Dear comrades leaders of the Party and State.
Dear delegates, authors, translators, researchers, publishers, book makers and all comrades!
In the solemn atmosphere of the 8th National Book Award Ceremony, I am very pleased to meet a large number of comrades, distinguished delegates, people who have been and are dedicated to the cause of intellectual creation, spreading reading culture and developing the country's publishing industry. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I cordially send to authors, translators, researchers, editors, publishing and book distribution staff nationwide warm congratulations, cordial greetings and deep gratitude.
Dear comrades!
Throughout the history of the nation, culture, knowledge and books have always played a particularly important role in the development of the country. Culture is the spiritual foundation of society; knowledge is a source of development and books are a place to crystallize intelligence, preserve, spread, and nurture the good values of the nation and humanity through generations. Each book is valuable not only in contributing to improving people's knowledge, fostering personality, and comprehensively developing Vietnamese people, but also as a bridge connecting the past with the present, connecting the nation with the world, enriching the spiritual and social life, and nurturing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country.
Our Party and State always pay special attention to the cause of cultural, intellectual and publishing development. Many major guidelines and resolutions of the Party have consistently affirmed the role of culture in the sustainable development of the country; emphasizing the requirement to build an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity; putting people at the center, considering knowledge, creativity and arousing the aspiration to contribute as an important driving force for rapid and sustainable development.
The National Book Award increasingly affirms its position as a noble award of the State in the field of publishing; has practical significance in honoring works of ideological, academic, cultural, scientific and artistic value; motivating and encouraging the team of authors, translators, researchers, publishers and book publishers to continue to work creatively and contribute to the development of the country. Through many organizations, the Award has become a meaningful milestone in the spiritual and cultural life of society. The works honored today are not only the achievements of serious, persistent and responsible intellectual labor, but also reflect the vitality of the academic foundation, of the cultural life, of the aspiration to contribute and the spirit of serving the Fatherland.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I warmly commend, acknowledge and thank the silent but very great contributions of the team of publishers across the country; those who persistently distill knowledge, preserve the historical, cultural, and spiritual values of the nation; and at the same time contribute to bringing the quintessence of human knowledge to Vietnamese readers.
Dear comrades!
The world is entering a new era of development with the knowledge economy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and increasingly strong competition for human resources, knowledge and cultural soft power. In that context, the role of books, publishing activities and reading culture becomes more important than ever.
In order for the publishing industry in general and the National Book Award in particular to continue to promote their role, meaning and value in the new period, I propose that management agencies, publishers, author teams, translators and book publishers pay attention to performing well some key tasks as follows:
1. Continue to improve the quality of thought, academics and cultural values of each work. Each book must truly be a crystallized product of intelligence, social responsibility and cultural bravery; contributing to spreading knowledge, nurturing the soul, orienting values, arousing patriotism, national pride, self-reliance and aspiration to develop the country.
2. Promote innovation and digital transformation in publishing activities. Proactively develop electronic publishing, audiobooks, digital libraries, modern reading platforms; strongly apply new technologies in book editing, management, distribution and promotion; gradually build a modern and professional publishing ecosystem, meeting the increasingly diverse needs of readers in the digital age.
3. Strongly develop reading culture throughout society. This must be identified as a core goal, a long-term foundation for intellectual development and improving the quality of human resources. It is necessary to expand reading space in families, schools, communities, agencies, and units; pay special attention to fostering reading habits in the younger generation, so that reading truly becomes an intrinsic need, a beautiful lifestyle and a source of lifelong learning inspiration.
4. Strengthen international cooperation in publishing and translation. Publishing needs to become an important channel to promote the image of the country, people, history, and culture of Vietnam to the world; at the same time, selectively absorb the quintessence of human knowledge, contributing to improving people's knowledge, expanding vision and enriching domestic academic life.
5. Continue to elevate the National Book Award. Building the Award into a highly prestigious cultural institution with wide spread, capable of orienting values, discovering, honoring and promoting more and more truly outstanding works; after the award, good books continue to reach a large number of readers, go into social life, and promote long-term effectiveness.
Dear comrades!
With the tradition of studiousness, respect for knowledge and aspiration to rise up of the Vietnamese nation, I believe that our country's publishing industry will continue to develop even stronger; reading culture will be increasingly spread widely; the National Book Award will increasingly affirm its prestige, quality and value, becoming a beautiful symbol of intelligence, creativity and dedication to the development of culture, people and the country of Vietnam.
On this occasion, I warmly congratulate the authors, translators, researchers, publishers and book makers whose works are honored today. Wishing the Vietnamese publishing industry to continue to innovate and develop strongly. Wishing the National Book Award to spread more widely and make more practical contributions to the cause of cultural, intellectual and human development in Vietnam.
Thank you very much!
