General Secretary To Lam: Science and Technology sector continues to pioneer in bringing Vietnam forward

On the afternoon of September 29, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Science and Technology solemnly organized the 80th anniversary of the Post and Telecommunications sector, the 66th anniversary of the Science and Technology sector and the 1st Patriotic Emulation Congress. General Secretary To Lam attended and delivered a speech at the ceremony. Politburo members: President Luong Cuong, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and a number of ministries, branches and localities sent congratulatory flower baskets.

Báo Đại biểu Nhân dân•29/09/2025

Attending the event were comrades: Former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; former Politburo member, former Standing member of the Secretariat Phan Dien; Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia; former Politburo members, Party Central Committee members, former Party Central Committee members, leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, Vietnam Fatherland Front; veteran revolutionaries, generations of leaders, cadres, workers of the Post and Telecommunications and Science and Technology sectors through the periods.

Photo caption — General Secretary To Lam attended the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Post and Telecommunications sector and the 66th anniversary of the Science and Technology sector. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

This is an opportunity to review the glorious tradition, affirm the great achievements, pay tribute to the contributions of many generations of cadres, soldiers, scientists, businessmen, and workers; at the same time, clearly define the vision and tasks in the new development stage of the Science and Technology sector; arouse the will, aspiration, and creativity, contributing to realizing the goal of making Vietnam a developed, powerful, and prosperous country.

Become the central driving force of development

Speaking at the ceremony, Party Central Committee member, Party Secretary, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that over the past eight decades, the Post and Telecommunications, Science and Technology sectors have not only contributed to building the foundation of an independent and self-reliant country, but also sowed the seeds of knowledge and the spirit of continuous innovation for future generations.

Science and technology have transformed Vietnam from a country with a lack of food into a country with self-sufficiency in food and a leading rice exporter in the world, mastering the technology to build many large projects, such as the 500KV North-South transmission line, self-elevating oil rigs at a depth of 120m, building ships over 100,000 tons, building cable-stayed bridges, highways, organ transplants and vaccine production, mastering telecommunications network technology, high-tech weapons, ranking 44th in the world in the global innovation index. Regarding Posts and Telecommunications, Vietnam is a leading country in digitizing telecommunications networks, launching satellites, opening the market, popularizing mobile phones, Internet, post and delivery, building digital infrastructure, implementing digital transformation, population databases, and identifying the entire population through VNeID. Vietnam is in the top 30 in the world in post and telecommunications services. Social sciences and humanities have contributed to perfecting the theory of socialism, promoting cultural values and affirming national sovereignty. In some basic research fields such as Mathematics and Physics, Vietnam has reached regional level and deeply integrated with the world.

On this occasion, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung launched the first patriotic emulation movement of the industry in the new period with major and long-term orientations. That is, developing a knowledge-based economy based on science and technology, innovation and digital data; building technological autonomy in strategic areas in the spirit of Make in Vietnam; making Vietnam an innovation center of the ASEAN region, the continent and the world, becoming a start-up nation based on digital technology and innovation...

Speaking at the ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam sent his best regards and congratulations to the leaders, former leaders, veteran revolutionaries, scientists, businessmen, and all generations of cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers in the Post and Telecommunications, Science and Technology sectors; and congratulated the sector on receiving the noble award from the Party and State - the First Class Labor Medal.

The General Secretary recalled that Uncle Ho had advised: “Communication is the most important thing in revolutionary work”; “Science must come from production and must return to serve production and the masses”. Those teachings have guided and fostered the tradition of bravery in war, intelligence in research, creativity in work, and the will to be self-reliant and self-reliant – invaluable assets of generations.
The General Secretary emphasized that after nearly 40 years of renovation, our country has made remarkable progress, from a poor, embargoed country to the 4th largest economy in Southeast Asia, 32nd in the world, deeply integrated into the global value chain. In that common achievement, the Post and Telecommunications, Science and Technology sectors have made very important contributions.

The Post and Telecommunications sector has been at the forefront of network digitalization, bringing the Internet to Vietnam since 1997, opening up new spaces for learning, production, business, entertainment, and integration. Up to now, the network has widespread coverage, 4G has reached nearly 100% of the population, and 5G is being deployed. Vietnam is among the few countries that have successfully designed and manufactured 5G equipment. The postal service is increasingly modern, applying digital technology to become the infrastructure for e-commerce and logistics.

The Science and Technology sector has achieved many outstanding achievements: research on high-yield rice varieties, contributing to making Vietnam one of the pillars of global food security; mastering vaccine production technology that meets international standards; successfully performing many complex organ transplants... For many consecutive years, Vietnam has also been in the group of middle-income countries with the fastest improvement in rankings according to the Global Innovation Index (GII).

The General Secretary affirmed that these achievements demonstrate that: When the country has the right direction, when the Party's will blends with the people's will, when Vietnamese intelligence is awakened, we can do things that seem impossible.

The General Secretary stated that on March 1, 2025, the two sectors of Post and Telecommunications and Science and Technology will officially merge to form the Ministry of Science and Technology. This is a strategic decision, demonstrating the vision of the Party and State: unifying focal points, resonating resources, improving leadership and management efficiency, so that science, technology, innovation and digital transformation become the central driving force of development. Merging to concentrate, avoiding dispersion; so that each investment resource is used effectively; so that businesses, scientists and people have a reliable address to accompany and support. This is an important step to realize Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo, making science, technology, innovation and digital transformation a breakthrough national policy in the new development stage.

The General Secretary emphasized that an overarching and consistent task is that the Ministry of Science and Technology must take the lead in successfully implementing Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo - with all the orientations and key tasks already included in the Resolution. The important issue now is to focus on drastic actions, concretizing them with practical and effective work, creating clear changes in practice, spreading strongly throughout society.

“Autonomy - Intelligence - Technology - Breakthrough - Integration”

The General Secretary emphasized three key pillars that the Ministry and the Science and Technology sector need to focus on in the coming time. Regarding breakthrough institutions and a favorable environment, with its advisory and creative functions, the Ministry must proactively propose and perfect the legal system, mechanisms and policies to encourage innovation and promote digital transformation. Institutions are not only for management, but also to unlock resources, turn potential into reality, and turn Vietnamese intelligence into products, technology and added value. The Ministry needs to quickly issue outstanding policies and have a testing mechanism for new technologies; at the same time, boldly empower and protect those who dare to think, dare to do, and dare to take responsibility for the common good.

With the function of state management, the Ministry must orient and lead the development of key technology fields of strategic significance such as semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new materials, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, ensuring energy security, serving green and sustainable development, etc. At the same time, focus on building a modern, synchronous, and safe national digital infrastructure, considering it the central nervous system of national governance and development of the digital economy and digital society. In choosing technology, do not follow cheap, outdated solutions but must be determined to take shortcuts, take the lead, access advanced technology, and participate deeply in the global value chain.

Regarding resources, human resources and the innovation ecosystem, the General Secretary stated that, with the function of connecting and coordinating, the Ministry must promote the mobilization and effective use of resources for science and technology; increase the proportion of budget expenditures and encourage businesses and venture capital funds to participate. Investment in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must be considered a long-term strategy, accepting delays and risks, but must be steadfastly pursued because it is an investment for the future. At the same time, there must be a special mechanism to attract and promote domestic and foreign talents; encourage creative startups, and link university and postgraduate training with practical needs. Enterprises need to truly become the center of the innovation ecosystem, the subjects solving the "big problems" of the country; institutes and schools are the foundation, intellectuals and talents are the driving force.

The General Secretary affirmed that the 80-year history of the Post and Telecommunications sector, and the 66-year history of the Science and Technology sector, is a history of heroic traditions, creativity, dedication and sacrifice. That spirit today needs to be strongly aroused in the patriotic emulation movement, so that each person and each organization can strive for the common goal: a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

The General Secretary noted that the emulation movement must be specific, practical, linked to results, and avoid formalities. Each year, each unit needs to register and implement at least one initiative or innovative project that has a direct impact on socio-economic development and improving people's lives. Each agency, each scientist, each enterprise should compete with specific, practical initiatives, projects, and products. That is the best way to turn the patriotic emulation movement into a vivid reality.

Our country is facing a historic opportunity. Science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are not just choices, but the vital path to rapid and sustainable development. This is the golden key to realizing the aspiration of a strong and prosperous Vietnam by 2045.

With its glorious tradition, spirit of solidarity and creativity, the General Secretary believes that the Science and Technology sector will continue to be a pioneer, worthy of being the central driving force of the industrialization and modernization cause, bringing Vietnam steadily forward.

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam presented the Ministry of Science and Technology with 10 words: "Autonomy - Intelligence - Technology - Breakthrough - Integration".

Within the framework of the Celebration Ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam awarded the Ministry of Science and Technology the First Class Labor Medal for its outstanding achievements in advising on science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation, contributing to the cause of national construction and defense; awarded Party Central Committee member, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, Major General, former Chairman and General Director of the Military Telecommunications Group, Ministry of National Defense the First Class Fatherland Protection Medal for his outstanding achievements in research and application of science and technology combined with national defense and security, contributing to the cause of military construction, national defense consolidation and national defense.

Within the framework of the Celebration, the Ministry of Science and Technology organized an Exhibition of achievements of the Science and Technology sector following a timeline structure, recreating 5 historical periods of the country, from resistance to construction and innovation, integration, towards a new era. Many typical artifacts were displayed such as: Weapons, telegraph machines, robots, nuclear reactor models, 5G equipment, radar, Vinasat-1 satellite... and many other valuable artifacts.

In the digital museum area, more than 162,000 industry officials from different periods have been digitized, allowing visitors to look up personal information, colleagues or industry leaders. The memorial space has information of more than 10,000 martyrs in the Post and Telecommunications, Science and Technology sectors; a set of stamps commemorating 80 years, and a "golden book" recording characters, events and images through the stages of development.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-nganh-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-tiep-tuc-tien-phong-dua-viet-nam-vung-buoc-di-len-10388429.html