Remembering the times I met the General Secretary
80 years old, 57 years of Party membership, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation in all fields, especially in literature and art, are immense. In any position, the General Secretary always arranges work and time to attend important events of literary life.
Meeting and listening to the General Secretary talk and give instructions, we can see the passion and vision of the highest leader of the Party and State. The General Secretary always affirms the important role and position of literature and art in building Vietnamese culture and the Vietnamese people.
The first time I met General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was when he came to work with the Party Delegation of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations on September 21, 2013 at the headquarters at 51 Tran Hung Dao (Hanoi). In the cozy space of the living room of the old Bao Dai villa, after talking, asking and listening about the current difficulties of literature and art, the General Secretary shared that with literature and art, nothing can replace the talent and soul of the direct creators, that is, the artists. Artists are people with special talents, the ability to acquire knowledge, approach real life, cultivate political and professional qualities, and are the creators of works. The career of creating literature and art needs people with talent, soul, personality, courage, especially with a correct, objective, scientific position and perspective... Artists need to constantly learn and draw good lessons from previous generations to continue to go far... Each artist needs to stick to the reality of life to create, so that each of their works truly reflects life, so that after closing the book, readers can feel " the pulse of life beating under the cover of the book like the blood beating under the skin" , the General Secretary quoted the saying of writer Kalinin.
The second time I met the General Secretary was when he attended and spoke at the 9th National Congress of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations for the 2016-2021 term, on January 9, 2016 at La Thanh Hotel (Hanoi). Before entering the hall, the General Secretary walked slowly to look at the typical works displayed in the main hall. He shook hands, asked many artists, and discussed in detail a photo or a painting that he found interesting. He sat through the entire opening session and spoke to the Congress.
With a warm, bright voice, the General Secretary said: “ The country's literature and art must contribute more to the Party's ideological and cultural work, contributing to effectively carrying out the great and heavy tasks of the country in the new period. Literature and art are the voice of emotions, following the laws of emotions and the heart. Every truly valuable literary and artistic work must have the power to move the public and readers with the responsibility, heart, and soul of the artist...".
During the break of the Congress, the delegates gathered around, in a warm conversation, the General Secretary made a very humorous and profound comparison: “Culture is not the tail of the economy, not simply an entertainment activity. Culture is the spiritual foundation of society, both the goal and the driving force of development. Culture itself plays an important role in educating, nurturing human qualities, ethics, and personality, enhancing national character and consciousness, preserving national identity, developing the market economy without destroying social moral values, integrating without dissolving”.
Great desire for artists
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong always has a very special affection for artists. He highly appreciates the “difference” in talent and aptitude of this group.
To the young artists, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong gave them advice and great hopes: "Please allow me to entrust my faith and hope to the young generation, who will certainly make the country's literature and arts shine in the 21st century." The General Secretary believes that they are talented people, capable of acquiring knowledge, approaching life, cultivating political and professional qualities, and creating works.
He once advised that in our time there are many things worth writing, but the important thing is how to write, who to write for, and what to write for? We often say that literature must illuminate life, not just be a place where life manifests; literature nurtures and elevates people, not just a place to express personal feelings and degrade people. I hope that young artists and writers will clearly demonstrate that to be worthy of being the new hope of the people.
Most recently, on July 25, 2023, speaking at the 75th Anniversary of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations (July 25, 1948 - July 25, 2023), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed: "To create conditions for literature and arts to develop, the Party and State always encourage all exploration, respect the creative freedom of artists, build specific mechanisms and policies for literature, arts and artists in accordance with the socio-economic development of the country". The General Secretary also required each artist to renew themselves, having both courage and alertness; and having new qualifications, vision, ways of thinking and methods of expression in artistic creation, in accordance with the practical requirements of Vietnam's development today.
Professor and musician Do Hong Quan, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, once said: “I registered to meet the General Secretary for an hour to report on everything and ask for his opinion before organizing. After the registration time, the Secretary came in and reminded him that he was afraid he would be tired, the General Secretary gently said: “Just sit here, we will talk later. Talking to artists and writers does not make me tired, but I feel full of emotions and feel better”. As a result, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong talked with musician Do Hong Quan, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, for an entire afternoon that day.
Not only being affectionate, respectful and close to artists, as the head of the Party and State, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong always has close instructions to promote the activities of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations. In any meeting, exchange or work, the General Secretary always emphasized: The Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations needs to strive to truly be a common home for literary and artistic associations nationwide, truly a core force, leading the way in the cause of building a team of Vietnamese artists.
Now that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has passed away, he has returned to the world of the wise, but his feelings, heart, strategic vision and plans for literature and art will remain forever in the hearts of artists.
Remembering him, the team of artists and writers are more deeply aware of their great honor and glorious responsibility towards the Fatherland, the people, and the nation, contributing their talent and intelligence to the development of the country's noble culture, literature and art, accompanying the nation and the Party's innovation cause in the new era.
HOANG THUONGSource: https://baohaiduong.vn/tam-long-tinh-cam-voi-van-hoc-nghe-thuat-cua-tong-bi-thu-nguyen-phu-trong-388426.html
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