Professor Pham Quang Minh: "Foreign information journalists must be like a solid bridge to connect Vietnam with the world..."

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh

We must pay more attention to foreign information.

Professor, what brought you to foreign policy research projects as well as the National Award for Foreign Information this year?

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh:I studied for a BA in World History in the former Soviet Union, then studied for a master's degree and a PhD in Southeast Asian Studies and Political Science in Germany. As for this award, this is the first time I have participated. It was also a coincidence that The Gioi Publishing House - where I regularly publish my scientific works - selected that work to introduce and was fortunately highly appreciated by the Organizing Committee. In my opinion, this is a work with an interdisciplinary approach to history and political science. As mentioned, studying Vietnam's foreign policy cannot lack the method of history and political science. The book raises questions such as what causes the renovation, what factors affect this change, what are the new contents in foreign policy, what are their impacts, and what will be the prospects for Vietnam's renewed foreign policy in the future.

It can be seen that, through foreign information activities, the world knows more about Vietnam, and Vietnam also knows more about the world.As someone who has spent many years researching this issue, how do you evaluate our constant efforts over the past time?

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh: If we evaluate objectively, we have done a lot in the recent past. One of the clearest measures is that in the recent election for the position of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Vietnam was elected with an almost absolute result. This is the result of our great determination, the result of 10 years of fierce campaigning so that Vietnam could be the only candidate of the Asia-Pacific group to run and be elected. Contributing significantly to this result is our foreign information work.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Co Thach once said:“With a strong economy, a sufficiently strong national defense and an open diplomacy, Vietnam can protect its independence and sovereignty.”really always true. Therefore, more than ever, especially in the present time, the age of information technology when social networks play an important role, we must pay more attention to foreign information.

Multi-dimensional information on the issue, avoiding imposition

Obviously in today's era, striving to have good works in the field of foreign information, surely not only fast, timely, accurate information, sir?

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh:Yes, besides fast, timely and accurate information, social responsibility is also very important. That means you must be responsible for the big and important issues of the time as well as of the country.

Second, you must look at the problem and inform the problem in a multi-dimensional way, avoiding imposition. I think foreign information must be done like that because how can we know the thoughts and decide the thoughts of 7 billion people. I think it is not good, should not be done and will never achieve the goal if we only give one opinion, one point of view on a certain event. In general, the writer must provide readers with a multi-dimensional view, and the decision is up to the reader, we cannot impose our opinions on readers and believe that we are right. Remember, readers are very smart, do not think for them and make decisions for them. They know everything, they only support journalists when they give multi-dimensional opinions.

Also, don't be afraid that if we present many viewpoints and approaches, readers will think that we have no opinions or are not capable. People judge fairly. A transparent, humane and constructive environment is needed. I believe that journalistic works that speak of the human voice in the true sense always attract the attention and interest of readers because of their humanistic values. And humanistic values ​​are timeless and cross-national.

But honestly, to have multi-dimensional views in a difficult field like "foreign information", journalists must make great efforts to be able to "fulfill their role" in the current context, sir?

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh:Of course, to do that, I think journalists need to be trained, nurtured, and practiced every day. It can be said that entering the period of innovation and integration, journalists must also innovate and integrate. In my opinion, those who work in foreign information journalism must be like a solid bridge to connect Vietnam with the world and vice versa. Therefore, I hope that journalists are equipped with a lot of knowledge. We are living in the age of knowledge, the 4.0 revolution is knowledge, so we cannot be ignorant. In a globalized world, the ability to communicate with different cultures and civilizations in the region and the world is extremely important. Dialogue, sharing, and exchange have become vital needs of the world, especially journalists, because the characteristic of information is constant movement. In this world, there is no place for stillness, stagnation, and isolation.

Yes, thank you very much, professor.

According to Congluan