PM Dung orders more online conferences and meetings

Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has ordered all Government ministries and agencies to increase administrative efficiency by organising more teleconferences, as opposed to meeting in person.

The Government's official website said that, if there is any special case that
needs a traditional in person meeting, it must be reported and approved by the
Prime Minister.

This request is part of government efforts to foster a high-tech working culture
and engage in administrative reform by enhancing the application of technology. It
is hoped this will save money and contribute to the monitoring and managing
capacities of the state agencies to better serve the people.

According to the Government Office, which is responsible for public relations and
organising Government events, they have already made strides in improving the
Government's meetings and conferences. Last year, they organised about 400 online
meetings between different officials and agencies.

Early this year, the Government Office approved a project designed for
improvements and updates to the technological infrastructure in the office to
better serve the public with a modernised e-government system.

Dung stated that the Government would invite leaders of its agencies to the
monthly teleconference meetings starting this month.

Minister of Information and Communications Le Doan Hop agreed that online
conferences and meetings were a cure for Government waste; face-to-face meetings
cost more money and more time that state officials could be using for other work.
Hop said more information could be exchanged in online meetings and help to hold
authorities more accountable.

There are signs that new technology is starting to be embraced. Last month, for
example, Dong Trieu district's education department in the northeastern province
of Quang Ninh became the first of its kind to organise an online meeting,
which included 70 area schools.-Enditem