Former General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - The man who lit the fire for the Vietnamese soul and the cultural diplomacy strategy of the new era

Cố Tổng Bí thư Nguyễn Phú Trọng - Người thắp lửa cho tâm hồn Việt Nam và chiến lược ngoại giao văn hóa thời đại mới

Late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a clear example of exemplary conduct, integrity in action, and simplicity in lifestyle. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

He was not only an outstanding thinker who laid the foundation for the development of domestic culture, but also the creator of a gentle yet profound cultural diplomacy direction, affirming Vietnam's mettle in the international arena through the depth of national identity and soul.

Very early in the modern political history of our Party, the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was the one who most consistently and clearly demonstrated the mindset of putting culture on par with economics and politics – a mindset that has never wavered during more than a decade of his holding the highest position of the Party (2011–2024). For him, culture is not just an area of concern, but the root, the foundation for sustainable and comprehensive national development. As he himself affirmed: Culture is the spiritual foundation of society, the endogenous strength, the driving force for national development and national defense; it is one of the important factors for building a clean and strong Party and political system.

Not stopping at major domestic directives, the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also clearly defined a global cultural vision: How to make Vietnamese culture not only a traditional heritage but also a soft power, a tool to connect international friends, a foundation for multilateral, peaceful and humane diplomacy. In the context of deep integration, he was the first to fully emphasize that culture is the "soul of the nation" and also the "language of dialogue of humanity".

That ideology has become the fulcrum for major strategies, from the strategy for developing cultural industries, the foreign cultural strategy, to the program for building a system of Vietnamese cultural values in the new era. Not just administrative documents, these strategies carry a long-term vision: Spreading Vietnamese cultural identity by the most modern means; bringing art, language, cuisine, fashion, cinema, and creative spaces to the world as silent ambassadors of a nation with depth.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his wife hosted the official welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his wife, December 2023. (Photo: Nguyen Hong/TGVN)

We cannot forget the memorable moments in the international arena: In the US, the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized the need for cultural dialogue to heal the war. In China, he speaks of the common denominator of Eastern culture to promote neighborly cooperation. In Cuba, he praised the relationship built on a foundation of profound human sentiment. In France - the cradle of humanities, he emphasized the value of national identity in the flow of globalization... Those statements were not grandiose, but imbued with depth, humility, and a very Vietnamese style.

In his historic speech at the 2021 National Cultural Conference, considering a "new platform on culture", the late General Secretary emphasized the task: "More strongly arouse the spirit of patriotism, self-reliance, solidarity, and aspiration for the development of a prosperous and happy country of the entire nation; highly promote the cultural values, strength and dedication of all Vietnamese people, create endogenous resources and breakthrough motivation to successfully implement the country's development goals by 2025, 2030, with a vision to 2045 set forth by the 13th National Party Congress".

In the final part of that speech, as if expressing a lifetime of thoughts and aspirations, he emphasized: "I earnestly hope that, after this conference, our cultural work will have a new transformation, progress, become stronger, more effective, marking a new milestone on the path of reviving and developing Vietnamese culture in the new era."

What made people admire him was not only his beautiful words, but also the way he lived according to what he said. For the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, culture was not far away, but started from family traditions, integrity, a humble attitude, and a moral lifestyle. He loved poetry, often quoted poems of President Ho Chi Minh, Nguyen Trai, and Nguyen Du. He was moved by the Truong Son straw hat, moved by the picture of the countryside, and kindly visited veteran artists and Han Nom researchers. Those images were not "media images", but the depth of personality of a person who lived with culture as flesh and blood, lived honestly like an ordinary but great Vietnamese person.

That is why the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong always considered intellectuals, artists, teachers, and researchers as those who “keep the fire, light the fire, and spread the fire of culture.” He did not make empty calls, but placed all his trust and hope in those who silently built the spiritual foundation for the nation. For him, development did not start from growth targets, but from changes in thinking, personality, and life values of each individual.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited his old school and had an emotional meeting with his homeroom teacher Le Duc Giang. (Source: VOV)

Therefore, his thoughts are increasingly meaningful in the context of the country moving into a new stage of development: both deeply integrating and building independence and self-reliance; both promoting digital transformation and preserving cultural essence; both focusing on soft power and nurturing people's hearts. He is the one who has awakened a national cultural vision with strategic depth and humanistic vitality, so that Vietnam can step out into the world with confidence from its roots, not by borrowing from foreign cultures.

A year has passed since his passing. In the hearts of the people, the image of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is still vivid: a soft but steadfast voice, eyes that were both resolute and kind. A man who led with wisdom, inspired with morality, leaving a legacy not only in Party documents, but also in every street corner, house, way of life and thinking of millions of Vietnamese people.

On the first anniversary of his death, we not only remember a great leader, but also pay tribute to a person who sowed the seeds of culture for the nation. The fire he lit - the fire of ideology, personality, and identity will burn forever, in every lullaby, song, play, book page, and even in the country's journey of integration and development today.

Perhaps, the most profound farewell is to continue to carry out his last wish: To make culture a truly solid spiritual foundation, a great internal strength, illuminating the path for the nation. This is not only in slogans, but also in daily life, in every decision, every step of the Vietnamese people.

And so, he still remains in the hearts and souls of every Vietnamese person...

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/co-tong-bi-thu-nguyen-phu-trong-nguoi-thap-lua-cho-tam-hon-viet-nam-va-chien-luoc-ngoai-Giao-van-hoa-thoi-dai-moi-320350.html