The Government always created favourable conditions for Vietnam News Agency (VNA) to enhance its role as a State news agency, bringing news to a number of people, including locals experiencing extreme difficulties.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made this affirmation at his working visit to VNA in Hanoi on June 20, on the occasion of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 – June 21, 2011)

Nhan spoke highly of domestic press circle’s contributions, including VNA in the fight for national independence and unification, as well as the current national construction and development.

He said that with modern facilities and a large contingent of the staff, VNA’s media of all kinds reached out to every region of the country, as well as to Overseas Vietnamese and international friends, adding that along with other press agencies, VNA had competently performed its role as a State news agency, including provision of official information and orientation of social opinion.

Deputy PM said he hoped domestic news agencies and VNA would promote its role of raising intellectual standards, bringing news on guidelines and policies of the Party and State to people of all strata, especially people in poor and ethnic minority areas, in an increasingly effective manner, contributing to further strengthening the great national unity.

He proposed that with bureaux in 63 cities and provinces and 27 bureaux overseas, VNA should build and uphold its strength in information technology infrastructure to become the leading news agency, working on electronic platforms and ensuring network security, creating the political and economic power of a national media group.

General Director of VNA Tran Mai Huong said that VNA had effectively performed its role of providing information to domestic and foreign news agencies, especially about the country’s important events; correcting news that was not in line with the national interests and rejecting untrue and distorted information.

In the common development trend of modern press, VNA also attached importance to developing a system of multimedia news, including print newspapers, an electronic newspaper, news on mobile phones and a television channel, Huong said.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Nhan visited VNA television channel, which officially began broadcasting 10 months ago, and VNA News for Foreign Service Department./.