Hanoi (VNA) - Journalistic works and productions related to the COVID-19pandemic dominated the list of winners at this year’s National ExternalInformation Service Awards held in Hanoi on July 28 night.

TheNational External Information Service Awards 2019 attracted nearly1,300 entries in 17 languages in various categories including printnews in Vietnamese, e-newspaper in Vietnamese, print newspapers in foreignlanguages, e-newspapers in foreign languages, radio, television, photosand books.

TheVietnam News Agency (VNA) won 44 prizes, including seven first prizes, eightsecond prizes, seven third prizes and 22 consolation prizes

The sixth edition of the annual awards, organised by the Steering Committeefor External Information, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Informationand Education, and Vietnam Television (VTV), aims to recognise and honouroutstanding authors, press works, and books in the external information sector.

NationalAssembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan congratulated the winners and senther regards to all those working in the external information sector,against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic severely affecting allaspects of socio-economic activities on a global scale.

Ngansaid the press had successfully communicated to the world the efforts andthe achievements Vietnam had made in the fight against the pandemic.

“Theentrants have been getting more diverse year after year, with this year seeingthe highest number of works from foreigners,” the top legislator said.

Thisyear, the organisers awarded 18 first prizes, 33 second prizes, 44 thirdprizes, and 80 consolation prizes, coming to a total of 175 winning submissions.

Twonew categories – short video clips and innovative initiatives that help bringthe images of Vietnam to the wider international community – were added thisyear in an attempt to catch up with the changing times and media landscape.

Thehandwashing dance video "Ghen Co Vy" ("Jealous Coronavirus"), whichbecame a worldwide sensation andinspired countless imitations in many countries and languages, nabbed thefirst prize in the video clip category.

Meanwhile,the social media campaign "Vietnam We Thank You – Vietnamco len!" by Wayne Worrell, an English teacher in Hanoi,together with his friends living in Vietnam, which comprised photos urgingresilience and thanking frontline workers and doctors for their sacrificesfor public safety during the pandemic, won the initiative award.

“Iwant to thank the Vietnamese Government for their approach to COVID-19,” WayneWorrell said, pointing to the fact that Vietnam had gone nearly 99 days withoutlocal transmission before Da Nang’s outbreak but still conveyed his confidencein the response by the authorities and Vietnamese people.

Heexpressed admiration for the preparedness of Vietnam in bothfacilities and operations throughout the country – “more so than any othercountry around the world” – in dealing with the pandemic. “Iam thankful to be in Vietnam,” he said.

In2019, Vietnam has achieved many important and comprehensive achievements insocio-economic development, national defence and security, enhancing foreignrelations and comprehensive cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Vietnamhas also made positive and internationally-recognised contributions inmultilateral diplomatic mechanisms and activities such as participating in UNpeacekeeping operations, sending its second field hospital to the UNpeacekeeping mission in South Sudan, successfully hosting the second USA-DPRKSummit and being elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council forthe 2020-2021 term, as well as taking over ASEAN Chairmanship for 2020.

Thewinning entries reflected these achievements of Vietnam in many languages andplatforms, contributing to promoting the political, diplomatic, economic,cultural and social achievements of the country and promoting Vietnam as adynamic, proactive country actively integrating into the internationalcommunity where it is a responsible member./.