Top leader To Lam meets Vietnamese experts, intellectuals in Belgium, Luxembourg

Reporting at the meeting, Nguyen Huong Tra, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the European Union (EU), reported on the activities of Vietnamese intellectuals, experts, and scientists living, studying, researching, and working in Belgium, Luxembourg, and neighboring countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Austria.

On this occasion, experts and intellectuals put forward specific recommendations and solutions, including making Vietnam a leading artificial intelligence (AI) service hub in Asia; strengthening cooperation between Vietnam, Belgium, and the EU in nuclear energy, semiconductors, and green materials; establishing an overall resilience framework for Vietnam's critical infrastructure; developing a modern, autonomous, and sustainable agricultural biotechnology ecosystem; building a circular industrial model ranging from rice straw to green steel; advancing quantum technology from experimentation to human resource development; and developing laser satcom and space connectivity infrastructure.

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the Party and State leadership, General Secretary and President To Lam highly applauded the policy recommendations made by experts and intellectuals in Belgium and Luxembourg. He noted that they not only pointed out what the country needs to do but also defined their own contributions and readiness to undertake specific tasks, reflecting the mindset of insiders and a profound love for the homeland demonstrated through concrete actions.

The top leader pointed out that the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam has set the goal of turning Vietnam into a developed, high-income country by 2045. That path can no longer rely on cheap capital, cheap labor, and raw resources.

Science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are no longer a choice but an imperative path. However, practical results have yet to match political determination, with the biggest bottleneck currently lying in organization and implementation.

He frankly acknowledged that many earnest recommendations from overseas intellectuals have been recorded at forums only to be shelved without a receiving address or response. Many experts and intellectuals have returned home with sound ideas, only to halt their initiatives due to bureaucratic procedures and financial mechanisms. Responsibility for this lies primarily with the state apparatus, not the experts and intellectuals.

Looking ahead, he suggested taking practical national problems as the starting point, shifting from "searching for resources" to "connecting resources with needs." Party commissions, ministries, agencies, localities, and enterprises must place clear "orders" specifying what problems need solving, what technologies are lacking, who will receive the deliverables, and what the final product will be. He called on experts and intellectuals to boldly register to undertake tasks tied to major national challenges and strategic technologies.

Stressing the need to select a few tasks and carry them out decisively and thoroughly, the Party General Secretary and President asked relevant Party commissions and ministries to select key, feasible tasks that involve domestic partners and have a spillover effect.

Each task must have clear objectives, timelines, and designated persons in charge, and should only be deemed complete when operational products, verifiable data, actual users, and measurable efficiency are achieved. Successful models can then be replicated and expanded.

He urged strong institutional reforms to enable intellectuals to contribute from anywhere without needing to relocate permanently. Flexible mechanisms are required, including task-based expert contracts, remote work, joint research, lump-sum spending tied to final deliverables, financial mechanisms flexible enough for experts to directly participate in specific projects, clear intellectual property rights, and acceptance of research risks and delays. Intellectuals must be evaluated based on results and professional respect, selecting the best individuals for implementation rather than creating administrative hurdles.

Every cooperative project must leave behind built-up capacity in Vietnam. The ultimate yardstick is not the number of signed memorandums of understanding, but how many domestic engineers and scientists are trained, and how many laboratories, strong research groups, and technology enterprises are established. Technology transfer alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by co-development, advancing toward self-reliance.

The top leader tasked the Ministry of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, and relevant ministries and sectors, with receiving all recommendations from experts and intellectuals.

Matters within their authority must be resolved immediately, while issues beyond their jurisdiction must be proactively proposed for resolution.

Written feedback and specific contact points must be assigned for each task. The Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Mission to the EU will serve as a permanent focal point, periodically reviewing progress and reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for submission to the Party Central Office, while coordinating with relevant agencies to tackle bottlenecks.

He expressed hope that the Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals in Belgium and Luxembourg will continue expanding its network with universities, research institutes, and technology enterprises in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Europe, helping European friends gain an accurate understanding of a renewing and integrating Vietnam. He urged them to pay special attention to mentoring young Vietnamese intellectuals in Europe to ensure an unbroken flow of intellect toward the homeland. He encouraged experts and intellectuals to boldly put forward proposals, offer candid critique, and commit to undertaking tasks, affirming that the Party and State bear the responsibility to listen, remove obstacles, and deliver results.

Party General Secretary and President, spouse visit Royal Library of Belgium

VOV.VN - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse presented books to the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels on October 24 (local time), as part of their official visit to Belgium.

Top Vietnamese leader receives Minister-President of Belgium's Flanders

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam received Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele on October 23 as part of his official visit to Belgium.