President: Vietnamese students need to define their mindset and responsibilities towards the country.

On the morning of December 19th, in Hanoi , the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Student Union, for the term 2023-2028, held its solemn opening session with nearly 700 delegates in attendance. President Vo Van Thuong attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

Attending the Congress were former Politburo members and former Chairmen of the National Assembly: Nguyen Van An, Nguyen Sinh Hung, and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Also present were Politburo member, Standing Secretary of the Central Committee, and Head of the Central Organization Department Truong Thi Mai; Central Committee Secretaries: Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization; Do Van Chien, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; and former Vice Presidents: Truong My Hoa and Nguyen Thi Doan.

Also attending were representatives from ministries, departments, agencies, organizations, localities, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, the Central Committee of the Youth Union, former First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Youth Union, former Presidents of the Vietnam Student Association from various periods... General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent a congratulatory floral arrangement to the Congress.

President Vo Van Thuong and other delegates perform the flag-raising ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/TTXVN.

Information from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Union indicates that among the delegates attending the Congress, 86 individuals are from ethnic minority groups. The average age of the delegates is 22.51 years old. The youngest delegate is 17 years and 10 months old. The Congress opened with a cultural program themed "Vietnamese Students: Upholding Identity, Building Aspirations, Proudly Moving Forward," divided into three chapters: "Pride," "Identity," and "Aspiration."

In his speech at the Congress, the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union and President of the Vietnam Student Association, Nguyen Minh Triet, affirmed: Throughout the past five years, with the spirit of "courage, learning, creativity, volunteerism, integration, and development," the Association, its members, and Vietnamese students have strived, overcome difficulties, and achieved many important and comprehensive accomplishments, creating a prominent mark among students and society as a whole.

According to Comrade Nguyen Minh Triet, in the coming period, students and the Vietnam Student Union will have many favorable opportunities as well as challenges and risks that need to be overcome. This context requires the officials of the Vietnam Student Union, its members, and students nationwide to be more united, determined, diligent, and creative in this new journey.

Specifically, as a close friend of students, the Vietnam Student Union will continue to innovate, improve the quality of its activities, enhance its role and prestige; constantly strive to meet the legitimate needs and aspirations of students, and resolutely fulfill the mission entrusted to it by the Party, the State, and the people.

President Vo Van Thuong delivers a directive speech. Photo: Thong Nhat/TTXVN

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, President Vo Van Thuong extended his warmest congratulations to the Congress and affirmed that Vietnamese students are the intellectuals of the future – an important human resource serving the construction and defense of the Fatherland. The Party and State of Vietnam have always placed deep trust in the youth and student force, identifying them as "a great social force, one of the important factors determining the future and destiny of the nation," and have implemented many policies to educate, train, and promote the great role of youth and students to become a loyal force, continuing the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

The President highly appreciated the Vietnamese Student Union's remarkable progress over the past term, its organization of many creative and practical movements, and its ability to unite both domestic and overseas Vietnamese students in building and defending the Fatherland. In particular, the "Five Good Students" movement has deepened and spread strongly among students and society, contributing to improving the quality of education; providing better care and support for students, especially those in difficult circumstances; and organizing many volunteer campaigns to help solve social problems.

However, the President also pointed out some limitations and worrying manifestations in a segment of students, such as: unclear learning goals and motivations; failure to clearly define their own mindset in the country's development journey; lack of ambition; inappropriate communication and behavior; and a lack of initiative in acquiring knowledge and honing professional skills…

President Vo Van Thuong presents a commemorative gift to the congress. Photo: Thong Nhat/TTXVN.

The President also highlighted the complex developments in the world and the region, which are impacting our country. Regarding the domestic situation, after nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation), the country's position, strength, and overall power have continuously increased, but it also faces numerous difficulties and challenges.

Against this backdrop, the President expressed his hope that, with their social awareness, high level of education, vibrant energy, and noble dreams and aspirations, Vietnamese students would define their mindset and responsibilities towards the country; and together with the entire nation, realize the aspiration to become a developed, high-income country by 2045.

The President emphasized that every Vietnamese student needs to understand that, in order for the country to achieve the peace, independence, and freedom it enjoys today, our nation had to endure long years of war to defend the homeland, with the blood of millions of Vietnamese people, to preserve the integrity of the country, and to win the right to live, the right to freedom, and the right to pursue happiness.

The essential tools for students to confidently embark on their career paths are knowledge and integrity, along with the glorious historical traditions of the nation, the noble values of Vietnamese culture; and the spirit of righteousness and humanity of a nation that always cherishes peace, harmony, friendship, and respect for other nations.

From a colonial country, Vietnam today has diplomatic relations with 193 countries, is a member of 70 regional and global organizations, is a shining example in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and is steadily pursuing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

These traditions and this sense of pride need to be spread and deeply ingrained in every student by all levels of the association, so that each student can proudly and confidently step into life and out into the world.

President Vo Van Thuong and other Party and State leaders congratulate the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Student Association, 11th term. Photo: Thong Nhat/TTXVN.

The President also requested the Vietnam Student Union to organize movements, programs, and activities to support students in their studies, creativity, and scientific research, based on promoting the leading role of students.

Student associations must focus on moral education, character development, creative abilities, and social responsibility among students. They should concentrate on promoting, educating, and organizing young people to study and practice the moral principles of "Diligence, Frugality, Integrity, Righteousness, Impartiality, and Selflessness" as outlined in Ho Chi Minh's ideology; building a new lifestyle and way of life, and fostering civilized and noble conduct.

All levels of student organizations must prioritize enhancing students' knowledge, skills, and resilience to adapt to the digital age, where positive and beneficial aspects are intertwined with dangers and harmful influences. Simultaneously, they must organize and guide young people in combating and refuting erroneous and hostile viewpoints, protecting the Party's ideological foundation; exploiting the positive aspects of the internet and social media to innovate ways of gathering and uniting students; strengthening the dissemination of positive information, highlighting good examples and good deeds, educating students on law compliance, and combating undesirable behaviors among students.

To help students "Strengthen their identity - Cultivate aspirations - Create the future - Build the nation," the Vietnam Student Union must truly become a close and intimate friend, caring for students' essential needs, protecting their legitimate rights and interests, and uniting and gathering students to participate in the organization.

President Vo Van Thuong and other Party and State leaders congratulate the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Student Association, 11th term. Photo: Thong Nhat/TTXVN.

On this occasion, Comrade Vo Van Thuong suggested that the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union continue to better promote its core political role in relation to the Vietnam Student Association, especially by strengthening guidance and support for the student movement and building the Association's organization.

The President also requested that Party committees, Party organizations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and mass organizations at all levels, especially the education and training sector and leaders of universities and colleges, continue to pay attention to, assist, encourage, and create conditions for the Student Union to actively contribute to the political tasks of localities and units, contributing to improving the quality of education; constantly taking care of the legitimate rights of students, helping students to study, train, develop comprehensively, contribute, and mature in a healthy environment.

According to VNA/News Agency

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