(VOVWORLD) - The 11th National External Information Service Awards were presented in Hanoi last night. Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that external information is a strategic component of Vietnam's overall national soft power. He called for the building a workforce for external information service with resilience, intelligence, creativity, responsibility, dedication and vision.
 At the 11th National External Information Service Awards Ceremony. (Photo: Duc Anh/VOV5) |
The Prime Minister underlined that external information plays a vital and strategic role and has received special attention and direction from the Party and the State. Despite numerous challenges, the sector has achieved notable results, proactively amplifying Vietnam’s independent, self-reliant, and just voice on the international stage, enhancing the image of a stable, dynamic, responsible, sincere, reliable, and friendly Viet Nam with a strong national identity.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasizes that external information service is a strategic component in the overall national soft power. (Photo: Duc Anh/VOV5) |
He said: "The external information service has amplified Vietnam’s independent, self-reliant, and just voice on the international stage, enhancing the image of a stable, dynamic, responsible, sincere, reliable, and friendly Viet Nam with a strong national identity. These efforts have helped the world better understand the country’s spirit, resilience, and people, thereby strengthening relations with partners and creating favorable conditions for national development."
Looking ahead to a new era of development, the Prime Minister said that alongside national defense and security, foreign affairs have been identified as a key and regular task, contributing to early and long-term protection of the nation and to rapid, sustainable development. External information service plays a particularly important role in this process, emphasized the PM.
To further improve effectiveness, he urged the external information service to renew its mindset and working methods, ensure strategic proactiveness, and develop systematic programs with rich content and modern, multimedia, and persuasive formats.
He also called for stronger application of digital technologies and more effective use of global media platforms, including social media, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and big data, to better serve foreign audiences and the domestic public.
 VOVWorld wins the 1st Prize in Radio Category for the report “From enemies to empathy: The quiet power of MIA mission. (Photo: Duc Anh/VOV5) |
This year, the organizing committee received more than 2,400 entries across eight categories, double the average of previous seasons. At the ceremony, eight first prizes, 16 second prizes, and 24 third prizes were awarded.
VOVWorld wins the First Prize in the radio category with the work “From enemies to empathy: The quiet power of MIA mission.
Journalist Le Phuong Khanh of VOVWorld, representing the winning team, said: “Receiving this award brings back memories of my very first journey from Hanoi to Quang Tri, where I was able to listen to the stories of those involved in efforts to search for US soldiers missing in the war. The characters brought me profound emotions and powerful stories. We were deeply moved.”