GOV'T ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO MEDIA'S ROLE.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam -- The following information was released by the Government of Vietnam:

VGP - The Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to the role of media by adopting an array of policies to facilitate the sector's development, reiterated Deputy PM Nguya'...n Thia'n Nh-n.

Participants to the opening session of the week-long Asia Media Summit, HA Na'(TM)i, May 24, 2011 - Photo: VGP

Deputy PM Nh-n on Tuesday made the affirmation at the opening ceremony of the 8th Asia Media Summit (ASM) in HA Na'(TM)i, which drew the participation of over 600 delegates, including policy-makers and experts, from the Asia-Pacific region.

The Government leader said the application of the latest state-of-the-art broadcasting technologies has enabled radio stations to expand their coverage to more than 99% of Via't Nam's territory while TV services reached 95% of' its land as since 2007.

At present, 67 radio and TV stations across the country offer to the public nearly 200 thematic channels. In addition, cabled TV network has also expanded significantly in the recent years, providing up to 50 domestic and 75 foreign channels.

Broad-band Internet services are now available in 87% of the communes, wards and townships with more than 20 million regular users and all schools across Via't Nam. 3G telecom services have been widely applied in the country since 2009 and 4G services are running on a trial basis, with the aim of enabling people, particularly young ones, to have access to mobile radio and TV programs, the Internet and other services from their mobile phones.

Deputy PM Nh-n said that the robust development of science and technology, particularly the increasing application of digital technologies has produced both challenges and opportunities to the broadcasting industry. Thus, the Vietnamese Government has worked out specific orientations and steps to be taken for the broadcasting industry along with instructing the trial application of advanced technologies in this service.

In 2009, the Government approved a plan to digitize the broadcasting transmission system to which Via't Nam will basically put an end to terrestrial TV transmission and broadcasting using analogue technologies by 2020, he said, adding that the plan signaled the country's determination to speed up digitization in line with global technological tendencies in the area.

The 8th AMS would serve as a platform for local and foreign broadcasting policy-makers and experts share experience and seek partners and cooperative opportunities in the current digital era.

The 8th AMS is scheduled to wrap up on May 26. The next summit will be held in Thailand in May, 2012.

By Ha*[pounds sterling]i Minh