In 2010, the commission focused on providing information about and handling many pressing social issues related to the incident of Vinashin Group, the pilot bauxite project in the Central Highlands, contradictions concerning the country’s sovereignty over sea and islands, as well as the Party’s and State’s policies on religion and nation, said Phung Huu Phu, Vice Head of the commission.

In 201, the agency also played an active role in spreading information and news about the National Party Congress, Mr Phu said. It also refuted the allegations and distortions made by political opportunists and hostile forces.

All levels of the Commission for Information and Education instructed party committees nationwide to combine their activities with the movement to study and follow late President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example.

However, Mr Phu pointed out a number of shortcomings in the agency’s work, such as action plans being impractical, especially at grassroots level, and the low effectiveness of the implementation of Party resolutions and instructions.

In his report, Mr Phu highlighted some important tasks for the Party’s Information and Education work in the next five years, with a focus on creating an ideological unity within the Party and a high consensus in society.

In the time to come, the commission will concentrate on appealing to voters’ patriotism and encourage them to take part in the elections for the 13^th National Assembly.

Addressing the conference, Politburo member Truong Tan Sang stressed the need to prevent corruption and ‘ideological evolution’ inside the Party and to provide the press with timely information regarding sensitive issues to build a social consensus.