Perfecting the legal mechanism and policies on foreign information

(Chinhphu.vn) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is drafting a Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP dated September 7, 2015 of the Government on management of foreign information activities.

Innovating foreign information methods, enhancing the application of digital technology , promoting the national image

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that after 10 years of implementation, Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP has partially overcome the limitations and shortcomings in foreign information work, and is the highest legal basis for ministries, branches and localities to uniformly implement foreign information work; fully stipulates the principles of foreign information activities...

However, in the implementation process, some limitations and shortcomings have been revealed, such as: Human resources for foreign information work are mainly part-time, not meeting the increasing requirements of the work; foreign information work is related to many agencies and organizations, leading to dispersion and lack of concentration; coordination between ministries and branches is still overlapping, lacking a synchronous mechanism.

Foreign information activities are still carried out in the traditional way, without effectively exploiting cyberspace and digital platforms, and without clearly measuring the effectiveness of implementation. In the context of strong technological development, the method of information transmission has changed, but current regulations have not kept up with this trend...

Innovating foreign information methods, enhancing the application of digital technology, promoting the national image

Therefore, the amendment and supplementation of the provisions of Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of foreign information work, in accordance with the new situation and development requirements of the country in the direction of closely combining management - coordination - coordination; digital transformation - measurement - adjustment of fake news and false news about Vietnam, helping foreign information to be more proactive, synchronous, creative and effective.

At the same time, perfect the legal mechanisms and policies on foreign information, ensuring consistency and uniformity with the current legal system. Create a clear legal corridor for agencies, organizations and individuals to carry out foreign information activities in a systematic and unified manner.

Innovate foreign information methods, increase the application of digital technology and social networks to improve communication efficiency and promote the national image.

Ensure resources for implementing foreign information work, harmoniously combining the state budget and socialized resources, between state agencies and domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

Supplementing the State's policy on foreign information activities

Previously, Decree 72/2015/ND-CP did not have any provisions on the State's policy in the field of foreign information. The policy was mainly expressed through programs and strategies but did not have a clear legal basis in legal documents, leading to a lack of legal basis in ensuring resources, public-private cooperation, socialization, and the use of specific mechanisms to deploy foreign information activities abroad.

Accordingly, the draft Decree proposes to supplement Clause 3 of Article 4 of Decree 72/2015/ND-CP including:

a) Ensure necessary conditions for foreign information activities to deploy foreign information tasks stably, effectively, with focus and key points.

b) Prioritize budget allocation for foreign information activities to serve political tasks, protect sovereignty, and promote the country's image.

c) Encourage and mobilize social resources to participate in foreign information activities.

In addition, Clause 1, Article 4 of Decree 72/2015/ND-CP has not clearly defined the role of Party agencies and socio-political organizations in coordinating the implementation of foreign information tasks, while Conclusion No. 57-KL/TW dated June 15, 2023 of the Politburo clearly states: "Closely connect, synchronously deploy, with focus and key points between foreign information and domestic information, between party diplomacy, state diplomacy and people's diplomacy. Promote the combined strength of the entire political system, while encouraging the active participation of the people, Vietnamese compatriots abroad and international friends."

Therefore, it is necessary to supplement the above contents to clarify the coordination and unification mechanism in managing foreign information activities, especially in the context of digitalization and deep international integration. Accordingly, supplementing agencies that coordinate with the Government to unify state management of foreign information activities includes: the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and mass organizations assigned by the Party and the State to ensure the promotion of the role and responsibility of the entire political system.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is soliciting comments on this draft on the Ministry's Information Portal.

Minh Duc

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/hoan-thien-co-che-chinh-sach-phap-luat-ve-thong-tin-doi-ngoai-102251106163014534.htm