Reviving a reading culture is also reviving the very roots of a nation.

Wherever people are, reading culture flourishes; wherever readers are, books must reach them. Revitalizing reading culture is also revitalizing the very foundation of a nation.

According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, the harmonious combination of three factors: politics, economics, and culture, is the key to the success of the publishing industry. Photo: Le Anh Dung

We are in the ancient space of the Temple of Literature - National University, a place that was formerly a training ground for scholars and talented individuals of the nation, a symbol of the national tradition of "respecting teachers, valuing morality, loving literature, and cherishing books."

Grand Academician Than Nhan Trung wrote: "Talented people are the lifeblood of the nation; when the lifeblood is strong, the nation is powerful and prosperous; when the lifeblood is weak, the nation is weak and declining."

President Ho Chi Minh said: "Knowledge is a precious asset of the nation. This is true in other countries, and even more so in Vietnam"; He also affirmed: "Vietnamese intellectuals have a nationalistic and revolutionary mindset. Because they have a nationalistic mindset and are educated, they can read books, understand democracy, know revolutionary history, and easily absorb the revolutionary spirit."

The ancient teachings remain relevant. For a stable and prosperous nation, it is essential to nurture the people's education and develop a skilled intellectual workforce. Books and reading play a crucial role in this endeavor, for knowledge is paramount . The mission of publishing remains the creation, preservation, accumulation, and dissemination of knowledge. However, for books and publishing to flourish and knowledge to become a national strength, books must be widely read, and knowledge must spread and multiply. Promoting reading is the path to realizing this requirement.

Based on a proposal from the Ministry of Information and Communications , in 2021, the Prime Minister decided to elevate the annual Book Day on April 21st to Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, with the goal of not only honoring writers and publishers but, more profoundly, honoring readers and revitalizing reading culture.

"Wherever there are people, there is a reading culture; wherever there are readers, there must be books." Photo: Tinh Le.

The four messages of this year's National Book and Reading Culture Day are simple yet profound: Good books need readers; Precious books are gifts for friends; Buy good books - give real books as gifts; Good books: Read with your eyes - listen with your ears. Publishing has the responsibility to contribute to building the national knowledge system, developing the intellectual workforce, and meeting the requirements of industrialization and modernization of the country.

This year, the opening ceremony, held in Hanoi at the Temple of Literature – National University, holds special significance as it marks the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital – a crucial milestone for the thousand-year-old capital, ushering in a new phase in the development of a modern, peaceful city, embodying human dignity. The opening ceremony in the capital will kick off a series of activities celebrating Book Day and Reading Culture nationwide, bringing a new spirit: wherever people are, reading culture flourishes; wherever readers are, books must reach them.

At the National Cultural Conference, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong clearly stated the objective requirement of our country's revolution: "To promote the cultural values ​​and human strength of Vietnam, to awaken the aspiration for a prosperous and thriving country, to create the combined strength of the entire nation to seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and successfully achieve the goal of making our country a developed nation with a socialist orientation by the middle of the 21st century."

Following the General Secretary's directives, and in order for the publishing industry to develop strongly in the coming period, on this occasion, I propose that all units in the industry need to innovate further and be more creative in the spirit that: Publishing is first and foremost a cultural and political field, but at the same time it is also an economic sector. Politics is supported by the State; culture is supported by the people; and economics is supported by the market. Harmoniously combining these three elements: politics, economics, and culture, is the key to the publishing industry's success.

Digital transformation places new demands on the publishing industry: to thrive, it must operate simultaneously in both traditional and new spaces (offline and online). The traditional space, aided by digital technology, will be expanded, improving quality and productivity. The new space will enable publishing to expand its market, create new products, and foster long-term growth.

To promote the development of publishing, it is necessary to strengthen communication and promotion of books and reading culture. The Departments of Information and Communications of provinces and cities, press and media agencies, and telecommunications companies need to work together to support and carry out practical activities so that communication and promotion not only on April 21st but also become a regular and continuous effort throughout the year, so that reading culture spreads, becoming an intrinsic strength and a beautiful aspect of Vietnamese culture.

Revitalizing reading culture is also revitalizing the very foundation of a nation . On this occasion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the leaders of the Party and State for their profound concern for the development of reading culture, as well as their leadership and guidance in organizing Vietnam's Book and Reading Culture Day over the years.

We sincerely thank the Hanoi City Party Committee and People's Committee for their active support in ensuring the smooth running of the opening ceremony and book fair. We also thank the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other agencies and units at the central and local levels for their close cooperation in making the National Book and Reading Culture Day a true celebration for all citizens across the country.

Vietnamnet.vn

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