The press contributes to enhancing the position, strength and prestige of the National Assembly and People's Councils.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at the Closing Ceremony and Awarding of the First National Press Award on the National Assembly and People's Councils (Dien Hong Award) - 2023. Photo: Thanh Duy

This is an important and meaningful event taking place during the Fifth Session of the 15th National Assembly; celebrating the 75th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation (June 11, 1948 - June 11, 2023) and the 98th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2023).

Nghe An Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the important speech of Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at the ceremony:

Dear Comrade Vo Van Thuong - Politburo member, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Dear Comrade Nong Duc Manh - former General Secretary of the Party Central Committee.

Dear leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Dear delegates, distinguished guests, comrades and countrymen!

Today, I am very pleased to attend the Closing Ceremony and Awarding of the National Press Awards for the National Assembly and People's Councils (named Dien Hong Award) for the first time in 2023. This is an important and very meaningful event taking place during the Fifth Session of the 15th National Assembly, celebrating the 75th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation (June 11, 1948 - June 11, 2023) and the 98th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2023).

Panorama of the Dien Hong Award Ceremony on the evening of June 9. Photo: Thanh Duy

On behalf of the Party, State and National Assembly Standing Committee, I would like to send to the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front, distinguished guests, journalists across the country, and all comrades and compatriots my respectful greetings and best wishes!

Dear comrades and countrymen!

Inheriting and promoting the glorious 77-year tradition of the Vietnamese National Assembly; under the leadership of the Party, the 15th National Assembly has continued to make efforts to innovate and improve the quality of its operations towards increasing democracy, professionalism, and the rule of law, achieving many important and comprehensive results in terms of legislation, supreme supervision, and decision-making on important national issues. In localities, the operations of People's Councils at all levels have also been increasingly innovated comprehensively, strongly, responsibly, practically, effectively, and efficiently.

One of the great sources of encouragement, contributing to enhancing the position, strength and prestige of the National Assembly and People's Councils over the past many years is the comprehensive, persistent and creative contribution of the country's press. In its role as an important bridge, closely connecting elected bodies with the people and voters nationwide, the country's press has increasingly shown itself to be a worthy collective propagandist, collective cheerleader, collective organizer, and at the same time a channel of intellectual and responsible criticism towards the country.

Comrade Tran Thanh Man - Politburo member, Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Head of the Steering Committee of the Dien Hong Award and Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department presented the B prize to Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Thanh Duy

The national press and media system has proactively and comprehensively propagated and promoted, contributing to the implementation of the Party's policies and guidelines institutionalized by the National Assembly and People's Councils through decisions and action movements nationwide; at the same time, it has truthfully and vividly reflected the legitimate thoughts and aspirations of all sectors, all classes, voters, people nationwide and our compatriots abroad to the National Assembly and People's Council forums; at the same time, it is an important and reliable channel for voters to supervise elected bodies and elected representatives. Press agencies, generations of reporters and editors always accompany and devote themselves to the activities of the National Assembly and People's Councils not only with responsibility but also with affection, enthusiasm, and passion for creativity; thereby, constantly progressing and maturing more comprehensively.

Dear comrades and delegates!

To recognize and honor the important contributions of the country's press and the tireless efforts of professional and non-professional writers to the National Assembly and People's Councils, the Standing Committee of the 15th National Assembly decided to organize the annual National Press Award for the National Assembly and People's Councils called the Dien Hong Award.

The great joy is that right after the announcement, the Dien Hong Award 2023 attracted widespread attention from all walks of life; the positive response of domestic and international press agencies, associations, inter-associations of journalists, journalists and even non-professional collaborators. Right in the first season, I was very moved and respectfully thanked the large participation of 171 domestic and foreign press agencies, 7 Offices of the National Assembly Delegation and People's Council, with 3,328 entries. It can be said that the entries were carefully invested, rich in topics, sharp in content, massive in scale, diverse in style and modern in journalistic means. Among them, many journalistic works with exploration, breakthrough, novelty, creativity, and appeal were well received and appreciated by readers.

At today's ceremony, I commend the Steering Committee and the Organizing Committee for proactively implementing the propaganda and promotion of the Dien Hong Award in a scientific, methodical, professional and effective manner. In particular, I warmly congratulate the 67 best works carefully selected for awards, including 5 A prizes; 13 B prizes; 16 C prizes; 31 Encouragement prizes and 2 open prizes outside the structure.

The works entered and awarded today are the crystallization of the enthusiasm, sense of responsibility, love for the profession, faith, and sincere feelings of writers and photographers towards the representative agencies of the people. The appeal and far-reaching impact of the works increasingly affirm the great support of the entire political system and the entire people for the Vietnamese revolutionary press on the journey of nearly a century of glorious companionship with the nation, under the Party's flag.

I propose that we warmly congratulate the success of the first Dien Hong Award - 2023. Congratulations to the press agencies, authors and groups of authors honored in this solemn ceremony. Sincere thanks to the companions, sponsors, and groups with many important contributions, together making the success of the Dien Hong Award!

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Secretary General, Head of the National Assembly Office Bui Van Cuong and National Assembly deputies from Nghe An took a souvenir photo with the group of authors of Nghe An Newspaper who won the B prize of Dien Hong Prize. Photo: Nam An

Dear delegates and comrades!

From the glorious tradition, with the support and assistance of Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, organizations at all levels and the people, I firmly believe that the country's revolutionary press will develop continuously, continue to make increasingly important and greater contributions to the building of a comprehensively developed National Assembly and People's Council, worthy of the trust and entrustment of the people.

All beginnings are difficult! From the success of the first Dien Hong Award, with the spirit of "Dien Hong", "thousands of people shouting together", I hope that the award will continue to receive great consensus and support, opening up new horizons of exploration, discovery and creativity for the press system, writers at home and abroad writing about the Vietnamese National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue took a souvenir photo with the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province and the group of authors of Nghe An Newspaper who won the first B prize of Dien Hong Award at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. Photo: PV

On the occasion of the 98th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, once again, I respectfully send to the national press system and all journalists across the country my wishes for creativity, development and success!

I wish Dien Hong Prize to continue to develop, have its own identity, and always affirm its position and reputation!

I wish you, comrades, delegates and distinguished guests good health, happiness and success!

Thank you very much!

(Title by Nghe An Newspaper)