| The 11th National
Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV) opened at the My Dinh National Convention Centre in Hanoi at 8 am on January 12. 
| Party Secretary General Nong Duc Manh.
| The congress, themed “Continue enhancing the Party’s
leadership capacity and combativeness, promoting the nation’s synergy,
comprehensively boosting the doi moi (renewal) process, creating the
fundamentals for Vietnam
to basically become a modern-oriented industrial country by 2020,” is attended
by 1,377 delegates representing more than 3.6 million Party members along with
local and international guests. The congress sees the attendance of the former Party General
Secretaries, former State Presidents, former Prime Ministers, former National
Assembly Chairmen, former Politburo members, former Party Secretaries, former
Vice State Presidents, former Vice National Assembly Chairmen, and former
Deputy Prime Ministers. It is also attended by representatives of Vietnam Heroic
Mothers, outstanding professionals, young people and members of the 10th Party
Central Committee’s Inspection Commission Politburo member and State President Nguyen Minh Triet
delivered the opening speech. Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh presented the 10th
Party Central Committee’s report on documents of the 11th National Party
Congress at the opening session, while Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and
permanent member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat will read a review
report on the CPV’s leadership and guidance during the 10th tenure.r Party leader: Vietnam to
become modern industrial country The report was presented by Party General Secretary Nong Duc
Manh at the opening session of the 11th National Party Congress in Hanoi on January 12. Reviewing five years of implementing the 10th Party
Congress’s resolutions, the report identified advantages brought about by the
renewal process and international integration, as well as mentioning
difficulties and challenges caused by deep-rooted weaknesses of the national
economy. It also mentioned natural disasters, disease epidemics,
complicated developments in the region and the world, impacts from the global
economic recession and financial crisis, as well as subversive and
violence-incited activities and the “peaceful revolution” undertaken by hostile
forces. By looking into those, the report affirmed that in such
circumstances, the entire Party and the entire people had exerted efforts to
fight off difficulties and challenges and attained important achievements in
implementing the goals and tasks set forth by the 10th Party Congress. The national economy surmounted an array of difficulties and
challenges to basically maintain stability of the macro economy and maintain a
high growth rate, with all sectors posting steps of development, so the potential,
strength and scale of the national economy has been enlarged. Improvements were made in the fields of education and
training, science and technology, culture and other social domains while due
attention was given to the protection of natural resources and the environment. The people’s living conditions were made better, politics
and society stabilised, national defence and security reinforced, and national
independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity maintained. The country’s external relations and international
integration have been expanded, and its prestige and position in the
international arena has been heightened. Progress was made in promoting democracy and the national
great unity bloc continued to be consolidated. The building of the law-ruled socialist state has been
stepped up to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its operation. The building and rectification of the Party has been boosted
and gained positive outcomes. After mentioning the achievements, the report pointed out
existing problems, including economic development that is not yet sustainable,
competitiveness remaining low, and the slow pace of economic restructuring. There were limitations and weaknesses in education,
training, science and technology, culture, social affairs, environmental
protection, as well as in the fight against bureaucracy, corruption, waste, and
social evils. The report spoke frankly about objective and subjective
causes, studying theories and summing up reality failing to meet requirements,
a proportion of State officials, Party members, and civil servants having poor
capacity and quality, forecasting capacity in many fields staying weak, the
Party’s leadership and the State’s management and execution over a number of
areas lacking focus and resolve, and the organisation of implementation work
being inadequate. Looking back over ten years of implementing the 2001-10
socio-economic development strategy, the report said the country seized
opportunities and advantages, overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges,
reaped extremely important and huge achievements, and fulfilled a host of major
goals of the strategy. The economy grew quickly at an annual average rate of 7.2
percent and its structure shifted positively. Institutions for the country’s
market economy to operate with socialist orientations continued to be
perfected. In 2010, the country’s GDP recorded a 3.4-fold rise over
2000 as calculated in real prices. There was a five-fold rise in state budget collection and
export value in the year over the past ten years while GDP per capita stood at
US$1,168 last year. Cultural and social fields recorded important gains in a
wide range of aspects, socio-political stability maintained, defence and
security reinforced and external relations and international integration
boosted. “After 20 years of implementing the 1991 Platform, we have
gained huge achievements of historical significance,” the report underlined. It affirmed the country initially carried out the renewal
successfully to escape its less-developed status. The political system and the
national great unity bloc were strengthened and enhanced. The country maintained its independence, sovereignty, unity
and territorial integrity and its position and prestige on the international
arena was elevated. Vietnam’s
synergy was amplified, creating a premise for the country to continue to grow
more robustly on the socialist path. From the reality mentioned above, the 10th Party Central
Committee drew five major experiences. They included persisting in implementing the guidelines and
goals set for the renewal, being consistent, creatively applying and developing
Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and firmly pressing ahead with the
goal of national independence and socialism. Due attention must also be given to growth quality and
effectiveness and sustainable development. Economic growth must be associated closely with the
promotion of social advancement and justice, cultural development and the
strengthening of defence and security. In particular, the Party must be developed and strengthened
in all spheres with its leadership and instructions must be sharp, resolute,
creative and keep abreast with reality in the country. On the transitional period to socialism in Vietnam, the
report confirmed the 1991 Platform on National Construction bore values that
served as orientations and guidelines leading the Vietnamese people through the
past two decades. It underscored the need to “continue study, supplement, and
develop the Platform”. On the basis of inheriting the valuable viewpoints and
ideologies of the 1991 Platform and at the same time keeping abreast with
reality in the country and the time, the Platform should be supplemented with
issues that prove to be true and adjustments for the contents that are no
longer suitable. The overall goal set for the country when it accomplishes
the transitional period to socialism will be a fundamental base completed for a
socialist economy with suitable political, ideological and cultural
superstructure so as to lay a foundation for the country to become a prosperous
and happy socialist country. Between now to mid-21st century, the entire Party and the
entire people must do the following tasks: -Step up national industrialisation and modernisation in
combination with developing a knowledge-based economy and protecting natural
resources and the environment. -Develop a market economy in line with socialist
orientation. -Develop an advanced culture, deeply imbued with national identity,
promoting human development, raising the people’s living conditions, and
implementing social progress and equality. -Securely maintain national defence and security, and social
order and safety. -Pursue an external policy of independence, self-reliance,
peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and be proactive and active in
international integration. -Build a socialist democracy and implement the national
great unity -Build a socialist state ruled by law of the people, by the
people and for the people. -Further make the Party pure and strong. Regarding the tasks for the country’s development in the
2011-15 period, the report analysed the reality as well as development trends
in the country and the world at large and concluded, “The 2011-20
socio-economic development strategy will look to continue speeding up
industrialisation and modernisation and promoting fast, sustainable
development, bringing into full play the entire nation’s strength, and make the
country become a basic industrialised one that operates in line with socialist
orientation”. To translate that guiding ideology, the 2011-20
socio-economic development strategy adopted five development viewpoints,
including fast development going hand in hand with sustainable development,
undertaking the renewal uniformly and suitably in both the economic and
political spheres, expanding democracy with the people being the subject, the
key resource, and the goal of development, boosting the development of
production forces with ever higher scientific and technological levels and at
the same time perfecting production relations and institutions for the
socialist-oriented market economy, and being persistent in building a highly
independent and self-reliant economy in the context of in-depth international
integration. The overall goal of the strategy is to strive to turn the
country into a basic industrialised and modernised one by 2020. It includes
social and political stability, democracy, discipline, and consensus,
remarkable improvements in the people’s material and spiritual life,
maintenance of national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial
integrity, and higher position and prestige of the country in the world arena,
thus creating a premise for a higher development level in the next phase. The country’s GDP is set to grow 7-8 percent a year with the
rate for 2020 being a 2.2-fold rise over 2010 and GDP per capital being
US$3,000. The value of hi-tech products and hi-tech applied products
aims for 45 percent of the nation’s GDP. The value of manufactured industrial products is targeted to
account for 40 percent of the industrial production value. Productivity is to
contribute at least 35 percent to the growth value. The country aims to enter the world’s upper average group in
terms of Human Development Index (HDI) and its life expectancy averages 75. More than 70 percent of the workforce will be trained and
the number of poor households will be reduced by 2 percent a year. By 2020, a number of areas in the science, technology,
education and healthcare will reach advanced, modern levels, the environment
will be improved, and the country is able to proactively and effectively deal
with natural disasters, climate change and especially sea level rise. The strategy defined three breakthroughs, including
perfecting the institution of a socialist-oriented market economy, rapidly
developing human resources, especially high-quality resources, and building a
system of infrastructure facilities in tandem with a number of modern works. The 2011-15 period is an important phase in implementing the
2011-20 socio-economic development strategy. The overall goal of the next five years is continuing to
enhance the Party’s leadership and combat capacity, speeding up comprehensively
the renewal process, building a pure and strong political system, promoting
democracy and the national great unity, developing the economy in a fast and
sustainable manner, raising the people’s material and spiritual lives,
maintaining socio-political stability, boosting external activities, firmly
defending national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,
and laying a foundation for the country to become a modern, industrialised
country by 2020. To achieve the above-mentioned goals in the next five years
we must strive to achieve major targets including an average economic growth
rate of 7-7.5 percent, a per capita GDP growth to around 2,000 USD in 2015,
agriculture representing 17-18 percent of the GDP, industry and construction,
41-42 percent while services, 41-42 percent and the rate of trained labourers
must reach 55 percent. Export revenues must record an average yearly rise of 12
percent and the trade deficit must be reduced so imports and exports can be
balanced by 2020, while State overspending represents only 4.5 percent of the
GDP by 2015. Eight million jobs will be created and the population will grow by
1 percent by 2015. Average longevity will reach 74 in 2015 and the poverty rate
under the new standard will see a yearly reduction of 2 percent while forest
coverage will reach 42-43 percent in 2015. The report stressed the importance of continuing to perfect
the market economic institution in line with socialist orientation, renew the
growth model and economic structure and accelerate the industrialisation and
modernisation process and fast and sustainably develop the economy in which all
forms of ownership and all economic sectors and different forms of businesses
must be strongly developed; all market factors and market types must be
synchronously boosted. To enhance the role of the Party leadership and the
effectiveness and efficiency of the State management of the socialist-oriented
market economy. To reform the growth model and restructure the economy, the
report put forward tasks to strongly develop industry and construction towards
modernity; develop agriculture in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable
manner towards industrialisation and modernisation while competently handling
rural and farmers issues; strongly develop service sectors, particularly high
value-added services; and focus on construction to create breakthroughs in
setting up infrastructural facilities. The report proposed tasks to develop culture, education and
training, science and technology, environmental protection; and implement
social equality and progress in each policy and step of development. It also
affirmed that socio-cultural development must harmonise with economic
development; environmental protection is the responsibility of the whole political
system, the entire society and every citizen; and implementing social progress
and equality in each instruction and step of development is the Party and
State’s great consistent policy, reflecting the fine and good nature of the
socialist regime. The report considered security and defence as regular key
tasks of the Party, State and the entire people in which the People’s Army and
the People’s Police function as core forces and building an all-people solid
defence and an all-people solid security is the country’s long-term policy. The report emphasised the requirement to expand diplomatic
activities and be proactive in international integration by consistently
pursuing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation
and diversification; maintaining a stable and peaceful environment for the
development; firmly defending independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial
integrity; and raising the nation’s position so as to actively contribute to
the struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in
the world. On upholding the socialist democracy and the strength of the
national great unity, the report defined that the socialist democracy is the
nature of our regime which is both the goal and the driving force of national
development. By continuing to build and perfect the socialist democracy and
ensuring that the entire State power belongs to the people, every policy and
law of the Party and State are for the interests of the people. The national great unity is the strategic policy of Vietnam ’s
revolution, the source of strength, a main driving force and a decisive factor
for the success of the national construction and defence. For building a great Vietnamese family of equality,
solidarity and mutual respect and assistance for common progress, the report
asserted further improving of belief and religious policies and laws to match
with the Party’s stance in the country’s new period of development, respecting
religions’ fine cultural and ethical values; and encouraging dignitaries,
followers and religious organisations to live the gospel amidst the nation and
actively contribute to the national construction and defence. The report also affirmed that overseas Vietnamese are an
inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation and pointed out the need of new
mechanisms and policies to assist them in economic development, preserving and
bringing into play the national cultural identity while keeping their
sentiments towards the fatherland. To improve the socialist law-governed State of the people,
by the people, for the people under the leadership of the Party, the report
pointed out contents, including continuing to renovate the organisation and
operation of the State apparatus, implementing the judicial reform strategy
until 2020 and building a strong and transparent judicial system which protects
and respects justice and human rights. Building a contingent of incorrupt and
capable cadres and employees to meet the new situation’s requirements and
actively preventing and being determined to combat, prevent and control
corruption, waste and practise thrift are also included in the contents. Regarding Party building, the report affirmed that the Party
is the pioneer team of the working class and the pioneer team of the working
people and the Vietnamese nation as well as the loyal representative for the
benefit of the working class, working people and the nation. The Party
considers Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought as its ideological
foundation and a lodestar for its activities and democratic concentration as
its basic organising principle, said the report. The report laid stress on the importance of accelerating
Party building in terms of political and ideological fields and increasing the
Party’s political firmness and intellect; continuing to renovate and
consolidate the Party organisational apparatus and the political system and
increase Party members’ quality; continuing to renovate the personnel work in a
strong and synchronous manner and well implement the personnel strategy of the
new period; raising the efficiency of the Party’s inspection, supervision and
mass mobilisation work; and continuing to renovate the Party leading
methodology. Concluding the report, the Party General Secretary emphasised
that the 11th National Party Congress would reaffirm the will of the entire
Party, people and army, with millions of people sharing the same grit to be
active and creative to take advantage of opportunities to overcome challenges,
in order to go on with the endeavour to raise the Party’s leading and combat
capacities. The Party leader called for the upholding of strength of the
entire people in comprehensively promoting the renewal process for fast and
sustainable national development with a view to successfully implementing the
goal of a wealthy people and a strong, democratic, equitable and civilised
nation moving steadily towards socialism. Source: VOV | 
