General Secretary: 'We need a breakthrough policy to prioritize and utilize intellectuals'

Emphasizing that intellectuals and scientists possess 'magical' abilities, creating maximum acceleration for national development goals, General Secretary To Lam called for breakthrough policies to attract, utilize, value, and honor intellectuals.

On the morning of December 30, General Secretary To Lam met with intellectuals and scientists from both within and outside the country.

Speaking at the meeting, the General Secretary affirmed that intellectuals are a force representing the intellect and talent of the people and the nation, and are one of the most important resources and driving forces bringing breakthroughs and prosperity to the country.

General Secretary To Lam and intellectuals and scientists at the meeting.

PHOTO: NGHIA DUC

Throughout the revolutionary periods, the Party and the State have always emphasized the role of intellectuals, considering them the lifeblood of the nation's survival. The Party has issued many policies and guidelines to mobilize the active participation and collaboration of intellectuals in the nation's revolutionary cause.

The General Secretary affirmed that the achievements of the revolution, especially the great accomplishments of the country after 40 years of reform, have been significantly contributed to by the intellectual and scientific community.

However, the General Secretary stated frankly that, in terms of utilizing and valuing the intellectual workforce, and fulfilling the responsibilities and missions of intellectuals and scientists, there are still many shortcomings and limitations that need to be urgently and thoroughly addressed.

According to the General Secretary, the mechanisms for recruiting, rewarding, and attracting talent still have many limitations. The Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws regarding the intellectual workforce are still lacking, inconsistent, or do not meet practical requirements.

Furthermore, a favorable environment has not yet been created to encourage intellectuals and scientists to proactively research, apply science and technology, impart knowledge, provide advice, and engage in social critique. The development of the intellectual workforce has not been linked to the goals and tasks of each sector and locality, leading to situations of "brain drain," "brain fading," and "brain loss."

The General Secretary cited an example of a recent meeting he had with several young scientists who had studied abroad and worked for large global corporations, but who said they were now 35 years old and too old to be included in the state apparatus. "Such policies are very inadequate," the General Secretary said, and then raised the question: could someone who studied and worked abroad in businesses and then returned to Vietnam be a leader?

General Secretary To Lam speaks at the meeting.

PHOTO: TRAN HUAN

According to the General Secretary, frankly speaking, the fulfillment of the responsibilities and mission of intellectuals and scientists to the nation still has many limitations compared to the expectations and investments of the Party, the State, and the people.

Despite the numerous difficulties faced by the developing country, the Party, the State, and the people have allocated the highest possible resources to invest in science and technology. However, the number of published works and inventions worldwide remains low, and there are not many groundbreaking innovations or discoveries. The contribution of the intellectual workforce to the socio-economic development of the country is still modest and not commensurate with its potential.

"The research topic cannot be left in a drawer."

The General Secretary emphasized that, with the country's strength and position after 40 years of reform, and with new opportunities and prospects, the Party, the State, and the people are expecting contributions on a new scale and level, with strong breakthroughs from the intellectual and scientific community.

"Only science and technology, and innovation, can help us catch up, keep pace, break through, and surpass ourselves and the world. Failing to seize opportunities is a crime," the General Secretary stated clearly.

To meet this requirement, the General Secretary suggested that the Party, the State, and Party committees and governments at all levels need to strongly innovate in the training, selection, utilization, and appreciation of intellectuals and scientists.

Accordingly, it is necessary to thoroughly address existing shortcomings and inadequacies, as well as identify breakthrough mechanisms and policies to attract, utilize, value, and honor intellectuals, especially top talents, leading experts, and outstanding individuals, and to train and nurture the next generation of young intellectuals.

General Secretary To Lam poses for a photo with delegates at the meeting.

PHOTO: NGHIA DUC

Addressing the intellectual and scientific community, the General Secretary urged them to strive to fulfill their responsibilities and mission in the new revolutionary period, significantly increasing their contributions alongside the entire Party, people, and army to successfully achieve strategic goals, bringing Vietnam to a developed, high-income country by 2045, on par with the world's leading nations.

Research and focus on the early implementation of Resolution No. 57 dated December 22nd of the Politburo on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, as a source of inspiration, a new driving force, a new land, and a new sky for the creativity of intellectuals and scientists.

The General Secretary emphasized that intellectuals and scientists must be the core force, the ones with the "magic" to bring Vietnam into the top 3 Southeast Asian countries in artificial intelligence research and development; the top 50 countries in the world in digital competitiveness and e-government development index; and have at least 5 digital technology enterprises on par with technology powerhouses by 2030.

By 2045, Vietnam will be one of the leading digital technology industrial centers in the region and the world; among the top 30 countries globally in innovation and digital transformation; possessing advanced, modern digital technology infrastructure with super-large capacity and ultra-wide bandwidth on par with the "digital technology empires".

The General Secretary also urged intellectuals and scientists to be honest with the people, with the State, and with themselves; to strive for honesty in science and creativity using their abilities and exceeding their capabilities, even "surpassing themselves," in order to serve the people and the prosperity of the country; and to know how to critically analyze and dare to critically analyze in a scientific, well-founded, and logically sound manner that is constructive.

The General Secretary emphasized the need to continuously strengthen the worker-farmer-intellectual alliance in the new context and to attract Vietnamese intellectuals living and working abroad, as well as foreign intellectuals, to contribute to national development. The General Secretary stressed: "Research topics cannot be kept in a drawer; they must be transferred to businesses. And businesses must also rely on science to improve productivity."

The General Secretary affirmed that, in order to lead the country steadily into a new era, an era of progress, development, prosperity, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading powers, more than ever, the Party, the State, and the people place great trust and expectations in the intellectual and scientific community – the pioneering core who will create innovation, make breakthroughs, and generate maximum acceleration for the country's rapid and sustainable development in the new period.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-bi-thu-co-chinh-sach-dot-pha-trong-dung-tri-thuc-185241230112755779.htm