Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà chairs the meeting on Monday. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà yesterday presided over a meeting to discuss the proposed investment direction for the National Target Programme on cultural development for the period 2025 - 2035.

He underscored two key issues that require attention in the programme: Urgent priorities in conserving and rejuvenating cultural heritage values through a combination of State budget and social resources; and the establishment of innovative mechanisms, policies, and approaches to cultural management, preservation, and development in Việt Nam.

The Deputy PM stressed that one of the primary objectives of the Programme is to leverage the inherent spiritual resilience as a foundational pillar for socio-economic advancement while ensuring national defence and security.

He said the Programme must conduct a comprehensive assessment of culture's role and significance in the nation's history, as well as address any existing deficiencies or emerging issues in cultural preservation, utilisation, and development.

Deputy Prime Minister Hà tasked the Ministry of Planning and Investment with consolidating the sensible feedback from the members of the State Appraisal Council, promptly finalising the appraisal report, and submitting it to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for further deliberation.

The Programme should inherit and assimilate existing programmes, projects, and strategies for cultural and artistic development; focus on implementing a comprehensive programme with specific mechanisms and policies, while avoiding the dispersion of resources.

In addition to providing input on the programme's name, the Deputy PM underscored that the scope of implementation "must prioritise domestic initiatives"; delineating target groups to establish distinct, dynamic, and well-preserved conservation objectives, from which sustainable and value-enhancing goals can be derived.

Leveraging the collective strength of the society

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tạ Quang Đông presented the content report of the Programme, outlining its seven overarching objectives and nine specific target groups. The Programme focuses on activities across the cultural and artistic spectrum, including cultural heritage, grassroots culture, performing arts, fine arts, photography and exhibitions, cinema, libraries, cultural education, training, ethnic cultures, international culture and the cultural industry.

Hà stressed the vital role of instigating significant shifts in perception, improving the efficacy and efficiency of governmental oversight in executing the Programme, and pooling resources to ignite comprehensive momentum and foster transformative strides in cultural advancement, nurturing the essence of Vietnamese identity.

At the same time, ensuring adequate budgetary allocations for the construction, restoration, and performances of traditional artistic troupes, along with optimising the economic aspects of culture, remains of utmost importance, he said.

The programme consists of 10 key components, 153 detailed indicators, 42 specific tasks, and 186 detailed activities. Some of these components include: promoting the development of the Vietnamese population with exemplary character and quality of life; fostering a healthy, civilised cultural environment; developing a comprehensive and efficient cultural infrastructure system; enhancing the effectiveness of cultural advocacy and education; preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of ethnic groups; fostering the advancement of literature and the arts; nurturing cultural industries; driving digital transformation and harnessing scientific and technological advancements in the cultural sphere; cultivating cultural human resources; promoting international integration, embracing the essence of global cultures, and disseminating Vietnamese cultural values worldwide.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Hồng Vinh emphasised the need to simultaneously pursue cultural rejuvenation and development. He also emphasised the goal of embedding culture deeply into the spiritual essence of every individual, community, and nation through the collective strength of society. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the requirements and principles outlined in the Programme are supported by adequate State budget allocations to meet the needs of cultural development in each specific phase.

Various recommendations were suggested, such as the necessity to distinguish clearly between overarching objectives and specific target groups; accelerating the review process by ministries and sectors to ensure timely submission to the National Assembly during its 7th session; quantifying tasks and objectives; conducting specific evaluations of funding allocations for programme implementation, especially for the 2025-2030 period; and establishing criteria to define specific tasks and projects. VNS