Under Regulation No. 214-QD/TW (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation), the Central Steering Committee for Foreign Affairs and International Integration (hereinafter referred to as the Steering Committee) is charged with advising and assisting the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat in leading and directing the synchronous, unified, and effective implementation of the Party and State’s guidelines, policies, and laws on external relations and international integration.
In terms of its duties, the Steering Committee is responsible for studying, advising, and making recommendations to the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat for consideration and decisions on guidelines and orientations regarding mechanisms, policies, laws, breakthrough solutions, and strategies for the synchronous, unified, and effective implementation of Party external relations, State diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, and international integration.
It also directs, mobilises, and coordinates Party committees and Party organisations at all levels in implementing Party resolutions and regulations, and State laws on external relations and international integration.
In terms of its powers, the Steering Committee advises and recommends that the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat lead and direct matters concerning external relations and international integration falling within their respective authority in accordance with Party regulations. It may establish an Inter-sectoral Working Group on External Relations and International Integration.
The Steering Committee also directs the handling of complex and sensitive issues and solutions to resolve obstacles and difficulties in the implementation of external relations and international integration that fall outside the authority of the Standing Party Central Committee Secretariat but are not yet serious enough to require reporting to the Politburo or the Party Central Committee Secretariat, as well as other tasks assigned or delegated by the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat.
The Regulation states that the Steering Committee is under the leadership and direction of the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat, and receives consistent direction from the Party General Secretary and President, who also serves as Head of the Steering Committee. It operates on the principle of democratic centralism, with collective discussion followed by conclusions and directions from the Head of the Steering Committee. Party committees and Party organisations throughout the political system are responsible for coordinating with and supporting the Standing Office and Inter-sectoral Working Groups of the Steering Committee in fulfilling tasks assigned by the Steering Committee and its Standing Committee.
The Steering Committee operates according to work plans and programmes and meets every six months, with extraordinary meetings held when necessary at the decision of the Head of the Steering Committee. The Standing Committee of the Steering Committee meets every three months and convenes extraordinary meetings when necessary at the decision of the Head of the Steering Committee.
Each year, the Steering Committee submits reports to the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat on its activities and promptly advises them on matters concerning external relations and international integration falling within their authority in accordance with Party regulations.
Regulation No. 214-QD/TW comprises three chapters and 19 articles, and comes into effect from the date of signing.
