Hanoi (VNA) - The ꦆParty Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service is organising the Second National External Information Service Awards 2015.

The organisers’ press release says the awards will honour the best works either in Vietnamese or foreign languages intended for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese in the four categories of print media, radio and television broadcast and electronic media. Entries should have been published or broadcast by either domestic or international press agencies between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. External information service plays an important role in promoting the image of Vietnam’s land, people, history and culture; and providing accurate information on the situation in Vietnam, the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, as well as the country’s viewpoints and stance on regional and international issues. The service also serves as a tool to refute and counter incorrect information and false allegations about Vietnam from hostile forces. In previous years, the external information service has made remarkable progress, as seen in the more diverse and updated content and more flexible and modern reporting methods. The service’s target audience and scope of operation have been increasingly expanded, and the efficiency of its counter-arguments against incorrect information and false allegations of hostile forces against Vietnam have been enhanced. The external information service has contributed to maintaining socio-political stability and strengthening and expanding relations between Vietnam and other countries and international organisations. It has also helped speed up global integration, promote economic cooperation, attract foreign investment and tourists and tighten the link between the overseas Vietnamese community and the cause of national construction and defence. The organisation of the awards also aims at underlining the vital role of the work, as well as encouraging journalists and press agencies to take part in external information activities while increasing connectivity and co-ordination among press agencies in the field, between information services for domestic and foreign audiences, and between relevant agencies, organisations and localities, thus improving the efficiency of the work. The awards, consisting of the first, second, third and consolation prizes, will be announced and presented at a ceremony in May, 2016. The Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service plan to organise the event every year and extend the scope of the awards to other fields related to foreign information and communications, including programmes, events and publications. The Commission for Popularisation and Education will establish the organising board for the competition while leading news and press agencies in the external information service will take turns in chairing the event. The Vietnam Television will chair the 2015 competition For more information, please contact: 1. The Department for External Relations and International Co-operation, Commission for Popularisation and Education Address: 2B Hoang Van Thu Street , Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi Telephone number: 08045321 2. VTV Office Address: 43 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street , Hanoi Telephone number: 04- 38315426; 04-38 344216 Email: giaithuongthongtindoingoai2015@vtv.com.-VNA