Full text of the speech by Party General Secrectary

On 24 March, at the ceremony to celebrate the 60th year since the day President Hochiminh first met intellectuals and the 40th year since the establishment of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong gave a directoral speech.

To all delegates, distinguished guests,

And to all people participating,

I am really happy today to attend the ceremony to celebrate the 60 years since then President Ho Chi Minh had a meeting with intellectuals and the 40th year since the establishment of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

First, on behalf of the Party’s and State’s leaders, I would like to express a warm greeting, a sincere inquiry, and the best congratulation to all the delegates, distinguished guests, intellectuals present today, and to all the intellectual class of our country. I wish all of you a good health, full of creativity, a happy family life, and many new successes in your noble career.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with delegates attending the ceremony.

To all,

As we have known, through our long historical process, Vietnamese intellectuals have always upheld patriotism and national pride, played an important role in the construction and preservation of our nation. It is also because of this that our forefathers have always cherished talented people and intellectual force.

Over 500 years ago, Than Nhan Trung, an academician in Le Dynasty, a member of Dong cac Dai hoc si (Doctoral Examination System), obeyed the order of King Le Thanh Tong to compose an inscription for the stone stele in the Temple of Literature in Imperial Academy. In this inscription, he emphasized the important role of talented people in the process of developing and prospering the country: “Virtuous and talented men are the essence of the State’s vitality”.

In Ho Chi Minh era, the country’s intellectual had constantly strived and sacrificed, actively participated in building national unity, contributed to the success of our revolutionary from one victory to another. From the early days of our nation, President Ho Chi Minh said: “The country needs to be built; to build, we need talented people”; “Knowledge is the precious capital of the nation”.

Resolution No.27-NQ/TW of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Communist Party (10th term) dated August 6, 2008 confirmed that “Building a strong intellectual force is directly elevating the intelligence of the nation, the strength of our country; elevating the leadership capability of the Party and the quality of political activities. Investing in building intellectual force is the investment for sustainable development”.

In the first half of the 20th century, many organizations of Vietnamese intellectuals had been widely established, such as the Vietnamese National Language Propagation Association (1938), the Cultural Association for National Salvation (1943), Vietnamese Literature and Arts Association (1948), … which positively contributed to expand people knowledge, liberate the nation, and revitalize the country.

Immediately after the re-establishment of national peace in 1954, the Party and the State had paid great attention and created all conditions for many professional associations to establish, especially after the issuance of Decree No. 52 regulating on associations and Decree No. 102 regulating on the right to establish associations. Some associations were established such as Vietnam Lawyers Association (1955), Vietnam General Medical Association (1955), Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association (1957) 

President Ho Chi Minh spoke at the First National Congress of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations

In 1963, Vietnam Popularization of Science and Technology Association – the precedent organization of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations today – was founded to gather scientists, intellectuals working in science and technology field to promote the propagation of scientific and technological knowledge to the people.

The comprehensive renovation of the country initiated and led by the national Party in the mid 80s of the 20^th Century had a great impact on the liberation of productive forces, promoting the development of socio-economy, creating an open atmosphere and blowing a wind of change into social activities, providing favorable conditions for the formation of scientific and technological associations.

The establishment congress of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations on March 26, 1983

On 26 March 1983, in Hanoi, 15 associations in science and technology field organized a Congress to establish Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations. The Congress elected Labor Hero, Professor Tran Dai Nghia as the Chairman. The establishment of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association met the wills and aspirations of intellectual force, who desired to have a common organization to gather, unite, and coordinate to organize diversified activities; to speak with a unite voice, expressing the common will and aspiration of intellectuals toward the Party and the State. 

During its 40 year journey, from 15 member associations at the beginning, up to now, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has grown to 156 member associations (including 63 provincial associations and 93 national associations), nearly 600 scientific and technological organizations, forming a wide-range network across the country in many fields and sectors; attracting 3.7 million members, including 2.2 intellectuals, accounting for nearly one-third of the intellectual population in the country.

Thanks to actively participating in building and promoting the strength of the bloc of national unity, the overall strength of the political system, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has achieved significant achievements, increasingly affirming its position and important role of the scientific and technological national intellectuals, who are highly appreciated by the Party and the State. Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has performed its role as a bridge between its member associations and the agencies of the Party, the State, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front to mobilize and gather scientific and technological intellectuals domestically and abroad to serve mission of the Party, the people, and the country.

Among its members, there are a number of famous names contributing significantly to the country and the people like: Professor, Academician, Labor Hero Tran Dai Nghia; Professor Ton That Tung; Professor Ta Quang Buu; Professor Ha Hoc Trac; Professor, Academician Vu Tuyen Hoang, and so on…

In the activities of Vietnamese intellectuals, our Party and the State have recognized a great contribution of intellectuals in Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, who have wholeheartedly trusted in the Party leadership, always enthusiastically contributed to the protection of ideology of the Party and implemented activities to promote the strength of the alliance between workers, farmers and intellectuals.

The operation of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations is increasingly innovative, improved, diverse, spreading widely throughout the country. Advisory opinions, critiques, and knowledge dissemination have contributed significantly to building and gradually perfecting the socialism, building a socialist state, and making positive contributions to the country's socio-economic development.

The Party and the State warmly welcome, appreciate, and highly evaluate the activities and contributions of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations; recognizing the efforts and achievements, and the enormous contributions of the scientific and technological intellectuals of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

General Secrectary Nguyen Phu Trong delivers a speech at the Ceremony of 60 years sicne President Ho Chi Minh had a meeting with intellectual force (May 18, 1963 to May 18, 2023) and 40 years of VUSTA’s establishment (March 26, 1983 to March 26, 2023)

However, in addition to the results and achievements made, we also need to honestly acknowledge the limitations and shortcomings in order to find solutions as soon as possible.

Specifically, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has developed in quantity of members, but the quality and effectiveness of its activities in some places is still not high; It has not been able to attract many young intellectuals, intellectuals in private business, research institutes, universities, and Vietnamese intellectuals living abroad to participate in the activities of VUSTA.

National professional associations have many experts and scientists, many of whom are leading experts in their fields. However, there is a lack of mechanisms, particularly financial mechanisms, for these associations to participate in research, application, and dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge actively and proactively, as well as social consultation, criticism, and evaluation.

Some national professional associations have not yet fulfilled their role as the backbone of popular movements for science and technology; the operating conditions of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and its provincial branches have undergone changes, but still need much improvement; there are still difficulties in mechanisms, policies, organizational systems, and infrastructure; some scientific and technological organizations have violated the law and have been handled by authorities; and some media agencies in the system still violate core purpose and lack sensitivity to politics.

General Secrectary Nguyen Phu Trong and leaders of the Party and State attends the Ceremony. Photo: Dang Khoa

Dear all,

We all know that in every era and in every country, the intellectual force has always been an important force driving the development of society. President Ho Chi Minh especially valued and emphasized the role of intellectuals. In the very first meeting of the Government in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 3, 1945, he said, "To build socialism, education is essential"; "... intellectuals are the precious asset of the nation. In countries like ours, Vietnam in particular, this is even more essential”, and "... you are intellectuals. You have a heavy responsibility and a glorious role as a model for the people in everything. Our people have fought very bravely. Of course, the intellectuals have also to sacrifice and fight even more bravely to serve as a model for the people".

The intellectual force is both a part of the human resource and of scientific and technological resources, directly involved in enhancing the knowledge of the people and training human resources for the country. Continuing the tradition of the nation, applying the principles of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on intellectuals, in the renovation cause, our Party has always paid attention to leading the work of mobilizing, gathering and developing intellectuals. The Party has issued many resolutions and directives to lead the work of mobilizing the intellectual community.

It is forecasted that in the following years, the world and domestic situation will continue changing rapidly, complexly, and unpredictably. The Fourth Industrial Revolution continues to develop strongly, pushing the leap development in many areas, creating both opportunities and new challenges for every country.

That situation requires technological and scientific associations, the intellectual force of our country, especially the intellectuals, scientists belonging to Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, to make efforts, have even greater contributions and efforts to the building and sustainable and fast development of the country.

Although the development and building of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations are not the responsibilities and duty of scientific and technological intellectuals but also the responsibilities of the Party, governments, and organizations in the political system, I believe that Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations is still the major force.

Everyone needs to actively innovate, improve the quality and effectiveness of the activities, and do better in the work of mobilizing and improving knowledge in the new situation, clearly demonstrate the leading role in the mobilizing, gathering, uniting, and maximizing the potential of intellectuals. Also, I would like to suggest, exchange and share a few more things:

First: Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, Vietnamese scientific and technological needs to proactively and do better their task of advising the Party and the State. Cooperating with the Party committees, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other organizations to thoroughly implement Resolution No. 27-NQ / TW dated August 6, 2008 of the Central Committee of the Party, Conclusion No. 52-KL / TW dated May 30, 2019 of the Party Committee on implementing the Resolution of Central Congress 7 (10th term) on building Vietnamese intellectual force in the period of promoting industrialization and modernization of the country; Conclusion No. 93-KL/TW dated November 20, 2020 of the Party Committee on continuing to implement Directive No. 42-CT/TW of the Politburo on renewing and improving the quality and efficiency of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and its member organizations to be more effective.

Secondly: Continue to improve the advisory and critical roles in the process of building and perfecting mechanisms, policies, and legal documents with specific criteria, to attract, value, use, reward, and honor intellectuals, to continuously develop and strengthen our country's intellectual workforce, ensuring sufficient quantity and quality, appropriate structure to meet the requirements of socio-economic development in the integration period. There should be a plan to allocate and use the intellectual workforce reasonably, policies to attract young intellectuals who are truly trained with qualifications, abilities, and moral qualities to participate in research institutes, universities, and enterprises. Mechanisms and policies should be established to attract and gather overseas Vietnamese intellectuals who actively contribute ideas, cooperate in training, scientific research, and transfer new technologies. Attention should also be paid to encouraging and honoring outstanding intellectuals in scientific research and technology development.

Thirdly: Strengthen the organization, improve the effectiveness of the activities of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations in local levels and central level; advise on building mechanisms, policies, and favorable conditions for the intellectual workforce to operate and contribute to the country's development.

Enhance the leadership role of the Party at all levels in leading, directing, and creating conditions for intellectuals to disseminate knowledge, guide the people to advance in science and technology to solve urgent issues in life, production, business, and environmental protection.

Fourth: Continue to innovate the operation to further improve the quality and effectiveness of the work. Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and its member organizations must enhance their proactivity, dynamism, and creativity; have diverse activities and forms of operation that are closely linked to the development strategy, plans, and socio-economic programs of the sector, region, and the country, attracting more of members to participate.

Further improve political education and ideological education for the intellectuals to deepen their understanding of their honor and responsibility to the nation and the people; striving to unite, work creatively, and fulfill their responsibilities well; strengthen political and professional ethics training for the intellectual community; encourage them to contribute their talents and knowledge to the construction and development of the socio-economy, and to safeguard the peace and stability of the country.

Dear all,

Throughout the 40-year of building, developing, maturing, and gaining experience, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, where gathers many intellectuals, scientists with high profession and high skill, with their dedication and creativity, I believe that Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations will excellently fulfill all the tasks assigned by the Party and the State, contribute more to the quality and effectiveness of the building, protecting the sustainable development of the country; strengthen the national unity; together with the Party, army, and people successfully implement all the policies and guidelines from the Party to deserve the pride and trust of the Party, the State, and the people.

Once again, I would like to wish all delegates, members, and scientists good health, success in their work, happiness in their lives, and all always deserve to be the "essential force of the nation," those who contribute to the prosperity of the country, bring glory to the nation, and shine for our people!

Thank you!

Source: nhandan