam News Agency upon request from the Government and the Prime Minister.

15. Decide and direct the implementation of the administrative reform program of the Vietnam News Agency according to the goals and content of the administrative reform program approved by the Prime Minister.

16. Managing organizational structures and staffing; implementing salary systems, transfers, rotations, appointments, reappointments of cadres and other systems and policies, rewards, and disciplinary actions for cadres, civil servants, and workers under the jurisdiction of the Vietnam News Agency; training and enhancing professional and technical skills in news and press for cadres and civil servants under the jurisdiction of the Vietnam News Agency.

17. Having autonomy and being responsible for fulfilling tasks, organizational structures, staffing, and finance; delegating autonomy and responsibility for fulfilling tasks, organizational structures, staffing, and finance to affiliated revenue-generating public service units under the Vietnam News Agency according to the provisions of law.

18. Organizing service activities according to the provisions of law.

19. Managing and using allocated budgets, assets, and other financial resources according to the provisions of law.

20. Implementing reporting systems to the Government, the Prime Minister, and competent state agencies according to the provisions of law.

21. Fulfilling other tasks and powers assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister or as prescribed by law.

Article 3. Organizational Structure

Section 1. Editorial Board.

2. Personnel Management Board.

Section 3. Planning and Finance Board.

4. Inspection Board.

5. Office.

6. Domestic News Editing Department.

7. World News Editing Department.

8. External News Editing Department.

9. Economic News Editing Department.

10. Press Photo Production Department.

11. Documentation and Reference Center.

12. Audio-Visual News Center.

13. Vietnam News Agency Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City.

14. Vietnam News Agency Representative Office in Da Nang City.

15. Provincial and Municipal Branches of the Vietnam News Agency established and dissolved by the General Director of the Vietnam News Agency.

16. Overseas Branches of the Vietnam News Agency established and dissolved by the General Director of the Vietnam News Agency after obtaining permission from the Prime Minister.

17. Vietnam Photo Newspaper.

18. News Today Newspaper.

19. Vietnam Today Online Newspaper.

20. Sports and Culture Newspaper.

21. Vietnam News Newspaper.

22. Le Courrier du Vietnam Newspaper.

23. Science and Technology Bulletin.

24. Ethnic and Mountain Region Bulletin and Images.

25. Vietnam Law and Legal Forum Magazine.

26. "UNESCO Horizon" Magazine.

27. Telecommunications Technical Center.

28. International Cooperation Center.

29. Telecommunications Professional Training Center.

30. Computer Center.

31. Telecommunications Publishing House.

32. Marketing, Distribution, and Advertising Service Center.

In this Article, units specified in Clauses 1 to 5 are units assisting the General Director, which are decided by the General Director to establish departments based on work requirements; units specified in Clauses 6 to 12 are editing units; units specified in Clauses 13 to 32 are representative offices, branches, newspapers, magazines, specialized bulletins, and other public service organizations.

The General Director of Vietnam News Agency decides to change the name, merge, reorganize, or dissolve newspapers, magazines, and specialized bulletins in accordance with the provisions of the law. Remaining service facilities and other non-profit organizations shall be decided by the General Director of Vietnam News Agency on changing the name, merging, reorganizing, or dissolving them in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The General Director of Vietnam News Agency stipulates the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of subordinate units and appoints or dismisses the heads and no more than three deputy heads of the heads of subordinate organizations.

Article 4. Leadership

1. The General Director of Vietnam News Agency is the head and leader of Vietnam News Agency. The General Director is assisted by no more than four Deputy General Directors.

2. The General Director and Deputy General Directors of Vietnam News Agency are appointed or dismissed by the Prime Minister in accordance with the provisions of the law.

3. The General Director of Vietnam News Agency is responsible before the Government, the Prime Minister, and the law for all activities of Vietnam News Agency.

Deputy General Directors of Vietnam News Agency assist the General Director in directing certain areas of work according to the division of labor by the General Director and are responsible to the General Director for the assigned tasks.

Article 5. Effectiveness and Responsibility for Implementation

1. This Decree takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and replaces Decree No. 82/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of Vietnam News Agency.

Article 2. Abolish previous provisions that conflict with this Decree.

3. The General Director of Vietnam News Agency, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, and Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under central cities are responsible for implementing this Decree./.