A new regulation on making of statements and provision of information to the press was issued together with Prime Minister Decision No. 25/2013/QD-TTg of May 4.
Accordingly, spokespersons are heads of state administrative agencies or those who are authorized by heads of these agencies to act as spokespersons to regularly make statements and supply information to the press.
When necessary, heads of state administrative agencies may authorize responsible persons in their agencies to make statements or coordinate with spokespersons in making statements and providing to the press information related to issues they are in charge of.
State officials may deliver information to the press but are not allowed to disclose investigation secrets, official-duty secrets or provide false information, and they must be fully responsible for information provided.
Meanwhile, under the Regulation, press agencies and journalists must truthfully publish, broadcast in the mass media or report statements and information made or provided by spokespersons.
When quoting statements, they must state names of spokespersons or those authorized to make statements as well as state administrative agencies in which those persons are working.
The Prime Minister also requires state administrative agencies to regularly provide to the press or publish on their websites information on activities in the fields they are operating and hold press conferences at least once every three months to provide information to the press.
This Decision will take effect on July 1, and replace Prime Minister Decision No. 77/2007/QD-TTg of May 28, 2007.-