Party General Secretary Tô Lâm shakes hand with former President Trương Tấn Sang at a meeting with former Party and State leaders, distinguished senior officials on Thursday in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Tô Lâm urged intellectuals and scientists to strive to fulfil their responsibilities and missions during the new era, contributing alongside the Party, people and armed forces to achieve the country’s strategic goals.

Speaking on Thursday morning in HCM City, during a meeting with former Party and State leaders and distinguished senior officials, as well as scientists and intellectuals, he urged them to have high aspirations.

The meeting was attended by former Politburo members and former Presidents Nguyễn Minh Triết and Trương Tấn Sang, former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, former Politburo member and former Permanent Secretary of the Party Central Committee Lê Hồng Anh, as well as other former leaders of the Party and State.

Lâm also told the intellectual community to educate, nurture and support the younger generations to advance, becoming a powerful driving force for building and protecting the nation, while contributing to shaping the future of humanity and global civilisation.

He highlighted the importance of building a network connecting domestic and international experts, scientists and Vietnamese intellectuals abroad.

"The Party, State and people have great faith and expectations in intellectuals and scientists – the vanguard who play a pivotal role in driving innovation and breakthroughs, aiming for the rapid and sustainable development of our country in the new era," he said.

He also added that despite many internal and external challenges, the Party, people and armed forces had made significant efforts and achieved important accomplishments.

In 2024, the country successfully met its economic and social development goals and made critical strides in Party-building and the development of the political system.

Notably, the contributions of former leaders, intellectuals, scientists and artists had been immense, he said.

Their intellectual efforts, dedication and valuable experience had played a crucial role in policy formulation and the introduction of breakthrough solutions across all sectors.

Creating a space for cultural development

Party General Secretary Tô Lâm (eighth from left) and delegates at a meeting with former Party and State leaders, distinguished senior officials on Thursday in HCM City.— VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

He emphasised that since the establishment of the Party and the Government, the Party and State had always paid particular attention to the artistic community.

Numerous resolutions, mechanisms and policies had been enacted to create favourable conditions and a conducive space for the development of arts and culture.

In response, the artistic community had grown increasingly mature, making significant contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party.

Revolutionary artists had become the cultural vanguard of the Party, a key force in shaping the new cultural landscape, promoting the development of a socialist-oriented cultural industry, nurturing the spiritual life of the people and contributing to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the nation.

“Their work has helped to elevate the national identity, glorify the country's beauty and contribute to global civilisation,” he added.

Therefore he said, in the future, artists were told to continue to contribute by creating works of significant artistic and intellectual value, celebrating the ideals of truth, goodness and beauty, serving the people and supporting the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

He revealed that the Party would soon issue a resolution on the development of culture and arts and would study the formulation of a National Strategy for building a cultural era.

The National Assembly, Government and relevant agencies would collaborate to address legal, policy, financial and investment barriers, creating the resources and space for artists to freely create and produce while combating distorted, regressive and anti-cultural ideologies.

Also at the meeting, Lâm said the goals of building a strong, prosperous, democratic, equitable and civilised Việt Nam were not only the aspirations of individuals but also the collective mission of the entire nation.

Then he expressed his hope for continued support and valuable contributions from former leaders, intellectuals, scientists and artists – individuals who had always been a source of inspiration, motivation and spiritual strength on the nation’s development journey. — VNS