This is indeed a very great milestone in the history of any organisation but it is especially praiseworthy given the challenges your network and the nation as a whole have undergone over that three-quarters of a century.

Through it all, the leadership and staff of Voice of Vietnam have remained faithful to your mission to provide the people of Vietnam with the best possible broadcasting services, to aid in development, social cohesion and national and personal growth of every citizen.

Your work has seldom been more necessary than at the present time, when your wonderful country is suffering under the worst pandemic in a century, when the people and their spirit have been stretched to new limits.

COVID-19 has spread to every nation on earth and Vietnam has not been spared.

However, all of us here at the ABU and all our members, I am sure, have witnessed VOV and the people of Vietnam beat the first wave of COVID-19 and that gives us confidence that you will succeed to defeat it.

The road is not an easy one, but I am sure you can take some comfort from knowing that we and all your colleagues and friends across the Asia-Pacific and around the world send you our most heartfelt best wishes at this time and in the years to come.

We will all one day look back with relief when this period is over and I am confident you will be able to view your time as custodians of the fine tradition of broadcasting in Vietnam with pride and satisfaction.