Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 19 hosted a receptionfor a delegation of representatives of members of theOrganisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) who are in Hanoi for the 44th OANA Executive Board Meeting (EBM).

PM Phuc congratulated leaders of OANA members on the success of the EBM meetinghosted by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

He highly valued the theme of the meeting “Fora professional and innovative journalism”, and topics discussedin the framework of the event, saying that these are typical contents in thecurrent context of the complicated development of information in the world.

OANA President Aslan Aslanov, who isalso Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan StateNews Agency (AZERTAC), thanked theVietnamese Government and authorized agencies for their support for theorganisation of the meeting, saying that the event offers a good chance andserve as a venue for representatives of the regional news agencies to exchangeinformation and promote cooperation.

BriefingPM Phuc on the meeting, the official said participants focused their discussionon how to deal the spread of fake news and highlighted the importance of streamlinejournalism in the current context.

The AZERTAC has had manycooperation activities with the VNA in recent years, he said, adding that themeeting is a good opportunity for the two sides to make their ties stronger,more effective and practical.

Sharing Aslanov’s opinion, PM Phuc said press agencies, especially newsagencies, play an important role in contributing to promoting socialdevelopment, enhancing solidarity and friendship among nations, and promotingpeace in the world.

Press agencies need to modernise their operation and information production inthe digital era, he stressed.

Agreeingwith the view of Aslanov and the meeting on the need to deal with the currentrampant fake news, PM Phuc said that there should be official information fromnews agencies to give accurate information direction to the public.

News agencies must provide accurate and fast information to the local, regionaland global press systems, and create effective tools to verify and correct thefalse information, he stressed.

In its development strategy, Vietnam always facilitates the operation of the pressagencies and journalists, and encourages press agencies to expand applicationof digital technology achievements in their operation, the PM said.

Heaffirmed that the VNA has made many efforts in renovating its operation,expanding international cooperation to bring accurate information in Vietnameseand foreign languages to friends worldwide.

The leader took the occasion to commend the VNA on its achievements inexpanding new types of information, as well as the news agency’s hosting of the44th OANA EBM meeting, saying that the event helps connect regionaland international journalists, contributing to promoting cooperation amongregional countries.

He expressed his belief that with the presence of prestigious regional newsagencies in Hanoi, the image of a friendly, peace-loving, hospitable and beautifulVietnam will be promoted to the international community.

Speakingat the farewell party for participants to the 44th OANA EBM on the same day’s evening,VNA Director General Nguyen Duc Loi thanked OANA President Aslanov, VicePresidents and Secretariat, and member agencies for their support to andcompanionship with the VNA during the organisation of the event.

He affirmed that since its founding in 1961, the OANA has always striven toachieve the goal of Asia-Pacific news agencies creating a mainstream and globally pervasive flow of information.

The official expressed his hope that OANAmembers will continue to cooperate and innovate so that the flow ofinformation from news agencies continues to contribute to the region’sstrong development in the coming years, and strengthen OANA’s development in thedigital era.-VNA