Published:  00:00 Monday - December 01, 2008

The Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association was awarded the Gold Star Order at the Hanoi Opera House on Dec. 1 in recognition of its outstanding contributions over the past more than 50 years.

Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam, praised artists’ efforts in preserving and developing the timeless values of the traditional stage.

Mr Sang expressed his hope that stage artists will fully grasp the Political Bureau’s Decision 32 on developing art and literature in the new era to create high-quality artworks and promote international cultural exchange.

People’s Artist Nguyen Trong Khoi, Chairman of the Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association, said his association now has 2,500 members, of whom nine were awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize and 93 other presented with the People’s Artist title.

Over the past more than 50 years, the Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association has made remarkable contributions to the nation’s great revolutionary victory, as well as its current renewal process. Generations of Vietnamese artist are doing their best to maintain and uphold their ancestors’ valuable traditional art, he added.