The recommendation was made by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a meeting with leaders of media agencies in Hanoi on February 13. He extolled the mass media as an important tool for fighting corruption and accelerating administrative reform.

“The press is playing a very important role in our life and the achievements obtained in 2006 cannot be separated from the press’s positive contributions,” said Mr Dung. “The press has provided important information to Government officials to help devise solutions to socio-economic development. Each newspaper becomes a forum for democracy, representing all walks of life.”

He urged correspondents to continue covering major issues, especially cases of wrong-doing to help accelerate administrative reform. These negative phenomena have hampered socio-economic development, stunted the workforce’s growth and eroded people’s trust, said Mr Dung.

“The press should uphold its role as the vanguard force for the goal of a rich people, a strong country and a just, democratic and civilised society,” said the Prime Minister.