The National Assembly, Party and Government leaders have asked the media to further enhance its news quality while asserting its important role in social life.

At his meeting in Hanoi on June 20 with journalists on the occasion of Vietnam’s 85^th Revolutionary Journalism Day (June 21), NA Chairman Trong praised the media as “a close friend” and “an important information channel” of the National Assembly.

“Whether the National Assembly’s sessions can drum up public interest or not are largely attributed to the press,” Chairman Trong said, urging the media to improve the quality of coverage so that readers can understand the legislative body’s activities more thoroughly.

He particularly hailed the press in general, and the newspapers of the NA in particular, for disseminating information on activities related to the NA, its committees and the people’s councils.

Mr Trong said he expects the media to focus more on covering positive trends in society and combating negative phenomena as well as sabotage schemes under the guise of democracy and human rights to undermine the national unity.

The same day, To Huy Rua, who is politburo member, secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and head of the CPVCC’s Education Commission, visited the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Rua spoke highly of the VNA’s contributions to the national construction and development, emphasising that the VNA has successfully fulfilled its role and responsibility as an important and reliable strategic information channel of the Party and State. Its provision of timely and accurate information has served well the policy-making and execution as well as meeting the research and information demands of other agencies.

He also affirmed that the VNA has well performed its tasks to bring the news to the Vietnamese community and foreign friends abroad.

The VNA should continue to raise the quality, effectiveness and competitiveness of its services, and develop the multi-media news service, including the creation of its own television channel, Mr Rua noted, expressing hope that the country’s only news agency will be able to keep pace with regional and international news agencies.

Later, Mr Rua made a tour of the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, Radio the Voice of Vietnam, the Communist Review, the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper, the Vietnam Television, the Cong an Nhan dan (People’s Police) newspaper, and the Journalism and Propaganda Institute.

Congratulating the journalists on their anniversary, Mr Rua asked the media to focus on covering on Party congresses at all levels in preparation for the 11^thth National Party Congress, and the implementation of the campaign “Studying and following the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh” and other major events in 2010.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan held a working session with the staff of the Governmental e-portal, where he asked them to improve the accuracy, timeliness and efficiency of the information.

The portal should also provide in-depth analysis of the Government’s viewpoints and policies to help the public gain a better understanding, Mr Nhan said.