President Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the statement during a ceremony held by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) in Hanoi on May 21 aimed at honouring 106 outstanding intellectuals in the field of science and technology in 2022.
The State leader highlighted the great attention given by the Party and State to the development of science, technology, and innovation, as well as intellectuals in the field, saying that the dream of a prosperous Vietnam can only be realised under the guidance of the light of knowledge.
President Phuc applauded the VUSTA's role in connecting Vietnamese scientists both inside and outside the country over the past four decades, thereby significantly contributing to the country’s socio-economic development, as well its political and security-defence stability.
He noted that so far, the union has gathered together over 3.7 million experts, including 2.2 million in the field of science and technology, accounting for 32.5% of the total intellectual number of the country.
The contingent of scientists have been able to build up the national innovative capacity, the President said, noting that last year witnessed the nations became one of the top 45 leading countries in the world in terms of innovation. In addition, it took the lead in the list of middle-income economies in terms of Global Innovation Index (GII).
He therefore asked the VUSTA, as the representative body for scientists and intellectuals and an important part of the country’s political system, to play a greater role in giving advice to the Party, State, and Government on science-technology and innovation policies. This should be done as well as implementing financial mechanisms in a bid to better unite Vietnamese intellectuals, thereby contributing to successfully meeting national development goals moving into the new period.
During the course of the event, President Phuc, Nguyen Duc Hai, vice chairman of the National Assembly, and VUSTA leaders presented the title of Outstanding Science and Technology Intellectual to the 106 exemplary intellectuals.
