The press, with its role of promoting publicity and transparency, helps prevent corruption among civil servants and party members, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong has said. 
Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: VNS
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Under the supervision of press, public employees will have right judgment towards wrongdoers and raise voices over wrongdoings, the president said.
Journalists agreed that this is a rare move that the president directly highlights the press’s role, indicating the party and state’s high appreciation of the press in fighting against corruption.
The president also emphasized that trimming down the personnel is also the most effective way to combat corruption. Improving the operations of state bodies with better social insurance and salary policies becomes indispensable in the current situation, he said, adding that building the legal framework without loopholes will be a must to ensure state employees cannot, don’t dare, and don’t want to corrupt.
Earlier in December 2018, experts from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UK Embassy in Vietnam highlighted the role of press in combating corruption, mostly in non-state sector.
In terms of legal systems, Dau Anh Tuan, director of the Legal Department under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that a well-prepared legal system will be the first and foremost factor making the anti-corruption combat effective.
Media experts said so far, the press and media in general have helped bring to light dozens of corruption cases, including many trials with the defendants being high-ranking officials. Obviously, the media has used its sharp pen and firm voice against corruption – one of the thorny issues that somehow has undermined people’s trust in the state administration over the past time.
