Ceremony marks 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency

General Director of Vietnam News Agency Nguyen Duc Loi welcomes Vice President of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh to the ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the Liberation News Agency (October 12, 1960 - October 12, 2020) in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)

Vice President of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, leaders of Vietnam News Agency and delegates to the event pose for group photos (Photo: VNA)

The Liberation News Agency was officially established at the Duong Minh Chau revolutionary base in the southern province of Tay Ninh on October 12, 1960. The agency played a vital role throughout the anti-American resistance war, performing its task of covering historic events while directly participating in the fight and contributing to national reunification. In the photo: VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi welcomes Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh. (Photo: VNA)

Two months after its inception, the Liberation News Agency reported the founding of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, on December 20, 1960. Since then, it had been regarded as the official mouthpiece of the front. In the photo: VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi welcomes Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh. (Photo: VNA)

Vice President of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, General Director of Vietnam News Agency Nguyen Duc Loi and delegates to the anniversary visit exhibition on history of Liberation News Agency (Photo: VNA)

Besides the information work, Liberation News Agency reporters and technicians also took a direct part in the fight and became real soldiers. Many of them laid down their lives in combat postures, guns in hand, and remains of some have not been found. Tens were seriously wounded, and many others are struggling against the effect of Agent Orange. In the photo: Delegates to the anniversary ceremony visit an exhibition on history of the Liberation News Agency (Photo: VNA)

Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and leaders of Vietnam News Agency visit an exhibition on the history of the Liberation News Agency (Photo: VNA)

More than 240 reporters, editors, and technicians, or half of the Liberation News Agency staff in late 1974, lost their lives carrying out information or combat missions. The LNA is the press agency with the largest number of martyr journalists in the history of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism. In the photo: Former staff of Liberation News Agency attend the 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Former staff of Liberation News Agency attend the 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Former staff of Liberation News Agency attend the 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency (Photo: VNA)

Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh attends the 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency (Photo: VNA)

Delegates to the 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency perform the national flag salute ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Delegates observe a moment of silence to remember Vietnam News Agency correspondents and technical staff who were killed during the war. (Photo: VNA)

Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh speaks at the 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency (Photo: VNA)

On May 24, 1976, the Liberation News Agency merged with the Vietnam News Agency, marking a new development stage of the news agency. In the photo: General Director of Vietnam News Agency Nguyen Duc Loi delivers a speech at the 60th anniversary of Liberation News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Recognising such huge contributions by the Liberation News Agency, the Party and State have honoured over 200 organisations and individuals of this special press organisation. On September 1, the State President decided to grant the 'Hero of the People’s Armed Forces' title to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the Liberation News Agency during the resistance war against the US. In the photo: Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh presents the title of ‘Hero of the People’s Armed Forces’ to Liberation News Agency, now Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA)