How to better the content of Dan Toc va Mien Nui (Nationalities andMountain Area) pictorial magazine, a multilingual publication of theVietnam News Agency (VNA) was in the spotlight at a conference in thesouthern city of Can Tho on August 16.

Addressing theevent, VNA Deputy Director General Le Duy Truyen said the magazine, aone-of-a-kind, is designed specifically for ethnic minority groups inover 40 northern, Central Highlands and southwestern provinces.

The staff of the magazine are working to launch an e-version andexpand publications to cover all State-recognised ethnic languages, hesaid.

He also urged that besides directing public opinion,the editorial staff must work harder to preserve the ethnic languagues,thus helping keep the traces of ethnic culture alive.

Deputy Head of the Southwestern Region Steering Committee Duong QuocXuan hailed VNA for issuing the first bilingual publication targetingKhmer and ethnic groups nationwide.

He suggested creatingmore columns with feature stories about the southwestern region whilegrasping the demand of all people, especially those living in remote andmountainous areas.

Earlier, the VNA delegation worked withthe Southwestern Region Steering Committee to review its three-yearmedia coordination with the Southwestern, Central Highlands andNorthwestern Region Steering Commitees.

Nguyen Phong Quang,Standing Deputy Head of the Southwestern Region Steering Committeepledged to provide VNA with better sources of information.

In compliance with the Prime Minister’s direction, VNA officiallylaunched the magazine in six languages in 2012, including Khmer, Bahmar,Jrai, Ede, Cham and Vietnamese.

With rich news looking atthe socio-political situation and poverty reduction across the country,the publication has reached out to villages, communes, Khmer pagodas andborder stations in the southwestern region.-VNA