In 2008, the Communist Party of Vietnam made three important conclusions on national socio-economic development. What is the significance of the Party’s orientation towards such conclusions with regard to initiating and undertaking measures to contain inflation, stabilise the macro economy and ensure social security as well as maintain sustainable growth?

In 2008, in face of adverse impact of the world’s economy and internal economic deficiences, plus natural calamities and pendemics, right from the beginning of the year, Vietnam’s economy experienced unfavourable changes. This has badly affected the population’s production and livelihood and posed a severe threat to the macro economy. The Politburo of the Party Central Committee on April 4th, 2008 made a conclusion on socio-economic situation of the first quarter of the year and planned to divert some key tasks. On this basis, the Government issued a resolution on April 17th 2008 on the 8 packages of solutions to contain inflation, stabilise the macro economy, ensure social security and sustainble growth. The National Assembly (Parliament) issued a resolution on some socio-economic matters of 2008 in the new situation, lowering the targeted GDP growth rate. Then in the middle of the year, the 7th Plenum of the Party Central Committee discussed and directed how best for Vietnam to realise its plans for socio-economic development for the second half of the year. In early October, the 8th Plenum of the Party Central Committee devoted most of its agenda to evaluating the situation of 2008, giving orientations for socio-economic development of 2009.

Such conclusions have demonstrated the Party’s guidelines and objective evaluation of the nation’s socio-economic situation, looking straight into constraints and weaknesses while giving timely and righteous solutions to arising issues. This has been decisive to unifying awareness and action of the entire Party, people, army and the whole political system in general, to overcome obstacles and achieve important initial achievements. From such realities and outcomes, the Party and State have gained more experience in governing the market economy with socialist orientation alongside the nation’s international economic integration. Specifically, it is elaborated as follows:

Making all-out efforts to tap inner strengths while making full use of external assistance, considering inner resources as decisive while external help as important, combining the two into the general strength for development. For stable and sustainable development and for increased independence and self-reliance, it’s crucial to strengthen national capacity, ensure economic security alongside political security, striking macro balances, especially by guarantteeing cooking and energy security, increasing the foreign currency reserve and strictly controlling foreign debt. Economic development must go alongside poverty reduction, better settlement of social and environmental issues, combining economic development with cultural development and executing social equality and progress. Efficiency and effectiveness of State management over social – economic fields must be raised. Such directions and orientations must be consistent with objectives and principles while encouraging dynamism, creativity and forecasting capacity, being realistic and giving flexible and suitable solutions, co-ordinating smoothly between branches and sectors, thus making high consensus in society.

Following such challenges, one after another, the Party and State, have become more matured. In 2009, Vietnam’s economy is still confronting major difficulties and challenges with the global financial crisis and economic downturn exerting negative influence on the country. However, the country has been well grounded to believe that it will accomlish all its plans and objectives for the year and will continue to carry out successfully the 5-year socio-economic development plan till 2010 as set out by the 10th National Party Congress to soon get the country out of the state of under development to create prerequisites for it to basically become a modern, industrialised nation by 2020.

Striving to “raise leadership and fighting capacity of the Party” shall be decisive for the successful implementation of the resolutions adopted at the 10th National Party Congress. Now that it’s already in the mid-term, what are your observations on major changes as well some major things to do towards the key task of Party buildup?

From realities of Vietnam’s revolution, the people have entrusted the Party with the task of leading the country to realise the goals of making it a powerful nation, with wealthy people, equitable and democratic and civilised society. This requires the Party to grow and be capable accordingly. In the first half of the tenure, the Party resolutions have been implemented concertedly, yielding positive results.

The strength of national unity has been consolidated, the renovation process has become spread to all sectors. As a result, the country has experienced political and social stability, maintained fairly high economic growth rate and ensured better social security, enhanced external relations and international integration; national defence and security have been strengthened, while national sovereignty and territorial integrity safeguarded. So far, several targets set for 2010 have been obtained or nearly reached. This has been possible thanks to concerted efforts of the whole political system and society. It also reflects the positive impact of Party building work, thus boosting the Party leadership and fighting capacity. In this regard, the political and ideological awareness work will continue to be renovated, while organisation and personnel work have been conducted in a unified manner, bringing positive results to some aspects. The quality and effectiveness of supervision, monitoring and discipline within the Party have been uplifted.

However, what has been obtained so far, is still far from satisfactory in face of growing demand from realities. We must overcome certain constraints and mistakes, continue to forge ahead with party building to make the Party truly pure and powerful politically, ideologically and organisationally and well linked with the people. We must adopt scientific skills and methods in leadership with morally and professionally qualified officials and members to carry out tasks as required. The efforts to raise the Party leadership and fighting capacity must be in couple with the construction and perfection of the rule-of-law socialist Vietnam State, to raise the efficiency and effectiveness of the State apparatus while renewing and improving the performance of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and social – political organisations. The country shall continue to promote administration reforms; prevent and fight corruption and wastefulness; enhance the patriotic emulation movement; practise democracy, law and order while consolidating and strengthening all nation’s unity bloc.

Could you elaborate further on the importance of raising leadership and fighting capacity of grassroot Party organisations and the quality of party officials and members towards Party building?

Grassroot Party organisations constitute the foundation of the Party, the political core at grassroots level where activities are underway to realise all guidelines and policies and make contact and exchange among the Party, State and people; Through Party officials and members, the population understand, trust and follow the Party. In the past years, the Party Central Committee and local standing committees have directed the renewal of developing Party cells and the political system at the grassroots level, taking the outcomes from this level to evaluate the efficiency of Party building work. For all the progress made so far, lots of work need to be done to gain uniform, overall success.

The Party gains its strength primarily from its members and cells. All Party members, in whatever position, must have the responsibility to contribute to developing Party cells and take part in their acticities regularly. Together with encouraging democratic discussions of major affairs, it is important for party members to be engaged in self-criticism and criticism based on Party principles, comradeship and mutual help. It’s crucial to rely on the people, absorb their opinions to build up the Party and highlight the role models of Party officials and members for realistic and effective performance of party cells.

As you would say ‘Learning and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example” is to nurture cultural and spiritual foundation of our society. In the coming years, what are important issues that we need to take into consideration to continue with this Movement?

The resolution adopted at the 10th National Party Congress underscored the need to implement simultaneously the three tasks of economic development as central, party building as key and cultural development as spiritual foundation of society. Building and developing culture is a great cause with the central task of developing ideology, morality, lifestyles and a healthy cultural life, primarily in Party and State agencies, mass organisations, in the entire society and each family. This is exactly the goal of the Movement “Learning and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example.”

After nearly two years since its launch, the Movement has been implemented far and wide and resulted in widespread and increased awareness. Ho Chi Minh’s moral example is realistic and down to earth and closely linked to daily life and relationships, which will inspire Vietnamese people now and in the future. Raising awareness on the sense of serving the Fatherland and people, nurturing valuable virtues and simple, healthy lifestyle… will not only raise the quality of Party officials and members but also are relevant to perfecting one’s personality, virtues and contributing to building cultured families and raising children.

We must continuing to encourage and bring into full play the sense of self training for each individual; developing moral norms for officials and members in each position alongside supervision.The movement must aim to eventually nuture the spiritual and cultural foundation and making full use of Vietnamese people’s personality.

Currently, difficulties, challenges as well as opportunities all lie ahead. It rests with each and everyone to seize and utilize opportunities. Inner strength, determination and efforts by the entire Party, people and army constitute victorious factors for the cause of construction and defence of the Fatherland of Vietnam.

On the occasion of the Tet Ky Suu, the traditional lunar New Year of the Buffalo, I wish you all, compatriots and comrades, the best of health, progress and happiness.

(Source: Nhan Dan)