Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked village eldersand chiefs, skilled artisans and reputable citizens to make greater efforts to preserve and promote tangible and intangible culturalheritage, which is the quintessence and core value of the nation.

He made the statement while meeting with them in Hanoi on April 19 onthe occasion of the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the Southand National Reunification (April 30), 70th anniversary of the DienBien Phu victory (May 7) and Vietnam Ethnic Groups’ Culture Day (April 19).

At the event, PM Chinh stressed that the Party and State has paid due regard to and invested big in the development of the culture as well as preservation oftraditional culture of ethnic groups, with various standout heritage itemsbeing recognised internationally and thousands of ethnic festivals beingorganised nationwide that help develop tourism into an economic spearhead.

He hailed local contributions, especially those by village elders and chiefs,skilled artisans and reputable people, to promoting cultural traits and soundcustoms and traditions, wiping out supertious activities and building the politicalsystem at the grass roots level, security order and great national solidarity.

“The 128 village elders and chiefs, skilled artisans and reputable people areprime examples for patriotism, responsibility, aspiration and devotion to the causeof the cultural and national development”, he affirmed.

He expressed his hope that despite challenges, they will continuemobilising their peoples to promote the patriotic and revolutionary traditionas well as enhance resilience and the great national solidarity to make contributionsto building a prosperous nation.

He asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and competent ministries,sectors and localities to continue raising local awareness of andcomplete mechanisms for cultural development, while paying attention to theeducation and training works on traditional culture and encouraging study andcreativity in the sector.

Besides, he ordered the mobilisation of all resources, particularly public-privatecooperation, encourage the enthusiastic engagement of the whole people andbusiness community to branch out the national culture, and promote theorganisation of cultural events and festivals to boost locals’ pride in thecountry’s heritage items.

It is a must to complete the investment of the Cultural village VietnamNational Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, making it a common house of the54 ethnic groups, study policies to encourage village elders and chiefs,skilled artisans and prestigious people to effectively carry out the Party andState’s great national solidarity policy, bolster digital transformation incultural development, and enhance international cooperation in preservation andpromotion of the traditional cultural values, he highlighted.

Briefing the Prime Minister on the difficulties in the preservation work, the villageelders and chiefs, skilled artisans and reputable people said they hope that the Partyand State will pen better policies for those who have significant contributionsto handing down traditional cultural values to younger generations./.