Saying “return” means recalling an event that happened more than 23 years ago. At a time when Quang Nam was facing many difficulties and challenges due to drought, floods, epidemics, poverty, and economic backwardness in the early years of re-establishing the province; in mid-March 2001, Quang Nam spent 2 days to organize a national scientific conference on Quang Nam culture.
For the first time, many of the country's leading scientists and experts were present in Tam Ky to identify and evaluate the historical process of formation and development of culture in Quang land and the traditional values typical of Quang character.
The purpose is to "find the most correct and best answer on how to preserve and promote those cultural values, making an important contribution to the development of Quang Nam in the present and future", as the provincial leaders affirmed at that time.
Previously, at the end of 2000, another large-scale scientific event also related to the culture and people of Quang Nam took place in Hoi An, aiming to strengthen the scientific arguments for the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone project.
And here, from a historical - cultural - geo-economic perspective, scientists all believe in the prospect of a new open economic model in the era of industrialization, modernization and international integration in Quang Nam.
Eternal values
The name Quang Nam began more than 550 years ago, when King Le Thanh Tong established Quang Nam Thua Tuyen Dao. But the history and culture of Quang Nam is a continuous flow from prehistoric times to Sa Huynh, Champa, Dai Viet cultures, followed by the modern and contemporary periods with a process of thousands of years.
And as a result of the 2001 conference, scientists identified and agreed on some outstanding points (though not complete) about the outstanding characteristics of Quang character - Quang people. It can be summarized as follows:
- Being studious and studious is a characteristic. This is a land of learning and courtesy, with many famous people and patriots.
- “Quang Nam people like to argue” is a characteristic. They like to discuss, debate, argue, even with a fierce attitude to reach the truth.
- Honest, gentle, loyal, hospitable.
- Diligent, creative; never give up. Dare to face difficulties and challenges and always know how to overcome them.
- Patriotic and revolutionary. Resilient, brave, indomitable, leading the fight against foreign invaders.
- Etc. etc.
Quang Nam is an open land. Quang Nam culture is also an open culture in both space and time. The personality, thoughts, and souls of Quang Nam people are always open, ready to exchange, learn, accept, integrate, etc.
These are the special values that the provincial leaders and the conference organizers wanted to unleash to create new motivation and resources to overcome the great challenges of a poor province, finding a new path for Quang Nam to develop. On the other hand, it is to foster and strengthen the belief of officials and people in the future of Quang Nam.
Public service culture from new requirements
The context of the years 2000 - 2001 and at present have remarkable similarities and differences. The common point is that Quang Nam is facing more immediate difficulties and challenges than advantages. (Of course, the difficulties at each time are different).
The first years of re-establishment of the province were filled with poverty and economic backwardness; Quang Nam had to concentrate all its efforts on coping with the immediate situation to pacify the people, while also seeking and determining a long-term strategic path.
Today, Quang Nam is a province with a fairly good economy, relatively modern and synchronous infrastructure, people's lives have made great strides; and especially, the "opening path" for development at a new height has been firmly established by the Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister.
Realizing the planning is the mission of generations of Quang Nam people and of course human resources are always the most important, deciding all success or failure.
Note that in the decision approving the provincial planning, one of the identified viewpoints is "Maximizing the human factor, taking people as the center, the subject, the most important resource and the goal of development; arousing the aspiration to build a prosperous and happy homeland, strongly promoting traditional cultural values, the self-reliance, strength and perseverance of the people of Quang Nam".
Notably, the responsibility lies on the shoulders of the entire provincial political system - resources from the staff, civil servants and public employees when implementing 7 groups of solutions to implement the planning.
The Prime Minister emphasized “Continue to perfect the streamlined, effective and efficient government apparatus, reduce administrative procedures for businesses by applying digital technology, and build a digital government”; “Strengthen innovation and improve the working methods of state administrative agencies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management activities. Build a professional, responsible and dynamic civil service. Promote decentralization and delegation of power”.
Those are the requirements of a civil service culture. The requirements are even higher and more urgent when the state of avoidance, shirking, fear of responsibility, and fear of conflict - contrary to Quang's personality - is emerging among a number of cadres, civil servants, and public employees at all levels.
And as Quang Nam's economy slows down, old growth drivers are declining and in the short term, there are not many new growth drivers emerging.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong (a Vietnamese expert living and working in France) commented at the mid-term workshop on provincial planning (June 2022), that Quang Nam has a very good development environment advantage with world-recognized heritages and a convenient transportation network of roads, waterways, and airways. These are strengths. However, the trend of competition in public administrative capacity, the quality of labor training has not increased for a long time... are disadvantages that need to be resolved."
To overcome the negative points, there is no other solution than to build and improve public service culture. The task is both urgent and long-term.
Awakening and spreading the precious values of Quang Nam culture and people at this time is extremely necessary.
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