Building a strong intellectual workforce - elevating the nation's intellectual level.

On the morning of June 3rd, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended and delivered a keynote address at the 7th National Congress of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Nghe An Newspaper respectfully presents the full text of the speech:

"Distinguished delegates and esteemed guests,

Comrades,

Today, I am very pleased to attend the 7th National Congress of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations - a large socio-political organization of Vietnamese science and technology intellectuals. On behalf of the Politburo and the Central Secretariat of the Party, I warmly welcome all delegates to the Congress and, through you, send my sincere greetings and best wishes to all members of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations as well as the entire intellectual community nationwide.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a speech at the Congress.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Congress,

As we all know, throughout thousands of years of history in building and defending the nation, our ancestors have drawn the philosophy: Talented individuals are the lifeblood of the nation; when this lifeblood is strong, the nation is powerful; when it is weak, the nation is weak. In today's era, our Party has repeatedly affirmed that knowledge is always the foundation of social progress, and the intellectual class is the core force in creating and disseminating knowledge. Vietnamese intellectuals are a particularly important creative workforce in the process of building and developing the country, especially in the period of accelerating industrialization, modernization, and international integration, building a knowledge-based economy, and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity. Building a strong intellectual class directly elevates the nation's intellectual level, strengthens the country, enhances the Party's leadership capacity, and improves the quality of the political system's operations. Investing in building an intellectual class is an investment in sustainable development.

Over the past several decades, the Vietnamese intellectual community has continuously grown and matured, possessing a strong sense of patriotism, national pride, and self-respect. They have always been closely associated with and supported the revolutionary cause of the country, led by our Party, towards the goal of a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, justice, and civilization. Through their creative activities, our intellectuals have made immense contributions to the cause of national construction and defense, which have been recognized and highly appreciated by the Party, the State, and the entire society.

Training, building, and developing the intellectual workforce to meet the demands of the country in the new era is the responsibility of the Party, the State, the entire political system, and the whole society, including the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Over more than 30 years of construction and development, with 6 Congresses, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has affirmed its important position and role: As a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, it brings together and unites the Vietnamese science and technology intellectual workforce both domestically and abroad, creating conditions for the intellectual workforce to contribute their dedication and intellect to the cause of national construction and defense.

During its five-year term (2010-2015), the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations carried out many diverse and creative activities, achieving outstanding results. The Vietnam Union of Associations became a core organization in gathering, uniting, and motivating scientific and technological intellectuals to actively participate in solving socio-economic development tasks, and in building and defending the Fatherland.

The Union of Associations has done a good job in political and ideological education, fostering patriotism, civic responsibility, and social activism among its members, creating a favorable environment for uniting the scientific and technological intellectual community. It actively advises and proposes major issues regarding policies and guidelines to the Party and State; proactively promotes social consultation, critique, and assessment, contributing to strengthening the scientific basis for major programs, projects, and plans before they are decided by competent authorities. It has made significant contributions to disseminating scientific and technological knowledge to all segments of the population, contributing to the socialization of education and training, raising the intellectual level of the people, training human resources, and nurturing talent.

Promoting practical applied research, developing science and technology, healthcare, improving people's lives, protecting the environment, eradicating hunger and poverty; is an important force in promoting the people's movement for creativity, effectively applying scientific and technological advancements to production and life, as well as in organizing awards, competitions, and contests for scientific and technological innovation; and has focused on honoring outstanding collectives and individuals who have made significant contributions to science and technology.

In carrying out its political tasks, the organization and activities of the Union of Science and Technology Associations at the central level as well as in provinces and centrally-administered cities have been consolidated, strengthened, and continuously developed. To date, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has 140 member associations. The total number of members of these associations has reached over 2.8 million people (an increase of 1 million compared to the previous term). The national team of science and technology intellectuals, especially those within the Union of Science and Technology Associations system, has rapidly increased in number and improved in quality, making significant contributions to the development of science and technology.

Many people have enthusiastically and dedicatedly researched and innovated, contributing to advancements in basic research, laying the foundation for the formation of several new multidisciplinary fields of science and technology; at the same time, promoting research and development of applied science and technology, improving productivity and quality of products, goods, and services; contributing to improving the competitiveness of businesses and the economy; some fields have reached advanced levels in the region and the world.

With these achievements, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations has been awarded many prestigious titles by the Party and the State. On this occasion, once again, on behalf of the Party and State leadership, I warmly congratulate, commend, and thank the great contributions and dedication to the country of the country's scientific and technological intellectuals and the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

However, we must also frankly acknowledge that the Union of Associations' activities have not yet lived up to the potential of the organization and its scientific and technological intellectual workforce, nor to the requirements and demands of national construction and development. The organizational structure and apparatus still have many shortcomings; the content and methods of the association's activities have not seen much innovation; the environment for gathering intellectuals is still unattractive and does not meet the new requirements. The Union of Associations has not been truly proactive in addressing major national issues; political and ideological education and professional ethics training for intellectuals have not been given due importance; and the organization and application of scientific and technological advancements in production and daily life remain limited. The Union of Associations has not truly become the core force in making science and technology the main driving force for sustainable national development.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Congress,

Currently, the entire Party, people, and army are striving to harness the strength of the entire nation, comprehensively accelerating the reform process, building the foundation to soon transform Vietnam into a modern industrialized country, and firmly building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam. It is predicted that in the coming years, the global and domestic situations will continue to evolve rapidly, complexly, and unpredictably. The scientific and technological revolution, especially information technology, will continue to develop strongly, driving leaps forward in many fields, creating both opportunities and challenges for all nations. This situation demands that scientific and technological organizations, the entire scientific and technological intellectual workforce, especially the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and its scientists, make even greater efforts and contributions to the rapid and sustainable development of the country.

I fundamentally agree with the directions, objectives, and tasks of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations for the 7th term (2015-2020) as outlined by the Union's leadership in the report presented to the Congress; at the same time, I would like to emphasize and note the following issues:

Firstly, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations needs to be more proactive and diligent in thoroughly understanding and successfully implementing the Resolution of the Sixth Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the development of science and technology. It should strive to achieve the goal of strong development of science and technology, making science and technology truly the most important driving force for the development of modern productive forces, a knowledge-based economy, improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy, protecting the environment, and ensuring national defense and security. At the same time, it needs to work closely with the Ministry of Education and Training to effectively implement the Resolution of the Eighth Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on fundamental and comprehensive reform of education and training, striving to create a strong transformation in the quality and effectiveness of education and training so that by 2030, Vietnam's education system reaches an advanced level in the region.

Secondly, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations must truly be the core force, leading the way in building the Vietnamese intellectual workforce, first and foremost the scientific and technological intellectual workforce, during the period of accelerated industrialization and modernization of the country. It must continue to promote the implementation of the Resolution of the Seventh Plenum of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on building the intellectual workforce, and implement the Strategy for the Development of the Intellectual Workforce until 2020, striving to gradually build a strong, high-quality intellectual workforce with a reasonable number and structure, meeting the requirements of sustainable national development.

Strengthening political and ideological education helps intellectuals in science and technology deeply understand their responsibilities and fulfill their duties to the country and nation; promoting positive qualities such as patriotism, social activism, humanism, ethics, and a lifestyle in accordance with national traditions. Paying attention to the professional development and ethical conduct of intellectuals, especially young intellectuals; valuing and honoring those who make practical and effective contributions. Further deepening the close relationship between the Party, the State, and the people with intellectuals; and between intellectuals and the Party, the State, and the people; strengthening the great national unity based on the worker-farmer-intellectual alliance. Expeditiously building and perfecting mechanisms and policies to effectively utilize the potential of the intellectual workforce.

Thirdly, continue to effectively implement the Politburo's Directive of the 10th Party Congress on reforming and improving the quality and effectiveness of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, striving to achieve the goal: by 2020, building the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations into a truly strong socio-political organization at the central level and in provinces and centrally-administered cities; playing a core role in gathering, uniting, and promoting the creative capacity of intellectuals, representing the voice of scientists and technologists nationwide; contributing to making science and technology one of the leading driving forces for socio-economic development, national construction, and defense.

The Vietnam Union of Associations must assemble a team and concentrate resources to propose and advise the Party and State on important issues regarding the guidelines, policies, and strategies for national development; and continue to proactively carry out consulting, critical analysis, and social assessment activities in the process of formulating the Party and State's policies, programs, projects, and major socio-economic plans before they are decided by competent authorities. The Vietnam Union of Associations must truly become a reliable advisory body to the Party and State, especially in the work of mobilizing intellectuals.

Creating an environment and conditions for intellectuals to take the lead in disseminating the finest aspects of human knowledge within the community, making practical contributions to raising the intellectual level of the people; effectively applying scientific and technological advancements to production and daily life; actively and proactively participating in training, scientific research, and the transfer of new technologies; and being the vanguard force in building a widespread movement of scientific and technological innovation throughout the country.

It is urgent to consolidate, improve, and develop the organizational system at the Central Office of the Union of Associations, its member associations at the central level, and the provincial and city-level unions of associations. Continue to innovate the content and methods of operation to suit the new context, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the Union of Associations, creating a democratic, open, and favorable environment to gather and unite a large number of intellectuals in science and technology working in all fields. Create favorable conditions for them to make significant contributions to the country; while simultaneously caring for and protecting their legitimate rights and interests. In addition to gradually perfecting the organizational model, attention should be paid to selecting association officials, especially leaders, who possess good political qualities, are dedicated to association work, and understand the work of mobilizing intellectuals.

Fourth, building and developing the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations is not only the responsibility and duty of the scientific and technological intellectual workforce, but also the responsibility of Party committees, government agencies, and mass organizations within the political system. Therefore, Party committees and government agencies at all levels need to further enhance their awareness of the role and position of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations in the new situation; innovate and strengthen the leadership and guidance of Party committees and government agencies; supplement and improve laws, mechanisms, and policies; and create favorable conditions, including ensuring funding and necessary material conditions, for the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations to successfully fulfill its assigned functions and tasks.

Distinguished delegates and comrades,

Our Party and State, and our people, have always trusted and hoped that, with a glorious tradition of over 30 years of construction and development, and with a large workforce of nearly 3 million people, including many talented and dedicated scientists and technologists, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations and the entire country's scientific and technological intellectual workforce will continue to make even greater contributions to the cause of national renewal, construction, and development. Especially during this term, they will be even more proactive and positive, working together with the entire Party, people, and army to successfully implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws and regulations, making our country develop faster and more sustainably in the future.

Once again, I wish all delegates and comrades good health, happiness, and many worthy contributions to the nation. I wish the Congress great success.

Thank you very much!