Further efforts are needed to turn the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) into a truly democratic and united organisation for the sake of the country’s development.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made the call at a working session with the VJA’s Standing Committee in Hanoi on September 23 to increase the role and the effective operation of the VJA’s chapters.

The VJA should cooperate with relevant agencies at home to build and deploy a project to invite international journalists to come to Vietnam to work and learn more about the Southeast Asian nation, Deputy PM Nhan said, adding that this should be implemented in the remaining months of the year and continue thereafter through the ensuing years.

According to the Deputy PM, the move will help Vietnam ’s journalism integrate deeply into the world and enable international friends to fully and correctly understand Vietnam .

To ensure accurate and trustworthy information, it is also necessary to hold seminars to bring to light the experiences of journalists in writing features on typical examples of good people with good actions and drives to address wrong-doing, Deputy PM Nhan added.

According to VJA Chairman Dinh The Huynh, his association now has 17,000 members, up 3,000 from 2005. The VJA always attaches great importance to the protection of the legal rights of its members and has the determination to condemn and combat any actions that prevent its members from working legally./.