Hanoi (VNA) – The press should advanceits role in developing culture and instigating specific societal changes thatreflect positive Vietnamese values in accordance with the Party’s guidelines, saidDeputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at a press meeting in Hanoi on February 12.

In 2018, Vietnam gained many impressiveachievements across a variety of spheres, to which the local press madeconsiderable contributions, the government official said.

He added that the press has played an activerole in communications, creating social consensus in developing economy,culture, security, defence, environmental issues, and climate change.

In particular, press activities in 2018 wereconducted in a more disciplined and professional manner, with more lively,illustrative forms of expression, Dam said, adding that the press has also beenmore sensitive in reflecting social and national issues, as well asenvironmental matters.

He hoped in 2019, the press will contribute moreto the building of the Government’s policies and creating social consensus inthe implementation of the Party’s guidelines and the Politburo and PartySecretariat’s directions.

Deputy head of the Party Central PropagandaDepartment Le Manh Hung said that in the time ahead, the press should continueto promote the implementation of the Politburo’s directions on the continuallearning and following of the late President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology andmorality; and the celebration of 50 years of implementing his testament.

The press should also cover the efforts in preventingand combating corruption and wastefulness, he added. –VNA