Hanoi (VNA) – External information isone of the important channels to accelerate the global integration of Vietnamin a more proactive and effective manner.

Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’sCommission for Information and Education Pham Van Linh made the remark in arecent interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the upcomingNational External Information Service Awards 2017 ceremony in Hanoi on June 14.

He recognised the significant contributions ofexternal information to the country’s socio-economic development, especiallyafter 30 years of reform.

The external service work disseminatesinformation about the Party guidelines and the State’s new policies to foreignreaders as well as the achievements that Vietnam has gained over the pastyears.

It also promotes the image of Vietnam in theoverseas Vietnamese communities and rejects erroneous information produced by hostileforces, he said.

The National External Information Service Awards2017 received 930 entries, higher than the previous year (over 800) thanks to anumber of important international events held in Vietnam in 2017, particularlythe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.

To attract more reporters and editors at home andabroad and international organisations to participate in the contest, Linhsuggested increasing coordination between press agencies such as Vietnam NewsAgency (VNA), the Television of Vietnam (VTV), and the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

The next-year awards should focus more onforeign media representative offices, embassies in Vietnam, and Vietnameserepresentative offices abroad, he recommended.

He noted that the country is preparing for therevision of the 10-year implementation of the Politburo’s ConclusionNo.16-KL/TW on the strategy for external information development in 2011-2020.

This is the first strategy for the externalinformation that creates an important foundation for ministries, departmentsand localities to implement external information activities comprehensively andeffectively, he said.

As the country’s position has increased in theworld, the external service work needs reforms in both form and content byapplying new information technology to reach a larger number of readers in themost rapid and active way.

He called on setting up a development fund forexternal information as recommended in Conclusion 16 to disseminate importantexternal activities to the whole society.

The National External Information Service Awards2017 was launched by the Party Central Committee’s Communication and EducationCommission, the Steering Committee for External Information Service and Nhandan newspaper.

Nhan dan newspaper is the standing agency ofthe awards 2017.

The competition, which is open to Vietnamesepeople, both at home and abroad, as well as foreigners, aims to nudge the imageof Vietnam as a peaceful and proactive country to international friends.

It features seven categories, including printmedia, radio broadcast, television broadcast, electronic media, press photo,landscape photo and book.

Launched in 2014, the contest has drawn great attentionfrom both domestic and foreign press organisations, publishers and reporters.The number of entries to competition has increased through years from 893entries in 17 languages in 2016 compared to 515 works in 10 languages in 2014.

Sixty-nine press works were honoured at theNational External Information Service Awards 2016, including six first prizes,15 second prizes, 18 third prizes, and 30 consolation prizes.-VNA