VNA Deputy General Director Nguyễn Thị Sự (middle) attends the 6th World Media Summit in China. VNA/VNS Photos

BEIJING – A delegation from the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) led by Deputy General Director Nguyễn Thị Sự attended the 6th World Media Summit (WMS), which opened on Monday in Urumqi, the capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Themed "Artificial Intelligence and Media Transformation," the summit gathered over 500 participants from 106 countries and regions, including representatives of 208 mainstream media outlets, government agencies and international organisations. The event was co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the regional government of Xinjiang.

At the summit, Sự delivered a speech highlighting the role and responsibilities of the press in the face of natural disasters, mentioning super typhoons that caused heavy losses in human lives and property in many countries and regions around the world since the beginning of this year, especially Typhoon Yagi, which hit Việt Nam early last month.

The press should quickly transmit accurate forecasts and warnings, promptly update the developments, directions and devastating power of the storms, and reflect the rescue work and recovery efforts to help people stabilise their lives, she said.

"Mainstream news agencies also need to promote their role in refuting and correcting false information, providing the public with true information, and contributing to strengthening trust and maintaining social stability and order," she added.

She noted that in just over two weeks, the VNA, as the national news agency, produced and published more than 10,000 information products in many forms relating to Typhoon Yagi, including more than 3,400 text articles, more than 5,900 photos and photo essays broadcast online, more than 740 television news items, and 116 infographics, providing official and reliable sources of information for the domestic and foreign press and media systems.

"The VNA did a good job of responding to and correcting false information, promoting ethical values and social responsibility of journalists, contributing to protecting social order and safety, and the peaceful lives of the people," Sự said.

She affirmed that the press and media have made important contributions to minimising damage caused by natural disasters, maintaining social stability, and preventing those who take advantage of natural disasters for personal gain, while also promoting and spreading solidarity and humanity, helping victims receive timely rescue and support and accelerating the process of recovery and development.

VNA Deputy General Director Nguyễn Thị Sự talks with Vice President of Xinhua News Agency Yuan Bingzhong

On the sidelines of the summit, Sự met with Vice President of Xinhua News Agency Yuan Bingzhong. She appreciated Xinhua for organising the summit, saying its theme is useful for press agencies in the development trend of modern journalism today.

Regarding the relationship between the two news agencies, Sự said she hopes that they will carry out cooperative activities towards the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and China in 2025; maintain the exchange of information and professional experience; support each other's correspondents; and coordinate viewpoints at international and regional press forums of which both are members.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and continue to effectively implement the professional cooperation agreement between the two news agencies, which was recently signed during the state visit of Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm to China last August.

They will continue to promote the traditional relations and enhance understanding between the people of the two countries, contributing to enhancing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Việt Nam and China. VNS