President Trần Đại Quang (First right) visits the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

Viet Nam News –HÀ NỘI — President Trần Đại Quang has requested the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) to build a strong, competent staff that is able to address the country’s theoretical and practical issues. 

Attending a ceremony to mark Vietnamese Science and Technology Day yesterday in Hà Nội, the President hailed the achievements of the VASS in helping change the face of the Vietnamese social science sector. 

The VASS has provided scientific grounds for Party policies and State laws, he said.

Social sciences also helped protect and develop Marxism-Leninism, Hồ Chí Minh thought, as well as the guidelines and policies of the Party and State, while affirming the formation and development of the nation, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and preserving cultural values, he stated. 

The State leader asked the social science sector and the academy to carry out the 12th National Party Congress’s resolution, promote the strength of socialist democracy and national unity, and continue providing scientific grounds for a new development strategy for the country. 

The VASS was also asked to intensify studies on social scientific issues in all fields of society to better advise the Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat on building Party documents, resolutions and decrees. 

On this occasion, Nguyễn Quang Thuấn was assigned to become the new VASS President replacing Nguyễn Xuân Thắng. 

Thắng, who is President of the National Academy of Public Administration, was honoured with the Labour Order, first class. 

On the same day, President Quang paid a visit to the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology on the occasion of the academy’s 41st founding anniversary (May 20). 

He affirmed that the Party and State wanted to develop and boost the application of science and technology, considering them important for development and national safeguarding. 

National development required all resources, especially the knowledge and creativity of scientists, he said. 

He suggested the VASS focus on developing the scientific and technological fields of industrialisation and modernisation, and intensifying the application of advanced sciences and technologies in production and daily life. — VNS