Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other senior leaders cut the ribbon to kick off the National Press Festival 2019 in Hanoi on March 15.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) cut the ribbon to kick off the National Press Festival 2019

Themed “Renovated, creative, responsible Vietnamese press for the interests of the nation and people”, this year’s event attracted 85 centrally-run press agencies and local journalist associations.

Nearly 300 excellent reportages on environment, climate change, and natural disaster prevention in 2018 along with over 80 publications, scientific articles and press works were introduced to visitors at the festival.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted the role of the press in the cause of national revolution and the cultural life.

PM Phuc described the press as a forum of the people and it has been accompanying the Party and Government in all historical periods of the country.

The press needs to disseminate information quickly, accurately, objectively and honestly about the Party and State’s policies and the people’s opinions, he said.

The PM asked relevant agencies to strengthen management of press activities and social networks while promoting the role and responsibility of press agencies in the fight against corruption, wastefulness, negative phenomena, self-evolution and self-transformation.

President of the Vietnam Journalists' Association (VJA) Thuan Huu said the festival aims to honour the achievements of the revolutionary press, enhance exchanges between journalists and the community, and honour individuals, collectives, and enterprises with outstanding contributions in the field.

A number of sidelines activities will take place during the festival such as a seminar on journalist Huynh Van Tieng, former Vice President of the VJA, a seminar on the role of the press in communications on behavior culture standards, forums connecting businesses and the government, and training of young journalists, and press photo exhibitions.

The organisation board will present awards to the most impressive pavilions; best Tet newspaper cover pages; best e-paper display; best Tet (Lunar New Year) TV programmes; best scientific researches; and best reportages on the environment, climate change, and natural disaster prevention.

The closing and award ceremony will be held on March 17.-VNA