Some 2,000 reporters will work at press centre

Around 2,000 reporters including 1,500 foreign ones are expected to gather in Hanoi to cover the coming APEC 2006 Summit event. This will be a good opportunity for Vietnam to show not only its capability for organising a big event like the 2006 APEC Summit but also the beauty of its land and people. Therefore, the Vietnam National Committee for APEC 2006 has put a strong focus on building a modern press centre in order to create favourable conditions for domestic and foreign reporters to perform professional activities.

The press centre is located inside the National Convention Centre with areas exclusively designed to provide different forms of journalism such as radio, TV and print media.

In addition, it has a common hall capable of accommodating nearly 400 reporters.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Do Quy Doan said, “The Vietnam National Committee for APEC 2006 has asked the press centre to install modern facilities like those in use at the previous APEC summit and most work has been finalised.”

The Central Post Department under the Ministry of Post and Telematics has been chosen as a telecom and Internet service provider at the press centre.

By now,  the department has provided 300 telephone and fax lines, 900 ADSL ports for Internet assess and TV cable lines for international broadcasts.

Besides, the centre has put up a wifi Internet system to help reporters cover events at any places in the centre area. It has coordinated with Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and Vietnam Television (VTV) to provide audio and image services for international media agencies and reporters.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung, facilities and services for APEC 2006 are as good as those previously provided at other summit meetings but service fees are cheaper to be just 50-60 percent of those provided at APEC press centre in the Republic of Korea last year.

Reporters will have a free lunch everyday and be provided with up-to-date information about all APEC activities. The Organisation Board has recruited a contingent of young volunteers who are enthusiastic, good at foreign languages and well informed about APEC agenda to  help domestic and foreign reporters.

Vietnam’s preparations for APEC receive international acclaim

Vietnam’s preparations for APEC meeting have been highly appreciated by from the APEC Secretariat.

Christopher Hawkins, an information official of the APEC Secretariat, said: “There will be a large number of reporters coming to Vietnam to cover the APEC meeting. I see that Vietnam is trying its best to assist them. All equipments at the press centre meet international standards. I believe that reporters will be happy while working here.”

Journalist Nguyen Dai Phuong from the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper said: “The press centre has been installed with modern facilities to meet reporters’ demands. We hope to inform domestic and international readers of all contents of the APEC meeting as quickly as possible so as to enhance Vietnam’s prestige in the international arena.”

Apart from this, he noted, the centre is also ready to provide accommodation and means of transport for all reporters on request. The organising board has arranged shuttle buses free of charge to carry reporters from their place of accommodation to the centre.

More than 1,000 volunteers get ready

More than 1,000 volunteers who have registered to work at the 14^th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting are all excellent students having a command of foreign languages, 500 from the Institute of International Relations and 300 from Hanoi National University.

Volunteer Nguyen Ngoc Diep from the English Department, Hanoi National University, said: “I am proud of participating in one of the most important events of the country which many other students do not have a chance to experience. Whenever the organising board need volunteers, we are ready.”

So far, the basic training for volunteers has been completed. Volunteers are divided into small groups such as the press group, delegate guidance group, airport group and hotel group.

Volunteer Nguyen Viet Thinh said: “We have a lot of work to do. But what is most needed from volunteers is enthusiasm and discipline. Selected volunteers are those who have a good knowledge about Hanoi, Vietnam and APEC. We will try our best to fulfil the tasks.”

Trainer Phung Huu Hoang who is also a member of the organising board in charge of volunteers said he hopes volunteers will actively contribute to the success of the APEC meeting because they serve as a bridge between guests and hosts.