The monthly bilingual pictorial “Dan Toc va Mien Nui” (Nationalitiesand Mountainous Areas), a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) publication, hasbecome indispensable to ethnic minorities, according to feedbackreceived in conferences held in Ninh Thuan, Gia Lai and Dak Lakprovinces from October 1-6 to review the magazine’s first two years ofpublication.

Up to 23,000 issues published in Khmer, Bhana,Jrai, Ede, Cham, Mong, K’ho and M’nong, along with Vietnamese, aresent to schools, villages, border posts and cultural centres each month,predominantly to poor and remote areas, VNA Deputy Director General LeDuy Truyen, who chaired the events, informed the participants.

Thanks to the concise articles and beautiful pictures, readers havefound it easy to stay informed about the latest national developments,including current Party and State policies. Readers feel more motivatedto join campaigns and contribute their time and efforts to theconstruction of new rural areas.

Featuring news that examinethe socio-political situation and poverty reduction efforts, themagazine is now available in over 40 localities.

Conference participants provided feedback to improve content and suggested printing more copies to widen readership.

On the occasion, select individuals and organisations were awarded“For the cause of VNA” badges and certificates of merit in recognitionof their contributions.

In working sessions with the VNADeputy Director General, provincial authorities promised to continue tocooperate with VNA by distributing the pictorial and the daily paper TinTuc (News).

They will also help disseminate information viathe V-News television channel and release bilingual publications inVietnamese-Co Tu and Vietnamese-Xe Dang next year.-VNA