'The country needs the voice of love for humanity, honesty, and courage from writers'

On the morning of September 30, in Hai Phong, President Vo Van Thuong attended and spoke at the first conference of delegates of veteran Vietnamese writers.

Thanh Nien newspaper respectfully presents the full text of President Vo Van Thuong's speech at the conference.

President Vo Van Thuong delivered a speech at the conference.

VNA

" Dear veteran writers,

Dear delegates,

I am very excited to attend the First Conference of Veteran Vietnamese Writers. organized by the Party Delegation and the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers Association .

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, and with love and respect for writers, I would like to send to veteran writers and distinguished delegates my best regards and congratulations.

Distinguished veteran writers and esteemed delegates ,

The Party and State of Vietnam have always paid attention to and promoted the important role and position of culture and art in general, and literature in particular, in the cause of national liberation, reunification, and building and defending the Fatherland. Throughout this process, artists and writers have always been placed at the center, playing a decisive role in creating noble spiritual values ​​for society.

Vietnamese writers throughout generations, especially veteran writers, have not failed to live up to the trust placed in them by the people, the country, and the Party. They have been present in every stage of the nation's rise and fall, empathizing with the joys and sorrows of the people, creating works that endure through time, contributing to the creation of genuine literature, and making a great contribution to the building and development of Vietnamese culture and people in the Ho Chi Minh era.

President Vo Van Thuong and delegates at the conference.

VNA

Each page, each work by these writers carries the heartbeat of their nation, of their era, and at the same time reflects truthfully and profoundly the people; contributing to affirming that the Vietnamese nation is a nation with a long-standing culture, boundless love for humanity, with a great aspiration for peace and an indomitable will, ready to sacrifice everything for national independence, for the freedom and happiness of the people.

At this conference, we are extremely delighted to meet veteran writers, many of whom were "soldier writers," who went through the arduous and sacrificial resistance wars, creating works that bear the mark of the era, like special "armies" possessing the immortal spirit of Vietnam, making important contributions to the overall victory of the nation.

We are deeply moved to remember and pay tribute to the deceased writers, especially those writers and poets who sacrificed themselves in the great wars of resistance for independence, freedom, and national unity, such as Nam Cao, Tham Tam, Tran Dang, Le Anh Xuan, Nguyen Thi, Chu Cam Phong, Nguyen My, Nguyen Trong Dinh, Tran Quang Long, Duong Thi Xuan Quy..., people whose lives and works will live on forever with the Fatherland and the people.

President Vo Van Thuong poses for a commemorative photo with delegates attending the conference.

VNA

Dear veteran writers,

At the National Cultural Conference in January 1946, President Ho Chi Minh stated: "Culture illuminates the path for the nation." Seventy-five years later, at the National Cultural Conference in November 2021, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong reaffirmed: "As long as culture exists, the nation exists." This demonstrates that culture is vital to the survival of a nation. Without culture, every individual and every nation, anywhere and in any era, cannot find their true purpose and values ​​in life. Literature is one of the most important elements that contributes to the beauty of Vietnamese culture, spreading that beauty throughout life and awakening the love and responsibility of every Vietnamese person towards their homeland.

The greatest enemy of a nation in war is the invaders, represented by specific, clearly defined individuals, but the most dangerous enemy of a nation in peacetime is not easily identifiable. It is indifference, selfishness, hedonism, greed, deceit and cruelty, corruption, negativity, the destruction of nature and culture, and going against the trends of the times…

Therefore, the mission and responsibility of Vietnamese writers at this time is even greater and more demanding. The people and the country need the voice of love for humanity, honesty and courage from writers in this struggle.

President Vo Van Thuong and Head of the Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia with poets Nguyen Khoa Diem and Huu Thinh.

VNA

Vietnamese writers have always been pioneers in the fight against evil and the protection of human dignity through the miraculous path of literature, sowing the seeds of beauty into the human soul. Only when people carry within their souls the beauty of humanity can they overcome the temptation of base desires and dedicate themselves to humanity and the nation.

For nearly 50 years since the reunification of the country, through their conscientious and insightful writings, Vietnamese writers have made significant contributions to healing the wounds of war, building and developing the nation, promoting national reconciliation, protecting national sovereignty, introducing the image of Vietnam to the world, and especially protecting the national culture, affirming traditional values ​​and revealing new beauties in Vietnamese culture and the human spirit.

Dear veteran writers,

I have observed that the lives and works of veteran writers are truly beautiful symbols of unity in ideals and actions, brimming with love for the homeland, deeply connected to and close to the people, immersed in the flow of life, possessing great aspirations, and placing the interests of the nation and the people above all else.

With their experiences through the years of hardship, sacrifice but heroic and glorious years of the nation, veteran writers continue to be a solid and reliable spiritual support, inspiring, sharing life and creative experiences, encouraging creative personalities and supporting new things for young writers, in line with the national cultural tradition, with the trend of the times, always aiming for, following the path for beauty, for people and for the nation; helping young writers and readers understand more deeply the value of peace that the country has today; seeing more clearly the great achievements that our people have won in building and defending the Fatherland in recent years.

I hope for an even stronger bond between veteran writers and young writers. This bond should be one of love, understanding, respect for individual creativity, and a shared mission to create excellent works that enrich and beautify the spiritual life of society and build the Vietnamese people of the new era.

The selfless dedication and creations of veteran writers to the nation have become invaluable heritages in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people and are an important part of the luggage of young generations of writers on their creative path.

Delegates attending the conference

VNA

I believe that, with the foundations that veteran writers have built for Vietnamese literature and culture, young writers will not be lost, will have the courage, discernment, and bravery to venture forth, pursue their passions, explore and create, seek new values, and produce masterpieces that touch the emotions of the public—works worthy of the homeland and the Vietnamese people.

The Party and the State will continue to create the best conditions for writers in their creative work, as well as in publishing and honoring valuable literary works that make positive contributions to the cause of building and protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland, striving for the goal of "a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization".

I would like to reiterate the words of President Ho Chi Minh - a world cultural figure, a great writer and poet of our country: "A nation, a Party, and each individual, no matter how great and appealing they were yesterday, will not necessarily be loved and praised by everyone today and tomorrow if their hearts are no longer pure, if they fall into individualism."

Time will be the most reliable witness to the path that the nation has taken, is taking, and will continue to take. Along this path, the enduring and tireless footsteps of writers—those who, with their intellect, courage, love for humanity, and professional intuition—will create a portrait of the Vietnamese people, a portrait of the Vietnamese nation with its aspirations for independence, freedom, and happiness, with pride and an indomitable spirit in the face of all difficulties and challenges.

Once again, I wish the veteran writers always good health, full of creative inspiration, and more excellent works that carry the voice of their people and nation.

Thank you very much!

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dat-nuoc-dang-can-tieng-noi-cua-tinh-yeu-thuong-con-nguoi-cua-long-trung-thuc-su-qua-cam-tu-cac-nha-van-18523093012542794.htm