Hanoi (VNA) – Thestrengthening of soft power through modern communication platforms was thefocus of an international workshop held in Hanoi on December 11.
The event, organised by the PartyCentral Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, the DiplomaticAcademy of Vietnam and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, was among activitiescelebrating the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam - Australia diplomaticrelations this year.
Standing Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee for External Information Service Le Hai Binh speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
Opening the workshop, Le Hai Binh,Standing Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee for External Information Service, said that, to guarantee nationalinterests and promote their influence, stature, and prestige in the internationalarena, many countries are working to enhance their influence via cultural,political, social values and foreign policies.
Amid the fourth Industrial Revolution with the appearance of new communication methods like the internet and social media, international influence has even more space, environment, and instruments to grow and spread.
In that trend, the governments of many countries are stepping up theapplication of information technology, digital technology, and new means ofmedia, especially social networks, to national and global governance.
Binh noted that aside from a judiciousand appropriate foreign policy, Australia’s influence derives from a cultural uniqueness, developed economywith high competitiveness, and advanced education. Facing the boom of modernmedia means, the Australian Government has grasped the new situation and issuedsuitable policies, he added.
At the workshop, participants listenedto speeches about Vietnam and Australia’s policies on strengthening its international influenceand building national brands amid the surge of new media means, the initiativeto build a database system for popularising Vietnam’s images in cyberspace, andAustralia’s initiative to carry out the public diplomacy strategy.
Theyalso discussed the role of international media in promoting national influence, digital diplomacy towards the building of a sustainable world, theeffectiveness and reform of the implementation of the public diplomacystrategy, strong and weak points of modern media means, the effectiveness andimpacts of digital diplomacy, and the issue of ethics in the era of digitaldiplomacy./.
Amid the current integration and cultural confluence context, it is an urgent need to build detailed standards for the values of the Vietnamese people so as to activate the “soft power” of the nation.
Digital transformation, an obvious trend for all sectors, has become a tool for the cultural sector of Vietnam to make breakthroughs in turning into a source of soft power serving the country’s sustainable development.
As the Vice President representing the Asia-Pacific of the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, Vietnam will help build consensus and seek appropriate solutions to urgent issues of the Asia-Pacific and UNESCO, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the agency’s centre for digital contents and communications (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
At the event (Photo: VNA) 
Standing Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee for External Information Service Le Hai Binh speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) 
