Speaking at a ceremony commemorating 80 years of Vietnam's cultural sector on 23/8, Party General Secretary To Lam reflected on the industry's journey. He described it as filled with emotion, hardship, sacrifice, and glory, demonstrating the nation's aspiration for progress. He emphasized culture's role as the spiritual foundation, internal strength, and guiding light for all victories.

Since the Party's inception, President Ho Chi Minh recognized the significant role of culture. The 1943 Outline on Vietnamese Culture established three major principles: national, scientific, and popular. Since then, culture has been considered the spiritual foundation of society, a goal and driving force for development, and a source of soft power for Vietnam.

"Culture shapes the nation's identity and value system, nurturing family values and the values of the Vietnamese people in the new era: patriotism, compassion, unity, honesty, responsibility, creativity, discipline, and aspiration," the General Secretary said.

Party General Secretary To Lam speaking on the morning of 23/8. Photo: TTXVN

During the general uprising and the early days of revolutionary government building, Vietnam is indebted to the prominent cultural figures who created the national flag, anthem, and emblem. Throughout the resistance against colonialism and imperialism, generations of artists dedicated themselves to the cause, traveling across mountains, plains, and cities. They shared hardships with soldiers and civilian laborers, creating art in challenging conditions. Many sacrificed their youth and talent, turning culture into a powerful weapon.

During peacetime, construction, development, and innovation, culture has remained a driving force on the ideological and spiritual front. Generations of heritage workers have diligently preserved historical sites; librarians have carefully maintained book collections; artists have practiced tirelessly; reporters and photographers have captured significant moments of life; tour guides have contributed to the national brand; and coaches and athletes have strived for victory on the international stage.

Vietnam is entering a new stage of development, aiming to become a developed, high-income country. Culture must take the lead, guiding, nurturing resilience, strengthening belief, and shaping the nation's soft power.

Therefore, the General Secretary proposed prioritizing culture on par with economics, politics, and social affairs, ensuring adequate resources. He emphasized the need to create a healthy cultural environment and combat domestic and school violence.

Intellectuals, artists, coaches, athletes, tourism entrepreneurs, and cultural workers should be valued and nurtured. Vietnam needs to develop the cultural industry and creative economy into new pillars of growth. The cultural market system needs to be improved, along with financial mechanisms, tax policies, credit, land, investment, and data policies. Cultural enterprises should be encouraged in creative startups.

"It is necessary to build creative industrial clusters and cultural valleys linked to major urban centers and tourist destinations," the General Secretary suggested.

Simultaneously, the cultural sector should actively apply digital technology and artificial intelligence to digitize heritage, creating open museums, mobile theaters, and digital libraries accessible to all ages.

Emphasizing the 80-year tradition as a "spiritual treasure," the General Secretary urged cultural workers to embrace patriotism, professional pride, discipline, and tireless creativity.

Party General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visiting the exhibition at the 80th anniversary of the cultural sector, morning of 23/8. Photo: Nam Nguyen

The General Secretary expressed his hope that intellectuals and artists, the "soul engineers" of the people, will continue their passionate and courageous creative pursuits, drawing inspiration from life, relying on the people, and guided by truth, beauty, and righteousness. They should firmly reject vulgar commercialization, falsehoods, and extremism, while embracing new experiments and absorbing the essence of global culture to enrich the nation's cultural heritage.

The sports sector should continue to cultivate willpower, discipline, and the desire to win, with ethics as the foundation and science and technology as its strength. Respect for the rules of the game and nurturing talent from schools, families, and communities are essential.

The tourism sector should pursue a path of identity, quality, sustainability, intelligence, creativity, innovation, and integration, focusing on visitor experiences and community benefits. Culture and nature should be considered "invaluable assets," and the Vietnamese spirit of hospitality should be a welcoming beacon.

At the ceremony, General Secretary To Lam awarded the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism the first-class Labor Order.

Vu Tuan

>>Speech by the General Secretary at the 80th anniversary of the cultural sector