Attending the conference were Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long; representatives of a number of central Party commissions, ministries and sectors; and about 1,200 domestic and international scholars from more than 30 countries and territories, participating both in person and online.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long emphasised that every nation and people carry within themselves their own history, traditions, customs and important milestones that shape their unique identity. To explore and study these values in depth, over the years, the world has seen the establishment and development of many well-known area studies such as Chinese, Japanese Studies, American Studies, and Indian Studies, as well as broader regional disciplines such as European Studies, Asian Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, and, more recently, Global Studies. These are academic fields that study in depth the history, culture, land and people of nations and regions; they serve as bridges fostering connection, exchange and mutual solidarity, thereby contributing to the creation and maintenance of a peaceful, stable and sustainable environment.
With regard to Vietnamese Studies, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that this is an interdisciplinary field within the social sciences and humanities, devoted to the comprehensive study of Viet Nam and its people — from its glorious history and millennia-old civilisation of nation-building and defence; to its resounding victories in struggles against foreign invaders; its spirit of unity and fervent patriotism; its rich, diverse and distinctive cultural identity; and the image of Vietnamese people who are industrious, resilient, courageous, compassionate, hospitable and ever-aspiring to rise.
Throughout its formation and development, Vietnamese Studies has been built not only through the contributions of generations of domestic scholars and researchers, but has also attracted many international experts and scientists. Today, Vietnamese Studies is a robust academic field not only in countries across the region such as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Russia, but has also extended to the US, Germany and France, where numerous research and translation projects have been conducted on Viet Nam’s history, society, religion, culture and literature.
On behalf of the Government of Viet Nam, the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged and expressed appreciation for the dedication and contributions of domestic and international experts, scholars and researchers in the field of Vietnamese Studies, whose work has made important contributions to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development while helping to promote the image of the Vietnamese land and people to friends around the world.
