In accordance with Prime Ministerial Decree 25/PM of 1999, the Ministry of Information and Culture is the state management organisation responsible for the overall management of information and cultural development throughout the country. It is the spokesperson for statements from the Central Committee of the Party and the government and publicises the policy, regulations, laws and visions of the party and the government both domestically and abroad. The responsibilities of the Ministry include: (i) studying and implementing the Party's strategic guidelines, policy plans and policies, identifying measures and basic methods to monitor, guide, manage, facilitate, evaluate, summarise and draw lessons from information and culture development activities throughout the country; (ii) considering and amending draft laws, legislation, decrees, rules and regulations relating to the information and culture sector for submission to the government for further consideration; (iii) considering and proposing strategic plans, long term plans and projects which will enable the mass media to be more effective in disseminating and protecting party and government policies and guidelines; (iv) considering and proposing to the government strategic plans, long term plans and projects in order to develop, preserve and promote the excellent national and ethnic heritage, embracing excellent contemporary culture in order to boost the culture of Laos and create a national, mass-orientated and progressive culture; (v) stimulating the living culture, promoting cultural activities, cultural villages and cultural people, constructing the basis of modern information and culture infrastructure step by step, promoting creative ideas and using cultural products such as printing and circulation to supply society with materials and ideology in order for information and culture to become an active undertaking of the masses; (vi) co-ordinating and collaborating with the relevant organisations in order to establish measures aimed at preserving both movable and immovable heritage, preserving picturesque landscapes, the legends of the ethnic minorities and cultural revolutionary values; (vii) making plans for the upgrading and training of civil servants within the information and culture sector and imparting firm political principles and sufficient knowledge and professional competence for civil servants to accomplish their duties and functions within their professional sectors in each planning period; (viii) co-ordinating with the Ministry of Finance in making plans and budgets for the information and culture sector for submission to government, mobilising, seeking and managing the exploitation of domestic and foreign funds in order to invest in developing highly efficient information and culture; and (ix) conducting relations, experience experience and co-operation with foreign countries and international organisations in the field of information and culture. The Ministry is located within a rambling French colonial building constructed in the early 20th century as the office of the Résidence Supérieure. It incorporates the following offices, departments and agencies: