HÀ NỘI — National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân congratulated the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences on May 17 for its achievements during recent years, and expressed her belief in the academy’s future progress.

The congratulations were delivered when the NA Chairwoman attended the 5th Việt Nam Science and Technology Day (May 18) at the academy.

Professor Nguyễn Quang Thuấn, chairman of the academy, said that after 65 years of development, the academy has undertaken invaluable research and the policy consultancy, providing scientific recommendations for the process of formulating important guidelines and policies of the Party and the State.

The academy’s research on perfecting the socialist-oriented market economy, as well as on improving the efficiency of State management, and sustainable development and labour policy was an indispensable source of evidence when putting together resolutions of the Party Central Committee, he said.

The Việt Nam Museum of Ethnology, under the academy, is highly appreciated by international organisations, and is a leading tourist destination in the capital, as well as a useful venue for hosting archaeological events.

The discovery of Stone Age relics in An Khê - Gia Lai, and the subsequent exhibition held by the academy, was selected as one of 10 key scientific events in 2016-17. The exhibition reinforced the important role of humanities in science and technology.

The academy’s international researches also carry international experience, providing useful suggestions for the development and implementation of the country’s reform and development policies, said Thuấn.

The academy so far has 20 works winning the Hồ Chí Minh Award and 26 works winning the State award on science and technology.

Chairwoman Ngân said that besides the achievements, the academy still had limitations in basic research and applied research, as well as in counseling and policy review and human resource training.

Emphasising that in the context of the country facing both advantages, opportunities, difficulties and challenges, NA Chairwoman Ngân proposed that, in order to better fulfill its tasks, the academy should continue to focus on theoretical and practical issues of development, accelerating industrialisation and modernisation.

It should research new theoretical and practical issues the country faces from now to 2030 and provide scientific arguments for the leadership of the Party and the State to use while going through the next stage in development.

The academy should actively promote the socialisation of scientific research so that the research results can spread widely to all classes of people, especially young people, thereby helping them become more aware and more active, and respect the nation’s historical and cultural values.

The academy should widen international publication of scientific research results, and realise the objective of building the academic institute into a centre for research and training in the social sciences, human sciences and prestigious international sciences in the region.

Also on May 17, NA Chairwoman Ngân attended the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), the leading scientific research institution in the country in the field of natural sciences and technological development.

Currently, the academy is taking the lead in implementing many important programmes and projects including the space science programme, the earthquake and tsunami alert centre, and stem cell technology for medical treatment.

Ngân expressed her belief that the academy will continue its great achievements, contributing to the growth and sustainable development of the country. The academy she said will successfully achieve the goal of becoming the country’s top scientific research and development centre by 2020.

Ngân proposed that VAST promote the application of research results, alongside scientific and technological achievements in the production and life of people, and the commercialisation of scientific products for socio-economic development.

VAST should set up a scientific human resource development strategy that will fit the context of global competition in the field, in order to produce a staff that will meet the required level of competence for its development in the new period.

Ngân stressed that VAST should also promote domestic and international scientific and technological cooperation, as well as joint research with strategic partners and more technologically advanced countries.

The academy should take the initiative in proposing to the State appropriate policies to solve urgent problems, and formulate strategies for the sustainable development of the country, she said. — VNS