Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam appreciates the achievements of the cultural sector in the past ten years of implementing the Cultural Development Strategy to 2020, adding that there should be more improvements in cultural awareness. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

HÀ NỘI — The implementation of the strategy of cultural development up to 2020 in the past ten years have reached many achievements but awareness must still be improved for the country’s culture to be equally important as the economy.

That was the message from Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam speaking at a conference that held in Hà Nội this week.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the aim of the event was to evaluate the results and obstacles after ten years of the implementation of the Cultural Development Strategy to 2020.

“Figures have shown that in the past ten years, the sector has done much accomplishment, particularly in raising social awareness about culture at all levels and on various fields,” Đam said.

“Arts and literature have made great progress and the enjoyment of the people has increased higher than before.”

However, he also suggested the cultural sector should pay further attention to raising awareness at all levels about the importance of cultural development, making the sector as highly valued as economy.

In addition, the cultural sector should continue to focus on providing specific figures, standards, and criteria for cultural assessment for social orientation, the Deputy PM noted.

He said the strategy of cultural development in the future should focus on promoting the development of cultural industry, contributing to economic development and popularising Vietnamese culture to the world.

“The strategy also needs to focus on developing culture following new requirements to keep up with the development of society, especially in the era of rapid digital development today,” he said.

“In particular, the industry needs to seriously consider the effects as well as challenges in the development of culture in the future in order to build appropriate development plans and avoid being left behind.”

At the event, participants also analysed what caused difficulties and limitations and proposed solutions; discussed scientific and practical basis for the issuance of a new strategy as well as identified the foundations for the policies of the Party, Government and the cultural sector in issues related to the cultural field.

According to the ministry’s report, many results have been achieved, positively affecting many areas of social life and contributing to the implementation of grassroots democracy, political stability, social security as well as preventing social evils. The development of Vietnamese culture and people have also witnessed many positive changes and achieved important results.

Thousands of historical and cultural relics have been ranked, renovated and embellished to become special cultural-tourism destinations.

The museum system is improving, directly contributing to the patriotic traditional education, the sense of preserving and honouring the national cultural identity.

Additionally, many traditional festivals, social practices, beliefs, traditional crafts and folk arts have been restored and developed. Many artisans with outstanding talents have been honoured by the State and received appropriate incentive policies.

The movement The Whole People Unite to Build Cultural Life has been expanded and deepened to bring about practical effects.

Various cultural and artistic activities have taken place vibrantly, meeting public demand. Cultural and literary arts have diversified and increased significantly both in quantity and quality, forming a market of cultural, literary, artistic, scientific and technological products. Meanwhile, the socialisation of cultural activities has been increasingly expanded, contributing greatly to the construction of cultural institutions.

The cultural life of people in ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas such as mountainous areas, islands and borders has gradually improved. International cultural exchange and cooperation has also been expanded and deepened.

The promotion of the image of the nation and culture abroad has also received more attention.

Addressing the event, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện said the Deputy PM's opinions were identified as key tasks, guidelines, orientation and political determination of the ministry to prepare for an appropriate cultural development strategy in the upcoming period. — VNS