VNA Director General Nguyễn Đức Lợi (R) and Director General of Algeria Press Service (APS) Abdelhamid Kacha sign bilateral cooperation agreements in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI – Algeria and North Africa are important areas to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Vietnamese audiences, VNA Director General Nguyễn Đức Lợi said during talks with the Director General of Algeria Press Service (APS) Abdelhamid Kacha in Hà Nội yesterday.

He noted that information provided by the APS will help VNA ensure the accuracy, impartiality and multi-dimension of its Algerian and North African coverage.

Over the past few years, the two sides have actively exchanged information under signed bilateral cooperation agreements, he said, adding that the enhancement of cooperative ties between VNA and APS is important and in line with the traditional friendship between Việt Nam and Algeria.

The APS Director General evaluated that the two news agencies have effectively implemented their cooperation and expressed his hope that the bilateral collaboration will be elevated in the future.

The APS has made effective use of information provided by the VNA to better serve the Algerian public’s demand for information on Việt Nam, ASEAN, and Asia, he said.

During the talks, the two sides discussed challenges facing news agencies in the context of fierce information competition, along with measures to help VNA and APS ensure the fulfilment of their missions as national news agencies.

The VNA Director General thanked APS for supporting VNA correspondents based in Algeria over the past years and hoped for continued assistance from the press service for VNA reporters working in Algeria.

During the talks, the two directors general signed a cooperation agreement on continuing the exchange of text, photo and television information, along with a new type of information: infographic news.

Both sides pledged to continue providing assistance for each other’s correspondents to carry out their professional activities and support each other at international forums.

VNA and APS signed cooperation agreements in 2000, 2007 and 2013.

During his working visit to Việt Nam, the APS Director General visited the VNA Television Centre (VNews) and Le Courrier du Vietnam newspaper office.— VNS