Invitation to Media
To Editors, Business and Financial Editors, Bureau Chiefs and Correspondents

Participants

About 3,000 participants, including heads of state, finance ministers, central bank governors, and representatives from the private sector, academia, media, and civil society are expected to attend the 44th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The meeting provides an opportunity for participants to hold formal and informal consultations that help shape economic, financial, and social policies and programs in Asia and the Pacific.

Date and Venue

The 44th Annual Meeting will be held at the National Convention Center (NCC) in Ha Noi, Viet Nam from Tuesday, 3 May, to Friday, 6 May 2011. This is the first Annual Meeting to be hosted by Viet Nam.

Host Country

Viet Nam joined ADB in 1966 as one of its founding members, and over the last 20 years, it has become one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic economies in Asia. Poverty rates have fallen dramatically in recent years, and as a member of the ADB-supported Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) program, Viet Nam works closely with neighboring countries to promote cross-border cooperation.

Ha Noi, formerly known as Thang Long, meaning "ascending dragon" to symbolize independence, serves as the seat of government and in 2010 it celebrated its 1000th anniversary as the nation's capital.

Viet Nam has a rich history and vibrant culture with many cultural and natural attractions listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These include the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and Ha Long Bay in the north, famous for its distinctive limestone karsts.

Agenda

A program of events is posted on ADB's main website.

Annual Meeting documents will be disseminated in digital format, and participants may print documents they require for a fee in the internet centers at NCC.

Media Accreditation

All working media must have press credentials to attend the Annual Meeting. ADB and the host country will have the right to determine whether a journalist will be given access to the Annual Meeting.

Requirements for accreditation:

1.      Media Based in Viet Nam
ADB will issue an online invitation for local and resident foreign journalists based on the list provided by the authorities of Viet Nam.

2.      Media Based Outside Viet Nam
International journalists based outside Viet Nam must be accredited by ADB. They need to submit press credentials and clear evidence of their assignment to cover the Annual Meeting, such as a letter from their editor/media organization. Complete and submit the media accreditation form.

Travel costs and other expenses of journalists are the responsibility of individual media organizations.

Online Media Registration

Media are invited to cover the Annual Meeting and to attend all seminars. Journalists, photographers, and technical staff who wish to attend must be registered to access the Annual Meeting venues and/or to attend the various events.

This invitation is extended for the sole intention of covering Annual Meeting events.

ADB will send official invitations to accredited media by e-mail starting mid-January 2011. A media invitation will include a URL and a user ID and password to access an online registration site. Online registration will close by 16 April 2011.

Successful online registration does NOT automatically guarantee access to Viet Nam.

Visa Requirements

Foreign journalists who wish to arrive in Viet Nam to cover the Annual Meeting and related events are required to apply for press visas.

An entry application is still needed for journalists from countries which have visa exemptions to enter Viet Nam.

Failure to secure a visa to Viet Nam may cause delays at embarkation and upon arrival at the port of entry.

To apply for press visas, foreign journalists are required to submit the completed visa application form to both the Press and Information Department/Foreign Ministry of Viet Nam and the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate.

For further information, contact:

Press and Information Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam
7 Chu Van An Street, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi
Viet Nam
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +84-4-3 8455401
Fax: +84-4-3-8234137

Media Equipment

Journalists visiting on short-term assignments who would like to bring into Viet Nam equipment such as still cameras, video, film cameras, and sound recorders must submit a list of the equipment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for clearance.

For further information, contact:

Ms. Pham Tuan Hong Hanh
Press and Information Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam
7 Chu Van An Street, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +84-4-3 8455401
Fax: +84-4-3-8234137

Access to Sessions

Identification badges allowing access to open sessions of the Annual Meeting will be issued at the registration desks. Present your passport to claim your badge. Registration desks will be open daily from 2 to 6 May 2011. The badge should be worn at all times in meeting areas and at official events.

Unless ADB is advised in writing to do otherwise, your name and position may be disclosed to other organizations through conference documents for the purpose of issuing invitations to other functions related to the Annual Meeting.

Media Center

A fully equipped Media Center will be set up for journalists at the National Convention Center, which will be staffed by ADB's Department of External Relations (DER) and Vietnamese press officers. It will have desk space for about 100 journalists and limited booths for news agencies, and will be open daily from 3 to 6 May 2011.

The Media Center operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Full communication services will be made available. Media are advised to bring their own notebook computers.

A limited number of media booths will be made available to news agencies and other media organizations. Technicians for these organizations have to make their own special arrangements directly with the Host Country's technical focal point should they require additional support.

Journalists will be able to buy prepaid phone cards for IDD/NDD calls and faxes.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) coverage of the opening and business sessions and other key events will be provided at the Media Center. Information on press conferences and other events of interest will be posted on bulletin boards.

Simultaneous interpretation will be made available for major activities of interest to the media such as the opening and business sessions, Viet Nam Day, the Governors' Seminar, and press conferences.

Photos and Videos

Photo/video opportunities will be announced onsite for key events.

Selected videos and photos of the opening session, business sessions, and other key events will be made available on the Annual Meeting website.

Satellite Equipment and Transmission, Export of Journalistic Products

1. Foreign media agencies which need to bring in, install, and use audio-video receivers or transmitters through satellites must seek permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Communication of Viet Nam.
2. Foreign journalists who wish to transmit video signals through Viet Nam Telecommunication International (VTI)'s uplink channels have to apply for permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam.
3. Films, photographs, video, and audio tapes produced by resident foreign journalists or visiting journalists on short-term assignments can only be taken out of Viet Nam with a permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For further information, contact:

Ms. Pham Tuan Hong Hanh
Press and Information Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam
7 Chu Van An Street, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +84-4-3 8455401
Fax: +84-4-3-8234137

Press Conferences

All accredited journalists are welcome to attend the following press conferences:

• 3 May
  11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Opening Press Conference, chaired by ADB President
  12.00 p.m.- 2.00 p.m.: Media Luncheon
• 6 May
  5:30-6:30 p.m.: Closing Press Conference, chaired by ADB President

Other press briefings will be announced onsite.

Interview Requests

The ADB Media Team handles requests for interviews with ADB's Management and senior staff. Interview requests with official delegations to the Annual Meeting must be made directly to the delegations.

Accommodation

Hotel rooms may be booked online or by contacting the hotel bookings coordinator. See the host country website.

Publications

As part of efforts to preserve the environment, ADB is reducing its consumption of paper and will limit the number of print copies of publications to be made available at the Annual Meeting. Publications will be distributed in digital format.

Media partnering and/or preparing special supplements on ADB at the Annual Meeting will be allowed to display limited number of print publications at the meeting venue.

Queries

For more information, please visit:http://www.adb.org/AnnualMeeting/2011/default.asp. Send media queries on the Annual Meeting by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or fax: + 63 2 636 2641.