Following the full text of the interview.
Question: A new spring has come, closing a year with many important events of the country. Could you please tell us about the highlights of 2019?
Answer: In 2019, despite great difficulties and challenges, with thanks to the efforts made by the entire Party, people and arm forces, we have achieved many positive and important results in almost all fields, leaving good impressions and providing valuable lessons, as well as creating new momentum and motivation to complete all objectives and tasks set for 2020 and the 2016 - 2020 period.
First of all, regarding socio-economic development, the macro economy has been more stable, inflation has been controlled along with maintaining a trade surplus, the major balances of the economy have been strengthened. 2019 was the third consecutive year in which Vietnam has accomplished and surpassed all 12 key targets. The GDP growth rate reached over 7%, ranking among the countries with the highest growth rates in the region and the world. The quality of growth has been improved with sharp increases in social investment, production and business capacity. The major balances of the economy have basically been assured; financial and budget discipline were enhanced; and the currency market remained stable. Cultural and social fields have received due attention in investment and development, achieving many important results. Policies for people with meritorious services and social security have been well implemented. Works related to job creation, new-styled rural construction, and sustainable poverty reduction have all achieved good results. Healthcare and physical training for people have been enhanced. Education and training work has been fundamentally reformed to improve the quality of human resources. Environmental protection and climate change adaption have been given due attention. The political and social situation has remained stable; national defence and security has been strengthened, maintaining a peaceful environment; and foreign affairs and international integration have been expanded, enhancing the position, role and prestige of the nation. Vietnam was elected by the United Nations General Assembly as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, having received almost every vote. These achievements are vivid manifestation of the tireless efforts of the entire Party, people and arm forces, with the consensus and synchronisation of all levels, branches and localities throughout the country as well as the strong support of the international community.
Furthermore, there were impressive results in the work of Party building and rectification and in the fight against corruption, wastefulness and negative phenomena. Nearly 80 cadres under central management have been disciplined, including one Politburo member, 19 Party Central Committee members and former Party Central Committee members, one former deputy prime minister, five ministers and former ministers, 21 deputy ministers, former deputy ministers and equivalent, seven secretaries and former secretaries of provincial Party Committees, and five chairmen and former chairmen of provincial People’s Committees, among others. The Politburo and the Secretariat have also disciplined nine party organisations. Many corruption cases and complicated economic cases have been put on trial with people being handled in a just and humane manner. It is only a part of the Party building work, because with this key task, it is not only about disciplining officials who violated but also about implementing many synchronous solutions to improve the leadership capacity and strength of party organisations, in order to create motivation for cadres to work and contribute. From the practical direction of handling large cases, valuable experiences have been drawn, further confirming the Party and State’s determination to prevent and fight against corruption in a strong and persistent spirit. There is no prohibited area. The Party’s efforts have been supported and appreciated by the people. It is the most impressive highlight, which has helped strengthen and enhance the people’s confidence in the Party and State as well as promote socio-economic development programme in a comprehensive and effective manner.
Q: On May 30, 2019, the Politburo issued Directive No.35-CT/TW on the organisation of the Party congresses at all levels, towards the 13th National Party Congress. Could you please tell us about new points and issues that need to be addressed during the preparation and organisation process?
A: Party congresses at all levels towards the 13th National Party Congress are considered an extensive political activity throughout the Party, people and armed forces. In addition to four major contents mentioned in the Directive No.35, the upcoming National Party Congress has the task of reviewing 10 years of implementation of the Platform (with supplements and development compared to 2011), looking back at 30 years of implementing the Platform in 1991 and 35 years of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process; and the task of summarising the 10-year implementation of the Socio-economic Development Strategy 2011-2020, in order to create the basis for the building of the Socio-Economic Development Strategy for the next 10 years. This congress will not only set out the goals and tasks for the next five years, from 2021 to 2026, but it will also define a longer-term strategic vision, towards the celebrations for the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2030) and the 100th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (2045). These are large and difficult undertakings that require thorough, careful, comprehensive and scientific research on the principle of inheriting and actively innovating in accordance with domestic conditions and the trend of globalisation and international integration. For example, it is important to understand that proper political reform does not mean changing the political regime. It means renewing the political system, organisational structure, working methods, etc. With regards to economic reform, it is also necessary to properly evaluate the relationship between respect for market rules and ensuring socialist orientation within the State, the market and society. We must thoroughly grasp the guiding thought for renewal, without straying from the ideals and the path that the Party, Uncle Ho and the people have chosen. The Party congresses at all levels towards the 13th National Party Congress must encourage an innovative and scientific spirit. This is a valuable lesson from the 35 years of renewal that our Party has initiated and successfully implemented.
In order to ensure the success of the Congress, in the immediate future, party committees and organisations, along with each cadre and party member, must thoroughly grasp the Party's views on great orientations with a focus on enhancing leadership capacity. It is also necessary to effectively implement the work of personnel preparation for the party congresses at all levels; building a contingent of cadres under the motto of inheritance, stability, innovation and development; and promoting democracy and tightening principles, as well as upholding the responsibilities of party committees and heads of party organisations. Efforts must be exerted to prepare and organise Party congresses at all levels as well as mobilised all resources to complete targets and tasks of the last year of the 12th tenure. This spirit must be expressed in each job, from the preparation of documents and personnel work to the organisation of the sessions and programmes set by the Congress. The documents, especially the political report - the key document of each congress, are the crystallisation of the wisdom and will of each party committee. The political report must be close to reality, with a profound summation and focus on promoting new role-models, at the same time it must look straight at the truth with thorough analysis of problems, limitations, weaknesses, and their causes. On that basis, the goals, tasks and feasible solutions for the next term and subsequent years will be identified. In order to do that, democracy must be promoted, while the opinions of people from all walks of life must be acquired. In addition, the spirit of self-criticism and criticism should be upheld; collective self-criticism should be attached to individual responsibility, and the results of the Party building and rectification, with the study of and adherence to President Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style, and it is the responsibility of each official and Party member to set the example.
Q: On September 23, 2019, the Politburo issued Regulation 205-QD/TW on the control of power in personnel work in identifying acts of illegal lobbying for promotion. In your opinion, what should be done to truly make the Regulation an effective tool in preventing negativity in personnel work?
A: The control of power in personnel work and the fight against acts of illegal lobbying have been mentioned for a long time. The promulgation of Regulation No.205 during the preparation of the party congresses at all levels towards the 13th National Party Congress has affirmed the Politburo’s new determination to prevent negative acts in personnel work in the immediate future, and in the personnel work for the upcoming Congress. This is complicated work, but we are determined to carry it out because the contents of the Regulation have expressed the will and aspirations of the people, cadres, and party members. Each party committee and organisation as well as each cadre and party member should clearly identify that the Congress is the best opportunity to eliminate those who are not eligible or qualified from the organisational apparatus of the Party and the State. We do not have a lack of cadres, so we must choose people with merit, talent, dedication and responsibility, with no signs of corruption or negative acts, to serve the people and the country. Therefore, the preparation of personnel work and the election must ensure true democracy, objectivity, fairness and transparency, and will not be affected or influenced by anyone or any power. Especially those in charge of personnel work must raise a high sense of self-discipline, and determination to fighting against acts of illegal lobbying for promotion.
Together with the request to raise the sense of self-discipline of the committees and the people directly involved in personnel work, party committees and inspection committees at the higher levels should regularly inspect and supervise the implementation of Regulation No.205 with a focus on checking records, information on personnel assessment, implementation processes and results of steps taken in the personnel work.
During the process of preparation and organisation of congresses, and even after congresses, violations must be handled strictly according to regulations, even election results may be cancelled if necessary. It can be said that Regulation No.205 has influential and positive effects across the country. The implementation of Regulation No.205 must be linked to the implementation of Resolution 4 on enhancing the building and rectification of the Party, Directive No.05 on promoting President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, morals and style, and Regulation No. 08-QDi/TW on the responsibility for setting examples of officials and Party members. By doing so, I believe that Regulation No.205 will contribute to the success of the Congress.
Q: On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, what is your message to people and soldiers across the country?
A: The success of 2019 has contributed to opening new opportunities for our country, giving everyone a peaceful and happy spring. 2020 is a year with many important political events: the 90th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 75th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, the 130th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, the organisation of party congresses at all levels towards the National Party Congress, Vietnam’s performance as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, among others. Let’s turn those spiritual resources into great internal strengths in order to build a more prosperous nation as Uncle Ho hoped for. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, I wish the entire Party, people, armed forces and our compatriots abroad a new year of new spirit, new determination, and solidarity to overcome all difficulties and challenges to firmly walk on our path of innovation and international integration.
