Baku, Safar 16, 1438, Nov 16, 2016, SPA -- President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan opened here today works of the 5th News Agencies World Congress held in Baku. In his speech, the President of Azerbaijan welcomed the participants, stressing importance of the news agencies in highlighting events in the world. For his part, Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Hussain, President of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), who is also President of the 4th News Agencies World Congress, expressed happiness to attend this meeting, expressing thanks to the President of Azerbaijan for his patronage of this event and the Director General of Azeri news Agency (AZERTAC) Aslant Aslanov for a good organization and warm hospitality. Al-Hussain pointed out that the 4th News Agencies World Congress hosted by the Kingdom in 2013 under slogan "Re-formation of News Agencies in the 21st Century" was a conference attracting a great number of partners of the TV channels, newspapers and social communication outlets, thanking all members for their cooperation during his presidency of the congress. The SPA president stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia always stands by all efforts serving the international family, confirming that the SPA is keen in this global gathering to support cooperation, exchange experience and enhance positive participation in the interest of all members and achieving the strategic aims of the News Agencies World Congress. He added that the SPA consistently seeks to move forward and cope with the successive media developments in light of information and technology revolution which provides multiple sources and streams and new media means with adhering principles of credibility, objectivity and ethics of the profession. --More 17:07 LOCAL TIME 14:07 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w270773