Minister of Culture focuses on National Target Program on culture

The Government needs to raise spending on culture to meet the demand of the industry's development, said Deputy Tran Thi Thu Hang from the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong at the Q&A session of the ongoing National Assembly.
Hang made the recommendation to Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung as he reiterated the importance of the National Target Program for Cultural Development.

Appearance of Minister Nguyen Van Hung before the deputies of the National Assembly.

Hung said the fundamental solution is to formulate a National Target Program to foster the cultural and human development of Vietnamese people; the preservation and promotion of national cultural heritage values; the development of literature, art, and cultural industry; the intensification of digital transformation and the application of scientific and technological achievements.

The program's effective formulation and execution will result in a fundamental and tremendous transformation in the cultural and human development of the Vietnamese people.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated that the Party, State, and National Assembly place significant emphasis on culture, ranking it alongside economic development and politics.

As a result, conferences have been convened to define the connotations and values that help provide the cultural sector with new energy, resources and impetus for development.

On July 20, 2004, the Political Bureau resolved to spend at least 1.8% of the state budget on culture. However, by the end of the 14th term (2016-2021), the Government's report to the National Assembly revealed that the total expenditure of the state budget on culture had only reached 1.7%. This fiscal year, the Government has set a goal of spending 2% on culture.

Renovated Nghe Dang Dong relic (Long Bien District) currently houses worship statues, thrones and many ordinations from the 17th century. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

According to Minister Hung, the Government has resolved to invest VND1.4 trillion (US$60 million) in 17 areas to restore and decorate monuments (the Provincial People's Committee would be the investor). Other municipalities have started to expand cultural investment, such as the Vinh Phuc People's Committee, which invested around VND2.6 trillion ($108 million) in a Cultural Village model.
Minister Nguyen Van Hung stated that the Ministry will work with other ministries and departments to amend important legal provisions such as the Investment Law, the Public-Private Cooperation Law, and the Tax Law, among others, to build a mechanism that frees up resources for cultural development.