Government News 2/1 Vietnamese leaders send condolences to Malaysia over historical flood President Truong Tan Sang on December 31 sent a message of condolences to Malaysian King Abdul Halim Mu’ Adzam Shah over the worst flood in the country’s history. On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung offered sympathies to his Malaysian counterparts Najib Tun Razak over the floods, which caused great losses in terms of both human lives and assets in the northeastern states of Malaysia. Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also cabled a condolence message to Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.- Four major tasks set to boost external information work The head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education Dinh The Huynh has set four major tasks for the external information service next year. Addressing a national conference on external information service and the dissemination of information on the nation’s seas, islands and border affairs in Hanoi on December 31, the senior official emphasized the importance of the work in 2015 in the context of unpredictable changes in the world situation and the upcoming 12th National Party Congress. He required all agencies, sectors, organisations and localities to learn from the experience of 2013 to draw out specific plans in this field this year, while enhancing the coordination among all stakeholders to improve the efficiency of the work. The commission’s head also called for stronger communication campaigns to counter untrue and slanderous information of hostile forces on such issues as national sovereignty, religion, democracy and human rights. The contents and forms of reporting and communication campaigns should be renewed and diversified to meet the demands of the target audience, he said. Participants at the conference agreed that the external information service has made good progress during the past year, with information on the situation in the country and the Party’s viewpoints and policies sent to other countries and overseas Vietnamese in a timely manner through many channels and in many languages, helping creating a favourable environment for the country to maintain political stability, promote socio-economic development, firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and enhance its position in the region and the world. They, however, pointed to the need to improve mechanisms for information supply and coordination of ministries, sectors and localities. Many said information in foreign languages remained modest while the content and methods of communication are yet to meet the demand of the target audience.-     Leaders send greetings to Cuba on National Day Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Truong Tan Sang, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent greetings to Raul Castro Ruz, first Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers on the 56th anniversary of Cuba’s National Day (January 1). On the occasion, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung also sent a message of good wishes to his Cuban counterpart Esteban Lazo. A congratulatory message was cabled to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla by his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh. Vietnam and Cuba established diplomatic ties on December 2, 1960.- External information work under scrutiny A national conference opened in Hanoi on December 31, reviewing foreign affairs and the dissemination of information on sea, islands, borders and marker planting in 2014 and devising tasks for 2015. In his address, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education Dinh The Huynh said foreign information and the dissemination of information on sea, islands, borders and marker planting in 2014 contributed to peace, stability and national development. He emphasized the need to make people in the rest of the world understand accurately Vietnam’s stance in dealing with complications in the East Sea and provide them with historical and legal evidence proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Huynh said it’s necessary to diversify the dissemination of information about the results and significance of the completion of border marking. He urged reporters to step up communications about Vietnam’s relations with neighboring countries, Vietnam’s foreign policies and its aim of building borders of peace and friendship with neighboring countries. On the occasion, 16 collectives and 13 individuals were honored for their outstanding contributions to foreign information and dissemination of information about sea, island and border marking in 2014. The Overseas Service of Voice of Vietnam and reporter Le Vinh Thong, VOV correspondent in central bureau were among the honorees. VNA/VOV/VNN