Party and State leaders attending the ceremony. Photo: VOV

Addressing the Ho Chi Minh Prize awarding ceremony for literature and art in Hanoi on Friday to celebrate the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19), President Thuong said that amid challenges that threaten human dignity, the country needs more works of high ideological and artistic value.

“Faced by the upheavals, writers and artists need to have strong courage and alertness to overcome external challenges and overcome themselves. Discover and reflect on the diverse dimensions of social life, explore the depths of people's inner world, decipher the rich layers of emotions, resolve cognitive conflicts of struggle between the good and the bad, the noble and the low, between serving the people with love and responsibility and selfish personal interests,” he said. 

President Vo Van Thuong addressing the ceremony. Photo: VOV

President Thuong urged for deeper mindfulness of the role of culture, literature, and art in building Vietnamese culture, unite the Vietnamese writers and artists, and promptly honor their achievements and contributions. 

“Focus on establishing a democratic environment, respect artistic creativity, expand the freedom of creativity, and nurture talents. Take care of artists and writers, so that they can live with their profession, talent and dedication. Pay special attention to and encourage young writers and artists to engage in the vast and vivid reality of social life to discover the beauties of Vietnamese people. It’s necessary to renew creative thinking, make traditional culture keep abreast with modernity, and spread love for life and beautiful aspirations.”

President Vo Van Thuong presents the Ho Chi Minh Prize to the authors and representative of the authors' families. Photo: VOV

At the ceremony, 16 authors and co-authors were awarded or posthumously awarded the "Ho Chi Minh Prize for literature and art". 112 authors and co-authors were awarded or posthumously awarded the "State Prize for literature and art.”