Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education and Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng receives Vice President of China’s Xinhua News Agency Zhang Sutang on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI – Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education and Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng hosted a reception in Hanoi on Tuesday for Vice President of China’s Xinhua News Agency Zhang Sutang.

Zhang is making a working visit to Việt Nam from October 14 – 18 at the invitation of the State-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Minister Hùng expressed his delight at the outcomes of co-operation between the VNA and Xinhua over the years, which he said had contributed to popularising each country’s external policies, enhancing friendship between the two Parties and mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Chinese people.

He hailed Xinhua for its renovation efforts recently such as adopting new technologies like big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.

Zhang briefed the host about the organisational structure and operating model of Xinhua - the national news agency of China.

He believed that Xinhua and VNA shared many similarities and would continue to effectively carry out signed agreements, enhance information sharing and exchange of visits, as well as support each other’s resident reporters.

VNA General Director Nguyễn Đức Lợi also received the Xinhua delegation the same day, during which he expressed thanks to Xinhua for its help to VNA through providing equipment and training for reporters and editors.

On information sharing, he said Xinhua’s news, especially in English and Chinese, provided an important source of international news for VNA, especially those regarding China and Northeast Asia.

The host suggested that both sides should increase information sharing and fight negative news about their respective countries’ situations, especially distorted and reactionary news that aimed to divide the two nations.

As national news agencies, Xinhua and VNA should carry more positive news about the other country, thus strengthening public trust in the political system and protecting the ideological foundation and the path to socialism in each country, he said.

Zhang shared Lợi’s view that the two sides should promote the sharing of information and expertise towards improving news quality and mutual understanding between the two countries’ peoples.

Also in the morning, VNA Deputy General Director Vũ Việt Trang held talks with Zhang.

Both sides reviewed the implementation of the professional co-operation agreement signed in 2017 during a Việt Nam visit by Xinhua President Cai Minzhao and commitments made during the China visit in 2018 by General Director Lợi.

Trang said English news by Xinhua was one of the major news sources used by VNA.

VNA received 5,000–6,000 photos from Xinhua each month, and sent about 10 photos featuring Việt Nam’s political, socio-economic and cultural situation to Xinhua each day, she said, adding that VNA also used video news provided by Xinhua.

Host and guest pledged to expand co-operation in modern communications and share experience in new reporting methods. — VNS