Decision No. 2845/QD-BTC On the issuance of the regulations on spokespersons and information provision to the press of the Ministry of Finance

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the issuance of the spokesperson and information provision to the press regulation of the Ministry of Finance

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THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

Pursuant to Decree No. 178/2007/ND-CP dated December 3, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 118/2008/NĐ-CP dated November 27, 2008, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Pursuant to Decision No. 77/2007/QD-TTg dated May 28, 2007 on the issuance of the spokesperson and information provision to the press regulations;

Pursuant to Decision No. 3526/QD-BTC dated November 19, 2003 of the Minister of Finance on the issuance of the working regulations of the Ministry of Finance;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Ministry of Finance's Office.

DECISION:

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the Spokesperson and Information Provision to the Press Regulation of the Ministry of Finance.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from the date of signature and replaces Decision No. 1999/QD-BTC dated May 19, 2006 of the Minister of Finance on the issuance of the spokesperson regulation for the Minister of Finance. The Director of the Ministry of Finance's Office, Heads of units under the Ministry, and Directors of Provincial Departments of Finance directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

REGULATIONS ON SPEAKING AND INFORMATION PROVISION TO THE PRESS OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Issued together with Decision No. 2845/QD-BTC dated November 24, 2011 of the Minister of Finance)

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope and Objects Regulated

These Regulations stipulate the speaking and information provision to the press of the Ministry of Finance according to current laws on the press.

Article 2. Spokesperson and Information Provision to the Press

1. The spokesperson and information provider to the press of the Ministry of Finance (hereinafter referred to as the Spokesperson) is the person assigned by the Minister of Finance to perform the tasks of speaking and providing information to the press.

2. The activities of the Spokesperson shall comply with the Party and State regulations on ideological work and press information, and the provisions of the working regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

The Spokesperson represents the Minister of Finance to speak or provide information to the press on specific issues assigned, including:

- The situation and results of organizing the implementation of state management tasks of the Ministry of Finance.

- The action programs of the Party Cadre Council and Leadership of the Ministry of Finance; the achievements of financial sector officials, civil servants, and employees in implementing resolutions of the Party, National Assembly, State, and Government in financial work.

- Resolutions, Directives, Decisions, and guidance and organization of financial work tasks of the Party Cadre Council and Leadership of the Ministry of Finance.

- Contents of meetings and conferences of the Ministry of Finance that need to be widely publicized to all levels, sectors, and the people.

- The viewpoints and solutions of the Leadership of the Ministry of Finance regarding state finance-budget work and other related issues within the financial sector that are of concern to public opinion and the press.

- Other internal and external activities of the financial sector and the Leadership of the Ministry of Finance that need to be announced to the press as decided by the Minister of Finance.

Chapter II
PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO THE PRESS

Article 3. Public Statements and Regular Information Provision

1. The content of the Spokesperson's statements to the press is official information disseminated through press conferences and published on the Ministry of Finance's Electronic Information Portal. Information is provided to central and local news agencies in the form of press releases (signed and circulated by the Spokesperson) and press information (implemented by the Ministry's Office).

The Ministry of Finance's Electronic Information Portal has the responsibility to update information according to current regulations to promptly and accurately provide official information to news agencies nationwide.

2. The Ministry of Finance and its units organize timely and accurate information provision about their areas of management to the Ministry of Finance's Electronic Information Portal and news agencies according to current regulations. Monthly or at least every three months, regular information is provided to the press on the Ministry's Electronic Information Portal and unit websites; At least every six months, press conferences are organized to provide regular information to the press. The organization of press conferences follows current regulations;

When necessary, the Ministry of Finance organizes information provision to the press in writing or directly at weekly briefings chaired by the Ministry of Information and Communications, in coordination with the Central Propaganda Department and the Vietnam Journalists' Association.

Article 4. Spokesperson's Statements and Provision of Information in Emergency and Unusual Situations

The spokesperson shall be responsible for promptly and accurately providing statements and information to the press in the following emergency and unusual situations:

1. When it is deemed necessary to inform the press about important events or issues that have significant impacts on society within the scope of management of units under the Ministry of Finance, such units must proactively propose and advise opinions on viewpoints and handling methods, report to the Ministry’s leadership and the spokesperson to provide information to the press with the latest time being two (02) days from the date of occurrence of the incident.

2. When the press agency or the state agency managing the press requests statements or provision of information about events, issues, or areas within the scope of management of the Ministry of Finance mentioned in the press.

Article 5. Rights and Responsibilities of the Spokesperson

1. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance is directly managed by the Minister of Finance, representing and speaking on behalf of the Minister of Finance to provide statements and information to the press. Only information provided by the spokesperson is considered official information of the Ministry of Finance.

Press agencies and journalists are responsible for publishing, broadcasting, and reflecting truthfully the contents of statements and information provided by the spokesperson, while clearly indicating the name of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance.

2. The spokesperson has the right to request heads of units under the Ministry of Finance, Directors of Provincial and Central City Departments of Finance to provide necessary information according to the general propaganda orientation of the Ministry, and at the same time actively provide information about issues reflected by the press related to their units to make regular and emergency statements and information provision to the press as stipulated in Articles 3 and 4 of this Regulation; to respond to reflections, suggestions, criticisms, complaints, and denunciations of organizations and citizens transferred by press agencies or published and broadcasted on the press in accordance with the law.

3. When there is evidence that the press publishes false information about the management area, the spokesperson has the right to request corrections of inaccurate information related to the viewpoints and activities of the finance sector, the Ministry of Finance leadership, and require the press agency to publish feedback and corrections according to the law.

4. The spokesperson has the right to refuse to make statements and provide information to the press in the following cases:

a) Matters involving state secrets; matters involving principles and regulations of the Party that are secret; matters not within the authority to speak;

b) Cases that are under verification, clarification, or have not been adjudicated, except when administrative state agencies or investigative agencies require information to be published in the press for the benefit of investigative activities and crime prevention and suppression work;

c) Policy documents and proposals still in the drafting process which, according to the law, have not been authorized by competent authorities to be widely publicized and solicited for opinions.

4. The spokesperson is responsible before the Minister of Finance for performing spokesperson duties and providing information to the press, and must bear responsibility before the Minister of Finance for the accuracy and truthfulness of the contents of statements and information provided to the press.

Article 6. Responsibilities of the Ministry's Office

1. The Ministry of Finance’s Office is responsible for assisting the Ministry of Finance Spokesperson in performing tasks as prescribed in this Regulation.

2. It is responsible for monitoring information about the finance sector on mass media (through daily news reports), promptly reporting to the Ministry’s leadership issues reflected by the press that relate to the finance sector. It collaborates with relevant units to report to the Ministry issues raised by the press, while advising, proposing, and reporting to the Ministry and the Spokesperson on contents that need to be communicated and spoken to the press.

3. It receives information, actively responds, or assigns relevant units to actively respond to social concerns within the authority of the Director of the Ministry’s Office or the heads of units under the Ministry of Finance.

4. It advises and proposes to the Ministry’s leadership and the Spokesperson on forms of providing information to the press through press conferences (regularly or unexpectedly), press releases, and press information to inform the press about the contents stipulated in Article 3 of this Regulation, and jointly leads the press conference with the Ministry’s leadership. At the same time, it coordinates with relevant units to report to the Ministry on the content of the information and logistical preparations for the press conference.

Article 7. Responsibilities of Units Under and Affiliated with the Ministry of Finance

1. Units under and affiliated with the Ministry of Finance are responsible for preparing content for publicity and closely coordinating with the Ministry’s Office in providing information on issues that need to be publicized in the press regarding important events and issues with significant impact on society within their management scope to guide public opinion.

2. They monitor information about the finance sector on the Ministry of Finance’s Electronic Website (Internal Information Section - Daily News Reports) and on mass media. They proactively propose issues that need to be communicated and spoken to the press to correctly guide public opinion.

3. Heads of units under and affiliated with the Ministry of Finance prepare information content and are responsible before the Ministry’s leadership and the Spokesperson for the accuracy and truthfulness of the information content related to issues that need to be spoken about within the management scope of their unit.

4. They proactively collaborate with the Ministry’s Office to advise and propose contents that need to be communicated and spoken to the press, report to the Ministry and the Spokesperson. They propose forms of providing information to the press through press conferences, press releases, and press information. In cases where they propose organizing a press conference led by the Ministry’s leadership - Spokesperson, relevant units are responsible for preparing the content and jointly leading the press conference with the Ministry’s leadership.

5. The Financial Planning Department is responsible for preparing material resources and budget in accordance with established regulations to serve press conferences led by the Ministry’s leadership - Spokesperson.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 8. The Ministry of Finance Spokesperson leads and collaborates with the heads of units under the Ministry of Finance, Directors of Provincial and Central City Departments of Finance to implement this Regulation; quarterly reporting on implementation to the Minister of Finance.