Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP on the management of foreign information activities

DECREE

On the management of foreign information activities

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On the basis of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 2013;

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

On the basis of the Law on State Agencies Representing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad dated June 18, 2009;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Information and Communications,

The Government promulgates this Decree on the management of foreign information activities.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

This Decree stipulates the management of foreign information activities; the responsibilities of Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to as provincial People's Committees) in managing and implementing foreign information activities.

This Decree applies to Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, provincial People's Committees; agencies and organizations participating in foreign information activities.

1. Compliance with the Party’s guidelines, State laws, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member; compliance with the laws and customs of the host country.

2. Ensuring that such activities do not affect national security, social order and safety, reputation, image, diplomatic relations, and international cooperation of Vietnam; protecting state secrets.

3. Not inciting the people against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, undermining the unity of the entire population; not inciting violence, propaganda for war of aggression, causing hatred among ethnic groups and peoples of different countries.

4. Ensuring accurate and timely information in accordance with the orientation of foreign information propaganda set by the Party and State during each period as well as approved foreign information programs and plans; not disseminating false information, distorting facts, or slandering to defame the reputation of organizations or the dignity and personality of citizens.

Article 4. State Management of Foreign Information Activities

1. The Government exercises unified state management over foreign information activities.

c) Ministries and sectors are responsible for managing and organizing foreign information activities within their assigned areas of state management.

d) Provincial People's Committees manage state activities of foreign information at the local level.

2. Contents of state management of foreign information activities:

a) Drafting and submitting to competent authorities for issuance, or issuing within their authority, legal normative documents, strategies, planning, programs, and plans on foreign information activities.

b) Organizing and managing scientific research on foreign information; training, capacity building, and vocational training for forces participating in foreign information activities.

c) Managing, guiding, and proactively providing information to Vietnamese news agencies and press; proactively providing information to foreign news agencies; providing information to overseas Vietnamese and the international community; providing information about world situations into Vietnam.

d) International cooperation in foreign information activities,

đ) Inspecting, supervising, handling violations, and resolving complaints and denunciations in foreign information activities in accordance with the law.

e) Summarizing and concluding foreign information activities; proposing commendations and disciplinary actions for agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in foreign information activities.

The funding for external information activities of Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, and provincial People's Committees shall be guaranteed from the state budget according to the current state budget classification and other lawful financial sources. Annually, based on the external information activity plans assigned by authorized authorities, relevant agencies and units shall prepare budgets for implementation, consolidate them into their own state budget estimates, and submit them to financial authorities for review and decision-making in accordance with the State Budget Law.

Chapter II
EXTERNAL INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

Article 6. External Information

External information includes official information about Vietnam, promotional information about Vietnam, and information about world situations entering Vietnam.

Article 7. Provision of Official Information About Vietnam

1. Official information about Vietnam is information on the Party’s policies and guidelines, the State’s policies and laws; information on Vietnam’s situation across various fields; information on Vietnamese history, and other related information.

3. Official information about Vietnam shall be provided through the following forms:

a) Official statements at international events, forums, international press conferences, and domestic press conferences.

c) Diplomatic activities of state management agencies.

d) Diplomatic activities, statements, organization of events, and publication of information on websites and other activities of Vietnamese representative offices abroad.

g) Publications in Vietnamese and foreign languages by state agencies.

4. The provision of official information about Vietnam in all forms must comply with current legal regulations.

Article 8. Provision of Promotional Information About Vietnam

1. Promotional information about Vietnam is information on the country, people, history, and culture of the Vietnamese nation.

2. Promotional information about Vietnam shall be provided by agencies, organizations, and individuals to the international community and overseas Vietnamese.

a) Publications in Vietnamese and foreign languages.

b) Events organized in Vietnam and abroad.

d) Events organized by Vietnamese Cultural Centers abroad.

đ) Products of foreign news agencies, media outlets, and communication companies.

e) Diplomatic and international cooperation activities of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

4. The provision of promotional information about Vietnam in all forms must comply with Vietnamese legal regulations and the laws of the host countries.

Article 9. Provision of Information on International Situation to Vietnam

1. Information on international situation provided to Vietnam includes information about the international situation across various fields, information about relations between Vietnam and other countries, and other information aimed at promoting political, social, cultural, defense, and security relations between Vietnam and other countries; serving the development of the national economy; and advancing Vietnam's process of international integration.

3. Information on international situation provided to Vietnam by the agencies and organizations mentioned in Clause 2 of this Article shall be provided through the following forms:

a) Through spokespersons.

b) Posting on electronic information portals and websites.

c) At regular press conferences and editorial meetings.

4. The provision of information on international situation to Vietnam shall be carried out in accordance with current laws related to the forms specified in Clause 3 of this Article.

Article 10. Provision of Explanatory and Clarifying Information

1. Explanatory and clarifying information consists of materials, documents, files, and arguments aimed at explaining and clarifying incorrect information about Vietnam across various fields.

Article 11. Foreign Electronic Information Portal

1. The foreign electronic information portal has the mission to provide official and promotional information about Vietnam through the Internet.

2. The database on foreign information serves as a source of official information about Vietnam for domestic and foreign mass media, supporting research and study activities about Vietnam.

Article 13. Foreign Information Publications

1. Foreign information publications are products published in Vietnamese and foreign languages to provide official information about Vietnam and promote Vietnam's image to the international community and overseas Vietnamese.

Article 14. Events Organized Abroad

2. The Prime Minister shall stipulate the organization of Vietnam Day abroad.

Article 15. Activities Supporting Cooperation with Foreign News Agencies, Press, Media Companies, and Journalists to Promote Vietnam Abroad

1. Foreign news agencies, press, media companies, and journalists are supported and provided favorable conditions in activities such as writing news articles, producing programs, and implementing publications aimed at introducing Vietnam through foreign mass media.

3. The activities of foreign news agencies, press, and media companies in Vietnam must comply with the provisions of Decree No. 88/2012/NĐ-CP dated October 23, 2012, regarding the activities, information, and journalism of foreign press, foreign representative offices, and foreign organizations in Vietnam, and related legal documents.

Article 16. Vietnamese Representative Offices Abroad

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct Vietnamese representative offices abroad to establish English and local language websites; update information about Vietnam from the system of databases on foreign information.

Article 17. Permanent offices of Vietnamese news agencies and press organizations abroad

1. Permanent offices of Vietnamese news agencies and press organizations abroad (hereinafter referred to as permanent press offices) provide information on the situation in their host countries to domestic press agencies under the Government.

2. Permanent press offices perform the following tasks:

a) Coordinate with relevant Ministries and agencies to introduce and promote the image of Vietnam's country, people, history, and culture; provide information on the socio-economic situation, policies, and laws of Vietnam.

b) Coordinate and implement international cooperation programs in the field of information and press.

Chapter III
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MANAGING FOREIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

1. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to build and guide the implementation of legal documents, strategies, plans, programs on foreign information.

4. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to inspect and evaluate the effectiveness of foreign information work of Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial People's Committees, press and publishing agencies both domestically and internationally.

5. Build mechanisms for exchange, coordination, provision, and sharing of information between state agencies and press agencies.

8. Prepare reports on foreign information activities for submission to the Government; guide the content and timing of data collection for reporting.

9. Summarize and conclude foreign information activities; commend and discipline agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in foreign information activities.

Article 19. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

4. Monitor, study, and compile foreign press opinions to serve foreign information.

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications and relevant agencies to provide information and promote Vietnamese culture and tourism.

2. Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Communications and other relevant ministries and agencies in organizing events outside the country within their respective areas of management.

3. Direct the operation of Vietnamese Cultural Centers abroad to carry out external information work, effectively utilize and create conditions for relevant agencies to use Vietnamese Cultural Centers abroad to serve external information activities.

2. Monitor and compile information related to national security to propose policies and measures to clarify false information about Vietnam.

3. Ensure security and safety for external information activities in accordance with the guidelines of the Party and State; detect and combat hostile forces' activities that exploit external information to oppose Vietnam.

2. Ensure funding from the state budget for the implementation of programs, plans, projects, and external information activities approved by the Government and the Prime Minister.

3. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to develop documents on mechanisms, policies, and cost standards for external information activities.

Coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue guidance documents on improving the organizational structure for state management of external information; guide ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial people's committees to allocate staff responsible for external information work.

Article 24. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial people's committees

1. Organize the provision of information to the public about Vietnam's international integration process, opportunities, risks, and challenges during integration; organize training and capacity building for staff responsible for external information work.

3. Annually develop activity plans and budget estimates for their units, consolidate them in the unit's overall budget estimate, and submit them to the financial agency at the same level for consolidation and submission to the competent authority for consideration and decision.

4. Update information and build a database on their ministry, sector, or locality, integrate it into the external information database to promote Vietnam's image abroad.

7. Assign organizations or individuals to be responsible for implementing external information activities.

8. Maintain confidentiality of information within their management scope according to confidentiality regulations; have responsibility for organizing inspections, audits, handling violations, and resolving complaints and denunciations in external information activities within their management area.

Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 25. Effective Date

1. This Decree takes effect from October 22, 2015.

2. Decision No. 79/2010/QĐ-TTg dated November 30, 2010 of the Prime Minister ceases to be effective from the date this Decree takes effect.

1. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall be responsible for guiding and urging the implementation of this Decree according to the division of labor by the Government.

2. The 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./