The President made the request while addressing a ceremonyin Hanoi on May 20 to honour 18 authors winning the 2017 Ho Chi Minh Award and 95 others with the State Award on literature and arts, the two noble awards foroutstanding authors.
The State leader noted that the literature and art ofVietnam have inherited and promoted the patriotism and humanism ofthe nation, while closely attaching to the revolutionary career of the Party andnation. They are a sharp tool in the cultural and ideological battlefield, significantlycontributing to the victory of the struggle for national liberation,reunification as well as construction and defence, he said.
He recognised the creativity and devotion of generations ofartists and writers in improving the country’s revolutionary literature and art,and bringing glory to the nation.
He highlighted the outstanding artistic and ideologicalvalues of works honoured at the ceremony, which he held that will make greatand long-term influences to society and contributing to the development ofthe country’s literature and art.
He asked literature and art associations to focus on reformingtheir operation to create favourable conditions for artists and authors toengage deeply to the society to make more valuable works with high value, meeting the increasing cultural demand of people.
The associations should encourage new progressive factorsand denounce the bad that hinders the growth of the country and people ofVietnam, he said, urging the association to promote community art and focus onboosting the growth of the professional art by expanding international cooperationand learn humanitarian values of friends around the world.
On the occasion, he also requested the Ministry of Culture,Sport and Tourism to continue paying due attention to encourage artists andwriters to promote their talent and creativity, while popularising the country’sart and literature with high awareness of their social responsibility andcitizen’s obligations.
He also asked the ministry to work more closely withrelevant ministries and agencies to propose the presenting of the Ho Chi MinhAward and State Award on Literature and Arts to those who deserve them.
The awards have been presented every five years since 1996 for nine categories: literature, fine-arts, music, cinema, theatre, photography, architecture, folklore, and dance. These two prestigious awards conferred by the President provide encouragement to authors and receive strong response from the public-VNA