National Party Congress’s success inevitable result of democracy, solidarity, discipline and renovation

Q: Could you please elaborate on the significance of the 12th Party National Congress?

A: The 12th National Party Congress was an important national event which received the special attention of the people. It can be affirmed that the Congress’s success was a milestone in the cause of national construction and protection, its success was the result of bringing the spirit of democracy, solidarity, discipline, wisdom and renovation into play during the preparation and organisation of the Congress. The 12th Congress’s success was also due to the important contributions of the outcomes of Party Congresses at all levels. The Congress identified the key goals, orientations and tasks in all socio-economic aspects; Party and political system building; the strengthening of defence, security and external relations. These are strategic issues; therefore, the 12th Party Congress is highly significant in outlining the major steps for the country’s development over the next five years. The Congress’s success is a source of inspiration for the entire Party and people in their efforts to soon transform Vietnam into a modern industrialised country.

Q: What lessons can we draw from the success of the Congress?

A: The success of the Congress offers us many valuable lessons. First, the leadership style must be proactive, methodical, creative and flexible while still adhering to Party principles. In preparation for Party congresses at all levels towards the 12th National Congress, the Politburo issued Directive 36, directing Party committees to prepare and organise congresses in the spirit of renovation, democracy, wisdom and solidarity, determining this as a highly important political activity.

In implementing the Politburo’s Directive 36, detailed direction and scientific guidance was given to the preparations for the Congress as well as the compilation of Congress documents and Congress personnel work. Congress documents were compiled early so that Party committees at all levels, National Assembly deputies, social and political organisations and people from all walks of life could give feedback. There were millions of pieces of feedback making Congress documents truly a meticulous research work, a quintessence of the wisdom, will power and desire of the entire Party, people and army.

A major lesson which was affirmed through the success of the Congress is the expansion of democracy and serious implementation of democratic centralism inside the Party. It is through democracy that we can bring into play the wisdom of the entire Party whilst strengthening solidarity, will power and combined effort in reviewing the implementation of the 11th Party Congress’s resolution and identifying the key goals, orientations and tasks for the next term.

Especially in personnel work, those who have firm political resolve, good ethics, strategic thinking ability, good performance and high sense of responsibility were nominated for the Central Committee and key posts of Party and State agencies. During past congresses, personnel work has always received wide public attention. At this Congress, personnel work was discussed and debated with utmost democracy, the Congress’s supreme power was exercised. Each delegate has the right to propose additional nominees to the list of personnel prepared by the 11th Central Committee. Even nominees who received endorsement of only one delegate were still added to the list and decisions were later made by secret ballot for each nominee. As a result, the Congress was able to elect a qualified Central Committee which comprehensively addressed the set criteria and standards.

Once more we could understand the lesson on the implementation of democratic centralism and promotion of democracy, especially democracy inside the Party as taught by Uncle Ho: “Democracy must be truly expanded so that all Party members can express their ideas” and “only democracy can make officials and the ordinary people put forward initiatives”.

Q: Could you detail the major orientations, key contents and new points mentioned in the documents passed by the Congress?

A: The Congress’s documents were built on the basis of reviewing the theory and reality of 30 years of Doi Moi, five years of implementing the Platform for National Construction (supplemented and developed in 2011) and the Socio-economic Development Strategy for the 2011-2020 period. The major orientations were reflected in the title of the Political Report and were also the theme of the Congress “Strengthening the building of a pure and strong Party; putting into play the strengths of the entire nation and socialist democracy; accelerating reform in a comprehensive and synchronous manner; firmly safeguarding the Fatherland and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; and striving to grow Vietnam into a modern industrialised country”.

The key contents and new points include continuing renovation of the growth model and economic restructuring; boosting industrialisation and modernisation associated with developing the economy; perfecting institution and developing the socialist-oriented market economy; radically and comprehensively reforming education; developing human resources; enhancing potentials and boosting the application of science and technology; developing culture and Vietnamese people with practical capabilities and beauty in personality, morality and soul; managing social development; promoting social progress and equality; strengthening national defence potential and defeating all plots and sabotage activities of hostile forces; synchronously implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, co-operation and development; enhancing the building of a pure and strong Party and political system; and preventing and repelling degeneration in terms of political thoughts, morality and lifestyle among officials and Party members.

Q: What area draws your attention the most following the successful conclusion of the 12th Congress?

A: The first thing to do is to soon perfect the apparatus organisation and urgently arrange officials in line with the measures discussed and approved by the Party Central Committee and the Politburo. The newly-assigned officials must immediately embark on their tasks aiming to prevent interruption, especially in instruction and management. Simultaneously, Party committees, Party organisations, agencies and units are obliged to brief officials, Party members and people on the outcomes and meaning of the 12th Congress; build action programmes for implementation of the Congress’s Resolution; and in the atmosphere of success of the Congress, continue that into the life and operations of offices and units, creating a new emulation movement.

Q: The 12th National Party Congress concluded successfully ahead of the 86th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Can you share your thoughts about this occasion with us?

A: Since its establishment, our Party has held 12 congresses; each congress has marked a step of development and growth of the Party while strongly affirming the Party’s working class nature. Our Party has no other interests than that of the nation and the people. Over the past 86 years, under the clear-sighted and outstanding leadership of the Party, our country and its people have achieved many glorious exploits.

During the years under foreign rule, Party organisations and Party cadres carried out revolutionary activities and made glorious exploits thanks to the support of the protection and support of the people. During peacetime, particularly in the 30 years of the Doi Moi reform, the Party has led the entire people and mobilised the boundless strength of the people to gain significant and historical achievements.

Without the party’s leadership in the revolution, our people would not be experiencing life as it is today; without the support of the people – the most powerful revolutionary force, our Party cannot be viable and developed. The close relations between the Party and the people have generated strength for us to overcome every difficulty.

To reach this target, the Party must constantly improve itself, display humility in recognising its shortcomings and be determined to address the shortcomings; cadres must constantly develop themselves in order to nurture their virtue and talent, truly serving as the “people’s servants”. Only by doing so, the people will place their trust and love in the Party.

Life in the present is different from in the past; and people’s thinking therefore is different also. However, the nature and glorious tradition of the Party, which has been strengthened over the past 86 years, and the comradeship of the nation’s soldiers must be continuously reinforced in the soul of every cadre and Party member so that over 4.5 million Party members will be consolidated into a firm bloc. Only by uniting, protecting solidarity and unity just as we protect our eye’s pupil, as Uncle Ho said, the Party will gain strength to lead the entire people to overcome challenges facing us today.

The great success of the 12th National Party Congress was gained thanks to the full implementation of the principle of democratic centralism and the Party’s solidarity and unity.

That the 12th National Party Congress was held successfully ahead of the 86th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam is of great pride and pleasure. A new spring is coming and will bring about good fortune to the people. I would like to extend my best wishes to all compatriots, comrades and soldiers from across the country as well as to Overseas Vietnamese with strong determination, spirit, vitality and absolute trust in the strength and spirit of the entire Party and people to bring about a new spring of our Party, people and motherland.

Thank you! Wishing you a New Year full of health and happiness, and may the entire Party and people enter a new spring and gain further successes.