(MOFA) - On 23 April 2020, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to queries concerning a false report on press freedom in 2019 of the Reporters without Borders (RSF) where Viet Nam was ranked 176 th out of 180 countries with regards to freedom of the press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Spokesperson Ngo Toan Thang stated:

This is not the first time the RSF has published reports based on false, groundless and ill-intentioned information. The rankings of the RSF are based on its own criteria without understanding the circumstances and conditions of each country, and therefore, is null and void.

In Viet Nam, the freedom of speech in general and freedom of the press in particular is deeply enshrined in the 2013 Constitution and a broad range of related legal documents. The Vietnamese press plays an important role in the protection of public interest and civic freedoms. It also assists the inspection and supervision of the State’s policy and law enforcement. The press has been playing a critical role in discovering and combatting corruption and wrongdoings. It also provides the public with information on matters of their great interest in an open, transparent and timely manner, including accurate and well-updated information on COVID-19, hence, the nation-wide consensus in the combat against the pandemic. Our citizens are also facilitated to make effective use of the press and media to exercise their rights and contribute their opinions to the making of State policies and laws.

Over the past years, freedom of press and freedom of information have been clearly reflected in the robust increase in the number and diverse forms of the press and media in Viet Nam. To date, there are more than 850 agencies of printed and e-newspapers, nearly 90 radios and 195 television channels across the country, with over 25,000 accredited reporters, who are practicing all different kinds of media with modern technologies to ensure timely and correct information brought to the people.

Reporters in Vietnam have always been facilitated to comprehensively cover all aspects of life throughout the country. They are protected by the law, but at the same time have to abide by the law, and serve the common interests of the people, community and society./.