With the support of leaders of the Vietnam National Assembly, the Office of the National Assembly of Viet Nam, The Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at Hanoi and Thumbsize Ltd at the signing ceremony today announced an initiative aimed at creating and piloting an online engagement website between MPs and the public.

This website is built under the technical support of Thumbsize Ltd, owner of Yoosk.com which has been piloted in the UK with the purpose of connecting public figures with Britísh citizens.

It is expected that the website will be ready to use by early 2010 and will connect MPs with the public online for the first time. Via this website, the public is encouraged to discuss and post questions to the deputies of the highest representative bodies in Vietnam on the issues that interest them.

At the signing ceremony, Dr. Nguyen Si Dzung, Vice Chair of Vietnam National Assembly Office, stated “the website will enable the participation of Vietnamese citizen in legislation, and, at the same time, strengthen the relationship between elected deputies and the public which is in line with the policies of the Vietnam Government”.

The British Ambassador to Vietnam, Mark Kent, said “The project introduces a new way of engaging with the Vietnamese public using participative media. I hope this project will serve the interest of both National Assembly deputies and Vietnamese voters and will play an active role in improving the UK-Vietnam friendship relations”.

Lord Davidson of Glen Clova, Advocate General for Scotland, visiting Hanoi to further enhance legal and judicial links between the UK and Vietnam, welcomed the project: “I am delighted to see first-hand the close ties that have been developed between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the UK through this project. The Yoosk website is a great example of our ongoing commitment to work together on innovative projects based on the transfer of creativity, expertise and knowledge between the UK and Vietnam”.

This is a pilot project lasting 6 months, starting from October 2009, with a total budget of £30,000. At the end of the pilot, the website will be owned, operated and managed by the Vietnam National Assembly Office to serve for Vietnam National Assembly activities.

Notes for Editors

For more information, please contact:

• Mr. Phung Van Hung, Director of Centre for Information, Library and Research Services, ONA at hungpv@qh.gov.vn
• Mr. Tim Hood, CEO of Yoosk at timhood@yoosk.com;Mobile: 01688767540  
• Ms. Bui Cam Ha, Communications Manager, British Embassy. Email: bui.ha@fco.gov.uk; Tel: 04 3 9360527; Mobile: 0904 83 5758
  

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