Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc meets with veteran journalists and leaders of media agencies nationwide in Ha Noi yesterday. – VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met with veteran journalists and leaders of media agencies nationwide in Hà Nội yesterday ahead of the 93rd anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21). 

The PM highlighted that over the past 93 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, the press had played an important role in the field of ideology and culture. 
The sector had achieved great progress over the years and made significant contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the national construction and defence, he said. 
The Government leader praised the sector for reporting on the domestic and world situation in a full and timely manner, covering all aspects of life and society and discovering new and effective models in various fields. 
The media had honoured good examples and countered wrongful arguments and distorted information, contributing to fighting corruption, wastefulness, protecting national sovereignty, promoting external relations and combating degradation in morality and lifestyle, noted the PM. 
In the cause of renewal and national development, the press had developed diverse media forms, including printed newspaper, radio, television, e-paper and multimedia, he said. 
With a strong force of nearly 850 media agencies and more than 18,000 reporters with press cards, and a Vietnam Journalists’ Association with more than 22,000 members, the press had been a vanguard on the ideology battlefield. 
Many journalists had set bright examples in devoting their life for national construction and defence. 
“We are deeply moved by the many journalists who died or were injured while performing their job in peace time, most recently Đinh Hữu Dư from Vietnam News Agency who died when covering floods and storms in Yen Bai,” stated the PM. 
He also expressed hope that media agencies would better perform their tasks of communications assigned by the Party, State and people. 
PM Phuc stressed that the domestic and world situation requires journalists to continue renewing and exerting more efforts to keep their role and position in guiding public opinion and contributing more to national construction and defence. 
In the context of deeper international integration of the country and development of the information and communication technology, media staff should quickly access new communications technology and methods. 
“The press, in any form, should be sharp-witted and keep updated on new technology,” he added. — VNS