Truong Tan Sang, a member of the Party’s Political Bureau and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat paid a pre-Tet visit to Radio the Voice of Vietnam on January 22.

At a working session with the VOV management board, Prof. Dr. Vu Van Hien, VOV Director General, said that despite countless difficulties in 2008, VOV has successfully carried out tasks entrusted to it by the Party and State.

He said currently the national radio has five channels (from VOV1 to VOV5) broadcasting programmes on short- and medium waves, FM frequencies and via satellite with a total airtime of 218 hours per day. It also webcasts four major channels, namely VOV1, VOV2, VOV3 and VOV4 through its online newspaper (VOVNews). Many of its broadcasts have been highly acclaimed by the public for their significant social impact. 

He said that together with the other media agencies of the Party and Government, VOV has taken the lead in discovering and replicating exemplary role models and in curbing negative developments in society such as corruption and wastefulness. It has promptly provided commentaries with strong and persuasive arguments against slanderous allegations by hostile forces.

Mr Hien said that in 2009 VOV will continue to improve the quality of its broadcasts and presentation skills. It will build additional small- and medium-sized transmission stations in the mountainous and low-lying regions to increase national radio coverage to 99.5 percent by the end of the year. It will also carry out a project to expand its coverage to the East Sea.

For his part, Mr Sang praised VOV’s role and its great contribution to national development.

“VOV has set off two abreast with the nation through the course of history and gained important achievements,” said Mr Sang. “It proved to be the important spiritual weapon during the past wars of resistance against colonialists and imperialists as well as in defeating any attempt by hostile forces to determine the nation.”

He congratulated VOV on its achievements during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, especially the ongoing implementation of its East Sea project to support marine-based economic development and natural disaster prevention.

He said the national radio has fulfilled its tasks of disseminating Party guidelines and State policies, helping maintain social stability, build up the people’s trust and encourage sectors and localities to effectively implement the Government’s adopted solutions to ride out difficulties. The Politburo member expressed his belief that VOV will continue to develop the creativity and apply new technology to its programming and management to fulfil its mandate.

He extended Lunar New Year greetings to all VOV leaders and staff.