Directive No. 60/2002/CT-BVHTT on Strengthening Cultural and Information Work in the Northwest Region, the Mekong Delta Region, and Six Particularly Difficult Northern Mountain Provinces

DIRECTIVE

On Promoting Cultural and Information Work in the Northwest Region, the Mekong Delta Region, and Six Particularly Difficult Mountainous Provinces in Northern Vietnam

the Mekong Delta and six particularly difficult mountainous provinces in the northern region

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Implementing the directives of the Government as set forth in Decisions No. 168/2001/QĐ-TTg dated October 30, 2001, No. 173/2001/QĐ-TTg dated November 6, 2001, and No. 186/2001/QĐ-TTg dated December 7, 2001 on economic and social development in the Northwest Region, the Mekong Delta Region, and six particularly difficult mountainous provinces in northern Vietnam, in recent times, the leadership of the Ministry of Culture and Information has worked with provincial People's Committees in these regions to implement urgent tasks, organize cultural and information activities suitable to new circumstances, contributing to political stability and social security. Recently, localities have made efforts to achieve specific goals, programs, and projects within their responsibilities for state management in the field of culture and information, but overall, they have not met requirements, especially in clearly defining objectives, tasks, and practical solutions to promote cultural and information work at each locality in accordance with the spirit and content of the Prime Minister's decisions.

To promote cultural and information work in the Northwest Region, the Mekong Delta Region, and six particularly difficult mountainous provinces in northern Vietnam, and to effectively implement the Prime Minister's decisions, the Minister of Culture and Information requests:

1. Heads of Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry and Directors of Provincial Departments of Culture and Information in the Northwest Region, the Mekong Delta Region, and six particularly difficult mountainous provinces in northern Vietnam must thoroughly understand the spirit and content of the Prime Minister's decisions mentioned above (attached); organize the implementation of specific goals, tasks, programs, and projects within their responsibilities for state management in the field of culture and information. In particular, they should focus on improving the quality of propaganda content, training grassroots cadres, building models of organizational activities for cultural and information work in mountainous areas and flood-prone areas, in line with the general laws of the province.

2. In the short term, Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry should proactively coordinate with provincial Departments of Culture and Information to organize the implementation of construction projects for cultural and information facilities according to the investment list attached to the aforementioned Prime Minister's decisions, which have been approved by the Government in each province. At the same time, they need to study and evaluate the effectiveness of investment, propose to the Ministry of Culture and Information for consolidation and report to the Government for consideration.

3. Vigorously promote the "All-People Solidarity Movement for Building a Civilized Life," focusing on building grassroots civilized life, striving to meet the targets set by the Ninth National Party Congress for the cultural and information sector by 2005, with 50% of villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods reaching national cultural standards; 80% of families achieving civilized family standards; and an average of four books per person per year. Strive to reach 100% households having radios, and 80-90% of the population watching national television programs by 2005.

4. Focus investment on cultural infrastructure systems, especially at the grassroots level, aiming to complete and put into effective operation the county-level cultural infrastructure system by 2005; 78% of communes and wards having cultural houses or cultural centers; forming cultural activity clusters (or cultural centers) in villages, hamlets, and villages. Strive for 80% of communes and wards to have libraries (or fixed bookshelves), and the remaining 20% of communes and wards to have mobile bookshelves through rotation.

5. Continue to effectively invest in mobile information teams and provincial and county-level artistic vanguard teams, both in terms of equipment, staffing, and improving the quality of content compilation, organization, and review of activities to enhance the quality of propaganda.

6. Strengthen cooperation with related sectors in the region to plan the publication and printing of materials, broadcasting in ethnic languages through local media, radio, and television.

7. In 2002, develop plans for training and retraining the cadre working in the cultural sector in the region, prioritizing grassroots training. Increase the proportion of ethnic minority cadres in the grassroots cultural workforce.

8. Enhance coordination with agencies to strengthen inspection and supervision activities to implement Government Decrees No. 78/CP and 88/CP and Prime Minister Directive No. 09, restoring order in cultural and cultural service activities. Effectively implement Government Decree No. 31/2001/NĐ-CP on administrative penalties in the field of culture and information to create a healthy cultural environment contributing to long-term political and social stability.

9. Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry and Provincial Departments of Culture and Information in the Northwest Region, the Mekong Delta Region, and six particularly difficult mountainous provinces in northern Vietnam shall organize guidance and implementation of this Directive based on their functions, tasks, and authorities. They shall regularly report on the results of their work to the Ministry (Office and Planning Department) quarterly and annually for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.