Hanoi’s authorities pledged to be open to the press as it plays an important role in helping the city improve its governance, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue has said.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: Kinhtedothi

The city maintains its spirit of being open and transparent to the press and the municipal authorities need to closely follow the principle to facilitate the operations of media outlets, Mr. Hue said at a meeting with heads of news agencies on January 7.

Hanoi People’s Committee will hold monthly press briefing starting from January 2021 with an aim to provide information for media outlets in an open and transparent manner.

The operations of more than 600 news agencies in Hanoi have helped the city’s leaders get information and people’s voices in policy making, he said, adding that the press reflects the local government’s results and shortcomings.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue with heads of news agencies. Photo: Kinhtedothi

In addition, the city will boost the quality of information provided to the press. Accordingly, it will upgrade the local government’s portal.

The Secretary of the city’s Party Committee and the Chairman of the People’s Committee will update daily news from the press, thereby giving local authorities instructions timely.

"To facilitate the operation of media, Hanoi plans to build a media center for press and media outlets based in the city," the local party secretary said.

At the meeting, heads of news agencies have recommended a number of solutions for better cooperation between the press and the local administration.

Editor-in-chief of the Kinh te & Do thi newspaper Nguyen Minh Duc. Photo: Kinhtedothi

Editor-in-chief of the Kinh te & Do thi (Economic and Urban) Newspaper Nguyen Minh Duc said the city needs an official spokesperson to voice the city’s stance on issues of public concern in addition to weekly press briefing.

Do Phu Tho, deputy editor-in-chief of the Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) Newspaper, said the timely providing of information by the city’s authorities will enable the media outlets to be active in covering news amid social network boom.