Sustainable press economic development goes hand in hand with building a team of elite, brave, and professional journalists

Dear comrades members of the Party Central Committee; leaders of departments, ministries, branches, central agencies and Hai Phong city.

Dear veteran journalists, journalists, members of the Vietnam Journalists Association and international journalists.

Dear distinguished delegates and the public nationwide!

Today, amidst the brilliant red color of the port city "Trung Dung - Quyet Thang", I am very happy to attend with comrades the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 National Press Festival - a great festival of journalists nationwide, taking place in the atmosphere of the entire Party, people and army striving to emulate to successfully implement the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress and celebrate the 101st anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2026). The Press Festival is not only a gathering place to honor the journalism profession, but also an opportunity for us to look back at the past journey, show strength and add momentum to a professional, humane, and modern revolutionary press.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I respectfully send to the leaders, veteran journalists, distinguished delegates, and all reporters, editors, journalists and the press community nationwide my sincere feelings and best wishes. Wishing you all a truly meaningful and successful press conference season.

Dear comrades and distinguished delegates!

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh - the teacher of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism taught: "The task of journalism is to serve the people, to serve the revolution". Thoroughly grasping that ideology, General Secretary and President To Lam requested the press to constantly innovate to develop commensurate with the stature of the times, truly become a professional, humane, modern press, serving the Fatherland, serving the People. That is both an honor and a commitment of responsibility that the Party, State and People trust and entrust to journalists.

Looking back more than a century, we are proud of a revolutionary press that has always accompanied and been closely associated with the Party's cause, with the cause of gaining independence, protecting and building the country. Over the past time, the country's press has transformed strongly: drastically arranging and streamlining the organizational structure; many press agencies after the merger have quickly stabilized, promoted digital transformation, and innovated operating models in a smart and effective direction. A more professional, elite, and modern press face is gradually taking shape.

I highly appreciate the efforts of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the City Party Committee, the People's Committee of Hai Phong City and the co-organizing agencies. The discussion sessions will go straight to the hottest issues of today's journalism: innovation of the editorial model, policy communication, protection of the Party's ideological foundation, application of artificial intelligence and digital transformation - proof of the bravery and aspirations of the team of revolutionary journalists.

This year's Press Festival theme "Vietnamese Journalism: Loyalty - Creativity - Responsibility in the new era" accurately reflects the requirements of the times. Loyalty is the root, creativity is the path, responsibility is the destination. Digital technology, artificial intelligence, social networks and cross-border platforms are profoundly changing global communication methods. But amidst that information whirlwind, there is a truth: Technology can change the way journalism is done, but it will never change the mission and ideals of Vietnamese revolutionary journalism.

Dear comrades!

To make revolutionary journalism truly become a pioneering force, a driving force to promote social development, I propose that the team of journalists nationwide stick to reality and focus on performing well some key tasks as follows:

First, maintain the Party's character, the people's character, absolute loyalty to the Fatherland and the revolutionary cause. This is a continuous red thread, the top quality of revolutionary journalism. Each press agency, after being streamlined, must be a solid fortress to protect the Party's ideological foundation, sharply fight against wrong, hostile views, and toxic information. The press must take the lead in bringing the Resolution of the 14th National Congress and strategic resolutions of the Central Government deep into life, turning the will of the Party into actions of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army.

Second, constantly innovate, create, break through, and master technology. Faced with the wave of technological revolution, journalists are not allowed to lag behind. Digital transformation must be drastically implemented in the spirit of Resolution 57, proactively applying artificial intelligence and modern technology, building converged and multi-platform editorial offices, mastering information flows in cyberspace; mastering technology is not only to keep up, but also to lead, so that revolutionary journalism plays a key role, orienting public opinion right on the digital platform. I would like to note: Artificial intelligence can write words, but cannot write for the political bravery, conscience and heart of revolutionary journalists.

Third, play a good role as a driving force for development, a sharp weapon of ideological work - mass mobilization. The press not only reflects the flow of life, but must contribute to leading that flow in the right direction. Each journalistic work must propagate, encourage, reform, educate, arouse the aspiration for development, create social consensus for people to understand, believe and follow the Party; inspire the goal of double-digit growth, encourage the spirit of daring to think, daring to do, daring to innovate and create, realizing the aspiration to build a powerful, prosperous, and happy country.

Fourth, be steadfast in "content is the core, technology is the tool", maintain professional ethics and humanity. Technology, no matter how modern, is just a means; quality content, orientation, humanity and ethics of journalists create the prestige and vitality of a newspaper. Each journalist must maintain the motto "sharp pen, pure heart, bright mind"; each newspaper must be a reliable forum for the People, resolutely fighting against corruption, wastefulness, and negativity; absolutely do not let commercialization obscure the noble mission of revolutionary journalism.

Fifth, innovate the governance model, develop a sustainable press economy in parallel with building a team of elite, brave, and professional journalists. After arrangement and streamlining, managing agencies and editorial offices must proactively innovate governance, strengthen autonomy, solve the press economic problem in the digital age, ensure resources for reinvestment and care for the lives of journalists so that each journalist can feel secure in contributing and creating high-value works.

Dear comrades, dear fellow reporters and editors!

Any transformation has initial difficulties in organization, job positions and even very ordinary concerns of journalists. But over 100 years have proven that Vietnamese revolutionary journalists have never retreated from hardship. The more challenges, the more the bravery and dignity of the journalism profession shines. Party and State leaders always pay attention to and create the most favorable conditions for comrades to feel secure in sticking with, contributing to and growing up with the profession.

With glorious traditions, steadfast political bravery, intelligence and aspiration to contribute, I believe that the team of journalists nationwide will continue to firmly maintain the pioneering flag on the ideological and cultural front, together with the entire Party, people, and army to successfully implement the Resolution of the 14th Congress, firmly moving towards two historical milestones: 100 years of Party establishment in 2030 and 100 years of national establishment in 2045. Let each newspaper page be a brick to build social trust and maintain the flame of Vietnamese aspiration. The country cannot rise up without a brave, pioneering and ambitious press.

With deep belief, I wish the Press Festival success and success.

Wishing leaders, distinguished delegates, journalists, reporters, editors and the press public nationwide health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much!

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Speech title set by Lao Dong Newspaper

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