Vietnam News Agency receives the First-Class Independence Order.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) needs to continue to be a pioneer in providing accurate and vivid information and propaganda about the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws and regulations, contributing to the rapid implementation of Party resolutions, National Assembly resolutions, and Government action programs and plans; and promptly reflecting the aspirations of the people and pressing issues arising from real life...

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung speaks at the ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

This morning (September 15th), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended and delivered a speech at the ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and receiving the First-Class Independence Order. Former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and leaders from several central ministries and agencies also attended. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, former President Le Duc Anh, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, and Secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi sent congratulatory flower arrangements.

Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed, "Throughout seven decades of striving, building, and maturing, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has always been a companion to the revolutionary cause of our Party and nation, always deserving to be an important official information channel of our Party, State, and people."

According to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, throughout the two wars of resistance against foreign invaders, the staff, reporters, and telegraph operators of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) were present in almost all battlefields and fronts, fighting with their pens, hearts, and guns, overcoming countless hardships and sacrifices, transmitting information and images quickly, objectively, and vividly about the heroic struggle of our army and people.

VNA news also served as an important information channel, providing the Central Committee with additional grounds for directing operations on the battlefield and securing the sympathy and support of the people nationwide and internationally.

The timely information from the front lines contributed to igniting the determination to fight and defeat the invaders, regain national independence, and unify the country, creating momentum for vibrant emulation movements both on the front lines and in the rear. More than 260 VNA journalists bravely sacrificed their lives and lie buried on the battlefields during the two resistance wars, accounting for two-thirds of the country's martyred journalists. They are the embodiment of the noble sacrifice and immense contribution of VNA to the country and to the revolutionary cause of our nation.

In the process of national renewal, construction, and defense, facing numerous difficulties and challenges, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has continued to affirm its role as a leading press agency, striving to overcome many difficulties and effectively fulfilling its function as an "information bank" providing information to the press system and the public both domestically and internationally.

At the same time, it plays a crucial role in guiding public opinion correctly, fostering social consensus, and harnessing the combined strength of the entire population, assisting the Government and the Prime Minister in directing and managing the country's socio-economic affairs.

With a network of reporters spread across the country and a large team of reporters regularly working in more than 30 countries and territories worldwide, along with online information exchange with 42 international news agencies and media organizations, VNA has become the news agency with the widest and most comprehensive information network compared to other domestic news agencies.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presents the First-Class Independence Order to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

This solid foundation enables VNA to consistently follow "hot" events domestically and internationally, providing thousands of news articles on political, social, economic, cultural, sports, science-technology, and environmental issues.

During the recent intense struggle to protect our territory and maritime sovereignty, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) intensified its news coverage; many reporters bravely went to the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes to reflect the courageous spirit of our soldiers and fishermen, promptly and truthfully reporting on the situation, widely disseminating information domestically and internationally. This received the support of the entire nation and contributed to garnering international support for Vietnam's just struggle.

"On behalf of the Party and State leaders, and on behalf of the Government, I acknowledge, highly appreciate, and warmly commend the remarkable growth and immense contributions of VNA over the past 70 years," Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stated.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that, building on the revolutionary traditions of the past 70 years, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) needs to strive to overcome existing shortcomings and limitations; continue to be a pioneer in providing accurate and vivid information and communication about the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws and regulations, contributing to the rapid implementation of Party resolutions, National Assembly resolutions, and Government action programs and plans into life;

To promptly reflect the aspirations and concerns of the people, and the pressing issues arising from real-life situations; to provide timely and persuasive information to combat erroneous and hostile viewpoints; and to protect the interests of the State, as well as the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and citizens.

The most important immediate task of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) is to disseminate information about Party congresses at all levels, including the 12th National Party Congress, reflecting the opinions and suggestions of all sectors of the population on the draft documents and reports submitted to the Congress, contributing to the realization of the people's right to self-governance in the process of formulating the policies and guidelines of our Party and State.

While leveraging its strengths and crucial role as an official information agency of the Party and the State, VNA needs to continue striving to produce more journalistic works that truly reflect real life, insightful political commentary and analysis with strong and widespread influence, contributing to the correct orientation of public opinion.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister also noted that VNA needs to proactively apply advancements in information technology, develop various forms of journalism on advanced technological platforms, and strive to soon become a strong national multimedia media complex, as outlined in the Politburo's national journalism planning orientation until 2025.

"To achieve this, every journalist at VNA needs to constantly improve their political acumen, moral character, broaden their knowledge, have keen professional reflexes, and be ready to dedicate themselves to and master advanced science and technology," Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh visit the studio of Vietnam News Agency Television. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

At the same time, the Prime Minister expressed his confidence: “VNA will continue to innovate in all aspects, further effectively utilizing its resources to truly become a strong national multimedia communication complex, making a worthy contribution to the cause of national construction and defense, with influence and competitiveness not only domestically but also in the region and internationally; always worthy of its fine and glorious traditions, worthy of the trust and love of the Party, the State and the people.”

At the ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presented the First-Class Independence Order to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

On September 15, 1945, from the Bach Mai radio broadcasting station in Hanoi, the first news bulletins of the Vietnam News Agency (now VNA) were broadcast worldwide. These included the full text of the Declaration of Independence and the list of members of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This also marked the birth of a national news agency of the new Vietnamese state.

From a small group of reporters and technicians with rudimentary equipment in its early days, VNA has now become a news agency with a professional and modern system of operational equipment.

In recent years, VNA has promoted the development of various forms of information: text-based information, photos, television, graphics, radio, etc., bringing together more than 60 information products across various journalistic formats: print newspapers, online newspapers, and television.

Besides its headquarters in Hanoi, VNA has offices in the Central and Central Highlands regions (headquartered in Da Nang), an office in the Southern region (headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City), along with a network of permanent bureaus across all 63 provinces and cities nationwide and 30 permanent bureaus abroad in 28 countries across 5 continents.

VNA is currently a member of the Executive Board of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and an active member of the World News Agencies Organization. VNA currently has bilateral and multilateral cooperation relationships with approximately 40 major news agencies and media organizations worldwide.

According to Government.vn