Directive No. 28/2003/CT-TTg on the organization and implementation of the Law on National Boundaries

 DIRECTIVE

Regarding the organization and implementation of the Law on National Boundaries

The Law on National Boundaries was passed by the XIth National Assembly at its third session on June 17, 2003, and took effect from January 1, 2004. The Law on National Boundaries has established a legal framework for managing and protecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and border security; building peaceful, friendly, and long-term stable borders with neighboring countries.

To promptly organize and implement the Law on National Boundaries, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Law on National Boundaries must be widely publicized and studied among cadres, civil servants, employees, military personnel, and the people, especially cadres and people in border areas and Border Guard units to ensure that everyone understands the basic contents of the Law, the significance and importance of national boundaries for sovereignty and territory; the Party and State's policies on building peaceful, friendly, and long-term stable borders with neighboring countries; and the responsibilities of all levels, sectors, organizations, society, and the people in implementing the Law on National Boundaries., Cadres and people in border areas and Border Guard units shall be particularly focused upon to ensure that they understand the basic contents of the Law, the significance and importance of national boundaries for sovereignty and territory; the Party and State's policies on building peaceful, friendly, and long-term stable borders with neighboring countries; and the responsibilities of all levels, sectors, organizations, society, and the people in implementing the Law on National Boundaries.

2. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant ministries and sectors:

- Implement the plan for organizing and implementing the Law on National Boundaries of the Government (annexed hereto);

- Prepare publicity materials for the Law on National Boundaries ensuring clarity and ease of understanding to facilitate uniform implementation (outlines, training materials, content for cadre instructors...);

- Submit to the Government for consideration and issuance of Decrees detailing the implementation of the Law on National Boundaries and the Regulations on the Border Area.

3. The Ministry of Justice shall have the responsibility to coordinate in preparing and reviewing publicity and dissemination materials for the Law on National Boundaries.

The Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee for Legal Education and Dissemination of Laws under the Government shall be responsible for determining the content and program for disseminating and educating about the Law on National Boundaries nationwide; coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and organizations in preparing publicity materials for the Law on National Boundaries.

4. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of National Defense, to direct the review and systematization of teaching materials, and prepare study materials for the Law on National Boundaries to be included in the curricula of universities, colleges, and secondary schools. The Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for leading the review of the content.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense, the Central Committee’s External Relations Department, and the Central Committee’s Ideological and Cultural Department, to prepare and organize external information, publicity, and explanations related to the Law on National Boundaries.

6. The Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead, in coordination with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees, to develop plans for national security protection, linking border security with internal security; coordinating with the Ministry of National Defense to guide and instruct Border Guard units in performing security and order maintenance tasks in border areas.

7. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead, in coordination with Vietnam Radio and Television, to develop programs for publicizing the Law on National Boundaries through mass media; organizing programs for mountainous regions and ethnic minorities using their languages and scripts.

8. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Defense, and relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees, to research and develop strategies for economic and social development in border areas, coastal zones, and islands linked with national defense and security.

9. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of National Defense, to develop plans to ensure funding for border construction, management, protection, and the implementation of the Law on National Boundaries.

10. Provincial People's Committees located in border areas within the scope of tasks and powers delegated by the Government and guided by the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries shall be responsible for:

- Organizing summaries of work on border construction, management, and protection linked with the dissemination and education of the Law on National Boundaries to enhance legal awareness regarding borders and territories and the people's responsibility in participating in border construction, management, and protection.

- Developing population planning linked with production planning to improve the material and spiritual lives of border residents; combining infrastructure development for economic and social progress with strengthening national defense and security in border areas.

- Directing local departments and forces to cooperate with Border Guard units in border management and protection work and maintaining security and order in border areas.

- Implementing state management over national borders according to Government regulations.

11. Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, and provincial People's Committees shall be responsible for developing plans to organize the implementation and directing the dissemination and publicity of the Law on National Boundaries in their respective sectors and localities; conducting reviews, amendments, supplements, and new issuances of sectoral documents related to this Law within their authority or submitting them to the Government or the Prime Minister for issuance to ensure the consistency and synchronization of the legal system on national borders.

Annually, the Ministry of National Defense shall be responsible for monitoring and urging the implementation of this Directive and compiling reports to the Prime Minister on the results of implementation./.