The Executive Board of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) opened its 37th annual meeting in Manama, capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on June 16 to discuss a code of profession in information.

Since its inception in 1961 on the UNESCO initiative, OANA has become a major mass media floor for information exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region, with the participation of 44 news agencies from 35 countries, said OANA Secretary General and ITAR-TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman in his opening remark.

This holds special value as the organisation’s member news agencies provide about 70 percent of the world news flows, he said, adding that the media picture of the globe depends on the daily efforts of the news agencies and their effective cooperation.

General Director of the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) Muhannad Solaiman expressed his wish that the OANA member news agencies will discuss measures to foster the strong development of the organisation in the future.

At the meeting, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Le Duy Truyen delivered a speech on the changing face of mass media and enduring values.

According to Truyen, information technology has changed a lot of things in the media industry. But it cannot alter the enduring values of the media, namely precision, objectivity, attractiveness and humanity.

Today, VNA correspondents are required to equip themselves with writing and image shooting as well as filming skills, he said, adding that only true journalists with professional qualifications, passion and courage can fulfill the noble mission of the media.

He concluded that the human resource factor always plays a key and decisive role in creating outstanding press work, which consequently builds up the prestige of media organisations, while technology plays the role of a supporting tool to transmit messages to readers faster and more widely.

In addition to profession ethics such as avoiding misunderstanding and ensuring privacy, participants also talked principles of processing information relating to terrorism, violence and natural disasters.

They decided to set up the OANA Development Committee as a mechanism for sharing professional experience and mapping out development strategies.

In the framework of the meeting, representatives of the OANA member news agencies met with Bahrain Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who said he hopes that the agencies will enhance their cooperation through the sharing of information, thus contributing to strengthening solidarity, peace and prosperity of nations in the region.

Especially, he praised the heroic tradition of the Vietnamese nation, saying that he admires and loves the country and people of Vietnam.

The same day, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Before the meeting, a photo exhibition highlighting the land and people of the OANA member countries was opened.-VNA