The Government on September 7 issued Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP to ensure its unified management of external information activities.
Accordingly, external information activities must comply with the Party’s policies and line, the State’s laws, treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting state, and regulations and customs in host countries where these activities are conducted.
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| An English news of VTV4, an external information channel for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese__Photo: Internet |
External information must not affect national security, social order and safety; damage the reputation, image, diplomatic relations or international cooperation of Vietnam; disclose national secrets; incite people to oppose the State or undermine the great national unity; arouse violence or propagandize aggressive war; or cause hatred among nations and peoples.
The new regulation also underlines the need to ensure accurate, timely and in-depth information in line with the Party’s line, the State’s laws and approved external information programs and plans as well as the need to avoid providing false and distorted information to offend the honor of organizations and the honor and dignity of individuals.
It is prescribed that external information includes official information about Vietnam, information to promote Vietnam’s image, and information on current events around the world.
Official information about Vietnam often refers to the Party’s line, the State’s laws and policies and the country’s history and socio-economic development.
The Vietnam News Agency, the Voice of Vietnam and the Vietnam Television are assigned to provide official information about Vietnam.
The decree also requires the Ministry of Information and Communications to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, provincial-level People’s Committees and related agencies to perform the state management of external information activities.
This new regulation will take effect on October 22, 2015, and replaces Prime Minister Decision No. 79/2010/QD-TTg of November 30, 2010.- (VLLF)
