Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday urged the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) to become a trustworthy organisation in addressing and resolving social concerns. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday urged the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) to become a trustworthy organisation in addressing and resolving social concerns.

Speaking at a conference held in Hà Nội yesterday to set the academy’s tasks for 2017, he said the Party and State had always prioritised resources for VASS’s research activities for the past 63 years. 

He praised the academy for conducting a number of important studies and making policy recommendations to the Party and Government, especially in socio-economic, cultural and political areas, as also national defence and security. 

As an autonomous social science consultant to the Party and government, the VASS is tasked with promoting the development of Việt Nam’s social sciences sector and bringing Việt Nam’s capabilities up to par with other foreign countries, he said. 

The PM asked the academy to release highly reliable estimates and use scientific research results in addressing the wealth gap, family issues and ethics in a market economy, among others. 

The academy should also streamline its apparatus, adopt advanced governance mechanisms to attract talent and expand international co-operation, he said. 

Consideration should be given to the economic and geographical characteristics of each locality to build proper policies, thus contributing more effectively to poverty reduction and national development, he said, adding that amidst the ongoing globalisation process, it was necessary to collect highly persuasive scientific evidence that would ensure legal foundations for safeguarding national sovereignty. 

As 2016 is the first year that Việt Nam has recorded more than 100,000 newly-established firms, the PM asked the VASS to propose effective mechanisms and policies to facilitate the start-up movement, towards the goal of having 1 million start-ups by 2020. 

He also advised closer liaison between VASS and the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology. — VNS