Hello, I’m Kim Chi - welcome to the Letter Box on VOV Radio.
Hi, everyone. I’m Nhat Quynh. We’re here every Wednesday to acknowledge listeners’ letters we got during the week.
A: Starting this week’s edition of the Letter Box, we acknowledge letters from Japanese listeners. From Ota-ku, Tokyo, Yoshihiro Kusanagi listened to our program on November 11th on 12020 khz. He used a Sony ICF – SW55 portable radio with a table top antenna installed outside the house modeled APEX 700 DTA. The 46-year-old D’xer noted good listening condition in the rainy weather with SINPO rating at 45333.
B: Although Mr. Kusanagi said that his English listening is poor and he couldn’t understand detailed content, we acknowledge that his reception report is sufficient for us to verify it with our QSL card. As a manager of the personnel division of a company in Japan, Mr. Kusanagi is fond of listening to business news from other countries. He wrote: “Today I listened to economic news in Asia and VN’s domestic affairs. I was especially interested in Asian economic cooperation including with the US. I wonder the Eurozone shall survive in the future. I’m afraid that a global financial crisis has come again. Japan has recently been struck by tsunami but I’m convinced that Asian unity is very important to help us survive.”
A: The Eurozone's financial problems are spreading and the bloc is facing its toughest period since its establishment. But international economists believe Franco-German determination to maintain the coherence that they have created in Europe will secure the euro's future. I’ve read that 6 months after the devastating tsunami and earthquake, Japan's economy has been doing better than the initial estimation
. The country recorded a 1.5 percent growth in the July-September quarter, or an annual 6 percent rate.
B: The Kyodo News recently quoted the Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister that the positive growth came on the back of rapid restoration of nationwide supply chains after the twin disasters. But the Japanese government warned sustaining the momentum will be challenging, noting the export-dependent economy, the third-largest in the world, is threatened by slowing global growth, the financial crisis in Europe and the yen's persistent strength. We hope individual governments and inter-governmental efforts will find the way through all these problems.
A: Here I have another letter from 61-year-old male Mikio Kohara, who lives in Settsu city in Osaka. He tuned in to our channel on 12020 khz and noted good to fair listening condition. Similar to Mr. Kusanagi, Mr. Kohara said he can understand a little English and the program, but I acknowledge that his report consisting major contents of the program from 13:30 to 13:57 UTC on November 10th. We definitely will send you a verification card. Mr. Kohara went on to say: “In Osaka, it is autumn when the colored leaves were beautiful. Sport competitions such as marathon are held in many places. A Christmas tree is displayed in the city center early and sale for Christmas begins.”
B: It’s great to know about the festive Christmas atmosphere in your place. We wish other regions in Japan, especially places affected by the March’s twin disasters, will also enjoy a joyful Christmas. In Hanoi, we are in the last pleasant days of autumn. Bright sunshine days interval gloomy and rainy days of winter. This wonderful season has inspired song writers to compose hundreds of songs. For now, enjoy a track depicting typical features of Hanoi – narrow streets covered with colored leaves and subtle aroma of milk flowers fills the air.
A: The song was presented by singer Thanh Lam, a very popular singer in Vietnam. Now let’s continue to read some letters from other Dx’ers. Rana Dewan Rafiqul, President of the Friends Radio Club in Bangladesh told us that he is preparing for his 38th birthday on December 30th.
B: Happy birthday, Mr. Rafiqul. It’s pity that we can not join your birthday party. But we will surely send you some special presents to mark this happy event. Mr. Rafiqul has been listening to our station for quite a long time and sent us regular feedback. He’s interested in the News, culture, music, society and lifestyle, and historical programs. Mr. Rafiqul told us that over the past few years, many international radio stations have gone off air. He hopes VOV will never close.
A: We surely never do. We have just sent questionnaire to collect listeners’ opinions on how to improve our program’s content and structure to meet your expectation. The changes will be gradually applied and we wish to continue receiving your support and feedback. From West Bengal, India Soumya Bhattacharjee emailed us a report for the program on November 9th on 7220 khz and rated SINPO at all 4s. He informed us that he has purchased a new semi professional digital radio of well known brand Tecsun PL660 made in China. Bhattacharjee wrote: “Using this radio set, I found that the reception quality has improved a lot. Listening with this set is a great comfort and I’m greatly enjoying your service along with other shortwave stations. I strongly believe this set will make me more dedicated to shortwave listening, and hence I can assure you more hours of listening to your station.”
B: Congratulations on your new device. It is really a popular radio set among Dx’ers around the world and it has gained good remarks and appreciation from experts. Another Indian listener, Ratan Kumar Paul observed our programs from November 8th to the 14th on the frequency of 9550 khz. SIO rating was rather good at all 4s. He wants to know about the first Speaker of the VNese National Assembly and the electoral procedure.
A: After the August Revolution Victory, President HCM declared the birth of the Democratic Republic of VN on September 2nd 1945. On January 1946, the first general election ever in Vietnam was held all over the country. All Vnese people from 18 years old were eligible to vote. The first session of the First National Assembly took place in March the same year with nearly 300 deputies. They voted to elect Nguyen Van To as Chairman of the National Assembly. Since then, 13 national elections to choose National Assembly delegates have been held every five years.
B: The National Assembly election procedures are as follows: Chairman of the current National Assembly signs several documents relating to the election including the date, which is usually on weekend, constituencies, lists of candidates and vote counting. On that day, all people go to the polls to vote for the representatives at the National Assembly. The votes will be counted immediately after the poll closes, usually at 7pm. The preliminary result at the local level will be submitted to the National Electoral Council to summarize and make public the official.
A: We keep it short talking about the National Assembly Election. This week’s Letter Box acknowledges letters from Shahinur Alam, President of the Peace Radio Listeners’ Club and Mizan Rahman, President of Suchona Sumas Kulyan Sungo in Bangladesh, Dmitry Kutuzov of Russia, Tony Bernhoffer from Ohio, the US and Reiner Peuthert of Germany.
B: Thank you all for sending us reception reports, and you’re ensured to receive our verification cards. We’ll continue to send you the winter frequency list to make it convenient for you to follow our broadcast. Before we go, we’d like to remind you of our address: English section, Overseas Service, VOV, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, VN. Our email address is: englishsection@vov.org.vn. We’re Nhat Quynh and Kim Chi. Thanks for joining us. We hope to see you again next Wednesday at the same time, same frequency. Good-bye!