Mr Trong said Vietnam’s press agencies have grown rapidly and made remarkable contributions to improving the people’s political, cultural and spiritual lives. This reflects the promotion of democracy in the country.

Under the theme “welcoming the national renewal, the Party’s 80^th anniversary and the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi”, the festival has drawn 66 press agencies with their publications displayed at 114 booths.

Dinh The Huynh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-chief of the Nhan Dan Newspaper and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association, said this year’s Spring Newspaper Festival is taking place at a special time when the nation is celebrating many significant events, such as the 80^th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the late President Ho Chi Minh’s 120^th birthday, the 35^th anniversary of Southern Liberation Day and National Unification, the 65^th anniversary of the August Revolution, the 85^th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, and the capital city’s millennium anniversary.

The festival aims to highlight the achievements of Vietnam’s press agencies in recent years and promote an exchange between journalists and readers. It will last until February 7.