Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh acknowledged VNA’s efforts to publicize legal documents and other documents relating to the organisation of cultural, sports and tourism activities.

He also said he hoped that the two agencies will continue to tighten cooperation in the future.

VNA General Director Tran Mai Huong pledged that VNA, as a national news agency with five daily newspapers (two in Vietnamese, two in foreign languages and one online), dozens of publications and a TV channel, will strive to implement cooperation activities and improve the quality of information

Throughout 2009, MCST and VNA have already worked together to publicise information and call for voting on Halong Bay to become one of the world’s seven natural wonders in VNA’s publications.

They will continue to work together to provide information relating to activities within the Vietnam’s “Cultural Diplomacy Year 2009”, including the launching of a Vietnamese cultural centre in France, Vietnamese cultural days in the UK, France, the Netherlands and Germany, and the Mekong-Japan tourism-cultural festival in Can Tho City.

Key events such as the third Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam, the 25th SEA Games in Laos, and the third national festival on traditional then singing and tinh instruments will also be high on both partners’ agendas.

Based on their cooperation agreement, the MCST and VNA will join forces to disseminate information on the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long-Hanoi in 2010 with a series of activities. They include an international film festival, an international circus and marionette festivals.

Additionally, an international photo exhibition, a Russian cultural week in Vietnam in 2010, and the seventh cultural, sports and tourism festival of the north-western ethnic groups will be held.

The two partners will also be busy providing information on activities for the national tourism year in Hanoi, the celebration of the 80th founding day of the Communist Party of Vietnam and late President Ho Chi Minh’s 120th birthday.