The full text of the speech of President Phan Xuan Dung at the 40th anniversary of VUSTA’s establishment and development

Presidentof Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, Mr. Phan Xuan Dung spoke at the ceremony

Dear Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party;

Dearleaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Dear Members of the Central Committee and representatives of centralagencies and departments;

Dearscientists and distinguished guests,

Throughout the history of building and protecting our nation, our ancestors have always valued talented people and intellectuals, considering them as the national essence. When that essence flourishes, the country then prospers, but when that essence declines, the country then weakens. From the early days of the country's establishment, our beloved President Ho Chi Minh said: "Our country needs to be built, and to build the country, we need talented people."

The 2013 Constitution of our country states that "The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a State of the people, by the people and for the people; all state power belongs to the people, the foundation of which is the alliance between the working class, the peasantry, and the intellectuals."

Learning and following that ideology of President Ho Chi Minh in valuing talented individuals, in the context of globalization and the incredibly rapid development of science and technology, our Party's perspective on national development is "to be equal to and rely on science and technology", "developing science and technology is the top priority policy, playing a crucial role in the country's socio-economic development". Accordingly, the task entrusted to our scientific and technological intellectuals is tremendously important and glorious.

60 years ago, on May 18th, 1963, in the first congress of the Vietnam Science and Technology Popularization Association - the predecessor of the current Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, President Ho Chi Minh met, talked and assigned tasks to the country's intellectuals.

Deeply learning from the sayings of our beloved President "As a part of the revolutionary force, intellectuals have the task of striving to serve the Fatherland and the people", the Vietnamese intellectual and scientific community always carries the revolutionary passion and the aspiration to rise, to make science and technology the top priority for the development of the country. The Vietnamese intellectual and scientific community has exerted all efforts, and upheld the patriotic spirit, wholeheartedly followed the Party, and contributed their intellect and strength to build the country, together with the working class, the peasantry, and the entire people of the country.

Twenty years later, on March 26, 1983, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations was established. Our Party appointed Lieutenant General, Labor Hero, and Professor Tran Dai Nghia - a great scientist of the country, who had forsaken wealth and luxury to follow Uncle Ho's call to serve the country - as its first chairman. Since then, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has increasingly strengthened its position and important role as a core group that gathers and unites, harnesses the creativity of the Vietnamese science and technology community both at home and abroad, and contributes significantly to promoting the development of the national science and technology potential, socio-economic development, maintaining political stability, and ensuring national defense and security. This contribution has been recognized and highly appreciated by the Party, the State, and the people.

Today, the national scientific and technological intellectuals are honored and proud to organize the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's meeting, speaking, and assigning tasks to the national intellectual team (May 18, 1963 - May 18, 2023); and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (March 26, 1983 - March 26, 2023). Especially at today's solemn and proud ceremony, the Vietnamese scientific and technological intellectual team was welcomed by Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, the beloved General Secretary of our Party, and together with the Party and State leaders, the Vietnam Fatherland Front to attend and direct this event.

This is a very important and special event, which is a huge source of encouragement from the Party and the State, from Comrade General Secretary and the other leaders of the Party and government agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, provincial and municipal Party Committees under the Central Government, towards Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Dear Comrade General Secretary!

Dear all delegates!

Throughout the historyof country, the scientific and technologicalintellectuals of the Vietnam revolutionary movement whole-heartedly followed our Party and our belovedUncle, continuously strived and had made many contribution, exerting the strength of solidarity among the workers, farmers, and intellectuals for the mission of the nation, of the people and the liberation and construction of the country. They have dedicated themselves to building a prosperous Vietnam, a position that we have today.

I respectfully report to Comrade General Secretary, attendances and distinguished delegates some basic achievements about the 40-year journey of building and maturing with proud history of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations as follows:

- As a member of Fatherland Front of Vietnam, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has gathered a large team of intellectuals in science and technology within and outside the country. In the early days of its establishment, there were only 15 member associations with a very small number of members. However, under the guidance of the Party, it has now gathered more than 2.2 million intellectuals out of 3.7 million members, accounting for 32.5% of the national intellectual force. It has gathered 156 member associations including 63 provincial associations and 93 national associations, established nearly 600 affiliated science and technology organizations, Vietnam Technical Creativity Support Fund, Knowledge Publishing House, and Knowledge and Life newspaper.

- Advising and social evaluation are the basic activities of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, which is an important way for the Party, the State, and the National Assembly to gather opinions to decide on important issues of the country and the people. In recent years, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has carried out about 500-600 tasks each year and provided advise on about 3,000 tasks over the past five years. These tasks focus on commenting on draft political reports to submit to the Party, strategies for socio-economic development, science and technology, education and training, environmental protection, and health; important draft laws, key investment projects and emerging issues that require the participation of science and technology intellectuals. From central to provincial levels, the association has become a bridge between intellectuals and the Party.

Through the work of the association, Party committees and government authorities at all levels gather opinions and contributions from intellectuals and scientists on draft documents, development plans, initiatives, major projects, and more. These proposals are then studied and absorbed by relevant ministries and departments. Many tasks have received the attention, encouragement, and support of the Chairman of the National Assembly, the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Deputy Chairmen of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, and Heads of departments.

The main focus of scientific and technological activities is on research and development. Many scientists, even after retiring, still actively participate in research at various organizations. Each year, hundreds of research projects funded by the state or conducted at scientific and technological organizations are completed.

Implementing the Party's and State's policy of socializing activities in science, technology, education and training, environmental protection, and healthcare for the people, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations at both central and local levels, together with its member associations and affiliated research organizations, has made significant and effective contributions. Socialization activities have positively brought scientific and technological advances into daily life, contributed to community development, sustainable poverty reduction, ensured food security, improved nutrition and promoted sustainable agriculture development. Investment in science and technology from Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has played an important role in attracting social resources, increasing from 20% a decade ago to now 60%.

- The dissemination of knowledge and technology from scientific research into daily life has been strengthened, especially the transfer of technology to cooperatives, households, remote and isolated areas, contributing to poverty reduction and helping to combat hunger. This activity has been highly appreciated by the people for its effectiveness.

- Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and its member associations, especially nationwide professional associations, have strengthened international relations and continued to develop good relationships with the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations and expand relationships with the China and South Korea Science and Technology Associations and other international organizations. Many scientific conferences organized by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and its member associations have attracted more and more scientists from various countries and Vietnamese expatriates. The union at provincial and city-level has also expanded relationships with association organizations in other countries. Many affiliated science and technology organizations have accessed ODA fund and other grant aid to implement thousands of projects focused on comprehensive economic development, sustainable poverty reduction, healthcare, education, social issues, war consequences, disaster relief and prevention, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation. It can be said that VUSTA’s international cooperation and actitivities are increasingly thorough.

- The work of honoring intellectuals is highly valued, which affirms and encourages the intellectual community to strive more and contribute more. It has created a patriotic movement in scientific and technological activities through organizing contests, competitions, science and technology awards, and promoting the Creative Golden Book...

The achievements of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations over the past 40 years have been highly appreciated, and the Party and State have awarded the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and its member associations with many prestigious awards, including the Ho Chi Minh Medal, the Independence Medal, and the Labor Medal. Many scientists have been honored as Labor Heroes during the Doi Moi period, and there have been many Ho Chi Minh Awards and State Awards for Science and Technology.

Our country is entering a new phase of development and integration, with the increasingly profound and powerful impact of science and technology on all aspects of life and society. Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations will further promote activities to gather and unite its member associations and intellectuals to unleash their intellectual potential to effectively serve the industrialization and modernization of the country, contributing significantly to the socioeconomic development of the nation, inheriting the traditions of our ancestors, and making science and technology a driving force in building and protecting the nation. We will continue to affirm the role and position of science and technology in the transition of growth models, restructuring the economy based on science and technology, and promoting innovation and creativity.

I promise to Comrade General Secretary and to the Party that the intellectual and scientific community of our country, united under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, has been and will continue to be even more united and successful in fulfilling the wishes expressed by Comrade General Secretary at the 7th Congress of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations on June 3, 2015, which is: " Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations must truly be the backbone and lead the cause of building the intellectual community of Vietnam" and it must "fulfill its duty to the country and people, promote good qualities such as patriotism, social activism, humaneness, ethics, and traditional ways of life of our nation."

In today’s joy and pride atmosphere, on behalf of the intellectual and scientific community of Vietnam, I would like to express our sincere gratitude and send our warmest wishes for good health to Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, members of the Politburo, the Secretariat Committee, and Central Committee of the Party, leaders of the central and local agencies, and all distinguished delegates.

I wish all scientists throughout the country to always promote their intelligence, innovation, and contribute even more to the revolutionary cause of the Party, and to the prosperity of the country and the people.

Wishing our anniversary celebration today to be successful.

Thank you.

To have more comprehensive information on the journey of building and developing the science and technology intellectuals, in addition to the book "Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations - 40 years of construction and development", we would like to invite Comrade General Secretary, esteemed delegates to watch a short film.