General Secretary: Developing a digital nation based on 'correct-sufficient-clean-living' data

General Secretary To Lam gave a speech at the congress. Photo: Xuan Trung .

The first National Congress of the National Data Association (NDA) for the first term (2025-2030) was held in Hanoi on the morning of March 22. Attending the Congress were General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other Party and State leaders.

The National Data Association was established under Decision No. 10/QD-BNV dated January 10, 2025 of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Association's mission is to connect management agencies, businesses, organizations and individuals operating in the data field.

Data is the "blood" of the digital economy

Speaking at the congress, General Secretary To Lam emphasized the importance of data in the digital economy.

“We are entering the dawn of the digital age, a period in which data has become an important resource and means of production, the ‘new energy’, and even the ‘blood’ of the digital economy. Digital transformation, with data at its core, is fundamentally changing the way we live, work and develop,” the General Secretary emphasized.

According to the General Secretary, the Party and State have recognized the importance of data early on, including Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW dated September 27, 2019 of the Politburo on a number of guidelines and policies to proactively participate in the fourth industrial revolution.

“Most recently, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo clearly identified: data is the center of digital transformation, an important driving force for development. The Resolution also proposed pilot policies, creating an initial legal corridor for promoting data development and exploitation,” VNA quoted the General Secretary.

General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates attending the congress. Photo: Xuan Trung .

The General Secretary frankly pointed out the shortcomings in data management and exploitation in Vietnam. He noted that it is necessary to clearly understand that data management is not only a policy issue, but also a technology issue. Without technology, it is impossible to collect, store, process, analyze and share data effectively and securely.

According to the General Secretary, the establishment of the National Data Association is of great significance, expressing his belief that the Association is the "Common Home of Digital Knights", the "Pioneer Flag" in implementing Resolution 57 and Resolutions on science, technology... to turn Vietnam into a digital nation, with digital governance, digital economy, and digital society developed based on "correct-sufficient-clean-living" data of Vietnam.

Mission of the National Data Association

Speaking at the congress, General Secretary To Lam proposed a number of tasks for the National Data Association. First, he suggested researching, proposing, and perfecting the legal corridor for data, creating conditions for data to be collected, circulated, connected, shared, and exploited to the fullest, while still ensuring data security, safety, and sovereignty.

“The Ministry of Public Security is drafting the Law on Personal Data Protection and the amended Law on Cyber ​​Security (adding the function of state management of network information security) and is expected to submit them to the National Assembly for approval in 2025; submit them to the Government for promulgation of Decrees guiding the 2024 Data Law, so it is necessary to prioritize focusing all resources on this task,” the General Secretary emphasized.

Next, the Association needs to promote its core role in building, developing, exploiting and enriching national data, focusing on four main pillars: people, location, activities and products. In addition, it is necessary to proactively and actively apply, master and move towards autonomy in core data technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain and cloud computing.

General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated the Standing Committee of the National Data Association for the 2025-2030 term. Photo: Xuan Trung .

In addition, the Association is requested to support the promotion of the construction of advanced data infrastructure, including data centers invested by the State and private enterprises, enhance international cooperation, learn from experiences, attract resources and participate in global initiatives on data; build effective enforcement and monitoring mechanisms.

“State agencies, with the leading role of the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and a number of relevant ministries and sectors, need to have a tighter and more synchronous monitoring system based on the strong application of digital technology to ensure that legal regulations are fully and effectively complied with,” VNA quoted the General Secretary as saying.

The General Secretary also emphasized the role of the Association in a number of key programs and initiatives. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop a data market for sustainable development; build a national data market, deploy a data platform to serve research, develop startups, innovation, and provide data-related products and services to serve sustainable socio-economic development.

“It is necessary to build a national open AI platform, making it easy for businesses to access AI applications. Quickly popularize data literacy for all citizens; raise awareness, knowledge and skills about data for the whole society, especially the value and importance of protecting personal data, as well as compliance with legal regulations,” the General Secretary added.

According to the General Secretary, it is necessary to soon organize innovation challenges based on data to encourage solutions from the community, creating a playground to maximize human potential in the fields of science and technology.

In addition, continue to strengthen the capacity for self-reliance in data technology, prioritize, encourage, and create mechanisms so that "Make in Vietnam" data technology products can compete fairly in the market, especially internationally.

General Secretary To Lam gives instructions. Photo: Xuan Trung .

The General Secretary emphasized the data security factor, including building a product protection system, developing data security services, building a standards system, forming a data security industry...

General Secretary To Lam called on the entire business community, entrepreneurs, scientists, experts, agencies, organizations, and the entire society to join hands with the National Data Association to successfully carry out this mission.

“The Party and State will create all favorable conditions and provide maximum support for the development of the data sector, so that Vietnam can soon become a digital nation, a digital society, and a prosperous digital economy,” the General Secretary emphasized.

Premise to bring the country into the new digital age

Through the Congress Resolution with high consensus from members, General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member, Minister of Public Security, was elected to hold the position of Chairman of the National Data Association for the first term (2025-2030).

Speaking at the congress, General Luong Tam Quang emphasized that the Association will be a bridge between businesses, building a diverse and stable data ecosystem, meeting the requirements of sustainable digital transformation in all fields, creating a premise to bring the country into the new digital era.

Delegates attending the congress. Photo: Xuan Trung .

During its first term, the Association said it would focus on four key activities: Coordinating with relevant authorities, associations and organizations to disseminate national policies and laws on data; participating in contributing opinions to relevant legal documents.

In addition, the Association will make recommendations and consult with competent state agencies on issues related to the development of the data industry; and support competent authorities when requested.