Journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong - A close and open leader

Journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong is a sharp and perceptive journalist; a dedicated press leader, managing work, uniting colleagues, promoting each person's capacity to create collective strength.

Journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong, former Deputy General Director of Vietnam News Agency (VNA), former Chairman of the VNA Journalists Association, former Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, passed away at 8:00 a.m. on September 29 (August 8, At Ty year), at the age of 81.

VNA respectfully introduces an article about journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong by journalist Pham Dinh Loi - Former Deputy Head of the Editorial Board of VNA's Foreign News Department.

We know that birth, aging, sickness and death are the laws of life that everyone must go through, but the news of his passing still shocked and saddened his relatives, friends and colleagues!

Just the other day, my colleague Le Duy Truyen, former Deputy General Director of VNA, and I visited him at his home. He was sometimes remembering, sometimes forgetting, but he still sat with his wife, Ms. Loc, to receive us.

When I recall old memories, from the years of studying and working in Cuba to the time working at VNA, I feel that, in his subconscious, those memories have not faded. But now, he has gone far away, to the white clouds, leaving his family, friends and colleagues with endless regret!

Journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong (standing in the middle) interviews the captain of a Cuban ship at Hai Phong Port, December 1973

Journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong was born on October 25, 1945, into a family of civil servants in Chu town, Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province (old), now Chu ward, Bac Ninh province. After graduating from high school in 1963, he was sent to Cuba to study Language and Literature at the University of La Habana.

In 1968, he returned to Vietnam, attended the 8th VNA reporter class, then worked as a reporter at the Northern News Editorial Board and the World News Editorial Board, before being sent to work as a VNA reporter in Cuba in 1970.

In 1974, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Spanish Sub-Committee (now the Department) at the Foreign News Editorial Board. In 1981, he was assigned to be Head of the Vietnam News Agency's Branch (now the Resident Office) in Havana, Cuba.

Journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong, Head of the Editorial Secretariat and International Relations Department, Vice President of the Vietnam News Agency Journalists Association, introduced to comrade Pham The Duyet, Politburo member, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, VNA publications at the 1996 Spring Press Festival.

In 1987, he returned to the country and was appointed Deputy Head of the Editorial Secretariat and International Relations Department and was assigned by the agency's Leadership Board as a full-time reporter to monitor and report on the activities of General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh.

In 1995, he was promoted to Head of the Editorial Secretariat and International Relations. In addition, he also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Law and Legal Forum Magazine.

In 1997, he was appointed by the Prime Minister to the position of Deputy General Director of VNA, then elected as Chairman of the VNA Journalists Association.

In 2002, he was assigned to concurrently hold the position of Chief Editor of Foreign Affairs News. In 2003, he was also assigned to concurrently hold the position of Editor-in-Chief of Tin Tuc Newspaper.

In 2007, he retired but continued to work as an advisor and editor for the Spanish Newsletter of the Foreign Affairs Editorial Board.

Deputy General Director of VNA Nguyen Duy Cuong presented the photo "Uncle Ho leading the song of Solidarity" to the People's Committee of Bac Kan province, August 2004.

For a long time, Mr. Nguyen Duy Cuong also served as the Head of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association at VNA and then participated in the work of the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association as the Permanent Vice President of the Association. He undertook this task with rare enthusiasm and dedication.

It can be said that Mr. Nguyen Duy Cuong is a sharp and perceptive journalist; a dedicated press leader, managing work, uniting colleagues, promoting each person's capacity to create collective strength.

Many of our brothers and sisters who studied in Cuba still remember that Mr. Cuong was the one who presided over, directed, and directly participated in editing and proofreading the book about the deep affection of Vietnamese students for the Cuban people, as well as helping to translate and print the work that collected Cuban leader Fidel Castro's speeches about Vietnam so that it could soon be introduced to readers.

Deputy General Director of VNA Nguyen Duy Cuong, Deputy General Director Truong Duc Anh and family members bring the remains of martyr journalist Pham Van Binh to his final resting place at Ngoc Hoi Martyrs' Cemetery, Thanh Tri, Hanoi, November 1998.

Many friends and colleagues who have worked with Mr. Nguyen Duy Cuong in the country and abroad have commented that throughout his working life, he has always persevered in self-cultivation and training; always raised his awareness of learning, improving foreign languages ​​and professional skills, closely coordinated with colleagues, and excellently completed all assigned tasks.

He always shows a sincere attitude and a gentle, kind, approachable, and open style of behavior; is a leader who always demands high work efficiency but is also very sympathetic, altruistic, and listens attentively to everyone's opinions.

Deputy General Director of VNA Nguyen Duy Cuong speaks at the meeting with the delegation of ITAR - TASS news agency (Russia)

With his outstanding contributions to the press and information work in general and to the career of VNA in particular, journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong was awarded the 45-year Party membership badge, the Second-class Labor Medal, the Second-class Resistance War Medal against the US for National Salvation, the Medal for the cause of journalism; the Medal (Commemorative Medal) for the cause of the News Agency and many other noble awards.

In June 2025, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press Day, the Cuban Journalists Association, authorized by the Council of State, awarded journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong the Felix Elmusa Medal - the highest award of the Cuban Journalists Association for Cuban and foreign journalists with outstanding achievements.

Representatives of the VNA Youth Union visited journalist Nguyen Duy Cuong, former Deputy General Director and former Secretary of the VNA Youth Union in March 2021.

At this moment and for many years to come, the leaders of VNA and the staff and reporters in the agency will always remember you! The Cuban comrades and friends who knew you will always remember you!

May you rest in peace!./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nha-bao-nguyen-duy-cuong-nguoi-lanh-dao-gan-gui-va-coi-mo-post1066074.vnp