Eighty years ago, on April 7, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh, then Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed Decree No. 47/SL establishing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This decree laid the foundation for the creation of the Department of Information and Press, which included the Information and Spokesperson Office as well as the Propaganda and Press Office. Over the past eight decades, with the support of Party and State leaders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and numerous dedicated collaborators, the Department of Information and Press has left its mark on many historical periods and significant events in the country’s foreign policy.
Immediately after the August 1945 Revolution, the young Democratic Republic of Vietnam, facing precarious circumstances, had to confront countless challenges. In this environment of internal and external enemies, it became crucial for communication and propaganda services to help the world understand the true nature of the revolution and the country’s aspiration for independence. Under the direct authority of President Ho Chi Minh, diplomatic cadres undertook the immense mission of exposing colonial and imperialist plots and aggressions while forming an informational front to safeguard the country’s emerging independence.
During this revolutionary period filled with obstacles, President Ho Chi Minh, with exceptional intelligence and innate skills, engaged in various articles, messages, contacts, and interviews with the press, including foreign journalists. These initiatives showcased his strategic vision, seizing opportunities and utilizing international communication channels to convey the Vietnamese people’s aspirations for peace and independence. His interactions during his stay in France from early June to mid-September 1946, including over sixty meetings, conversations, and interviews with journalists from more than twenty newspapers and press agencies, proved enlightening and guided his subsequent information and journalism activities.
Throughout the two long resistance wars, messages from Hanoi, authentic, concise, and incisive, resonated with progressives worldwide, sparking a wave of peace support and war opposition. Images of dedicated diplomats working tirelessly day and night during the Geneva Conference in 1954 and the Paris Conference (1968-1973), or officials braving danger to accompany international journalists in war zones, from Quang Binh’s frontlines to the southwest and northern borders, became enduring symbols of resilience, courage, and silent sacrifice.
In the dawn of the renovation and international integration period, foreign communication underwent a profound transformation, ushering in a new era of development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly its press and information department, played a central role in promoting the country’s image, mobilizing international support, and resolutely combating false and hostile narratives. Through significant media campaigns during visits by high-ranking officials and major foreign policy events, the press and information department members gained valuable experience and maturity.
With over 80 years of history, the Department of Information and Press, alongside other Ministry of Foreign Affairs services, has been a loyal servant to the country and the people, closely tied to iconic figures of Vietnamese diplomacy. Amid unforeseeable global and regional upheavals marked by the rise of the fourth industrial revolution, external information work faces both opportunities and challenges, necessitating proactive adaptation, creativity, innovation, and enhanced professional skills among its members.
Maintaining the unit’s glorious traditions, current department members quietly commit to providing information and supporting journalists, respecting excellence standards, analyzing international public opinion, disseminating foreign policy messages online, and participating in policy research and training. Every task, no matter how modest, is carried out with professionalism and modernity, fueled by a fervent love for the country and its people.
In the years to come, current leaders will continue writing new chapters of history, amplifying Vietnam’s voice for greater international influence, contributing to modern global diplomacy, and realizing the priorities of this new era of national development. From handwritten dispatches to modern multimedia communication, the flame of passion, courage, and dedication in the Department of Information and Press remains unwavering.
- Bao Chi Vu
Source: VietnamNet
