The development of foreign affairs news and the dissemination of information in Vietnam this year will focus on the nation’s strategy for the demarcation of its borders at sea.

This is among the conclusions of a national conference to review the national foreign news service that opened in Da Nang city on March 8.

Participants at the conference also agreed that continued efforts should be made to publicise the great significance of the completion of Vietnam-China border marker planting--not just in terms of two-way relations, but also its benefit to the world community.

They also urged stepped up efforts to increase awareness of the legal policies put in place by the Party and State concerning national sovereignty and border issues between Vietnam and its neighbours Laos and Cambodia, with the aim of constructing a peaceful borderline to promote friendship, cooperation and development in border provinces. To this end, the foreign news service, they said, must join the fight against the distorted and subversive allegations of hostile forces at home and abroad.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said that dissemination work has been implemented intensely, synchronously and comprehensively and with a clear focus. Also, the content and methods used have both been enhanced.

Together with increasing the dissemination of information on the country, people and development of Vietnam, the foreign affairs news sector has actively produced articles to fight the distorted allegations of hostile forces and political inciters relating to issues such as democracy, human rights, religion, freedom of the press, national sovereignty and Vietnam’s relations with other countries.

Keynote reports presented at the conference acknowledged efforts of the foreign news service to overcome all difficulties and challenges arising from the global economic crisis as well as the distorted arguments of hostile forces.

The service has also spotlighted the Party and State’s sound policies and measures, especially the consistent and open foreign policy of Vietnam, which has helped overseas Vietnamese communities and foreign friends gain a clear understanding of the domestic situation.

The dissemination of foreign affairs events has been conducted on time, introducing to the overseas Vietnamese and foreign audience international events of great significance relating to the Party and the State. The nation’s successful fulfilment of its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, its report on human rights which was approved by the United Nations, have also been made known. This has contributed to lifting Vietnam’s status in the international arena.

On March 9, reports from ministries, departments, relevant agencies and local authorities will be presented and participants will exchange experiences regarding the dissemination of information on issues such as seas, islands and border marker planting./.