Expectations for new General Secretary To Lam

After more than 2 months of being elected as President for the 2021-2026 term, General To Lam continued to be trusted by the 13th Party Central Committee to be elected General Secretary, with an absolute 100% vote.

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Major General, Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan (former Deputy Director of the Institute of Defense Strategy, former Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense) said that with this high trust, the responsibility placed on the new General Secretary is not small.

Major General Nguyen Hong Quan emphasized the expectation for the fight against corruption, negativity and Party building and rectification. According to him, this is also what the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people are looking forward to, especially when recently, the "furnace burning" campaign has achieved many great achievements.

“We all hope that this “furnace-burning” campaign will purify the Party, strengthen internal solidarity, and promote enthusiasm for work and production to be ready to respond to the challenges that lie ahead,” said Mr. Quan.

His greatest wish, according to him, is to implement the strategy of "national wealth - strong army, internal peace - external tranquility" to keep the country peaceful and the people safe.

Regarding officials identified as having committed violations, causing consequences at different levels, Mr. Quan expects the General Secretary, in his role as Head of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption and negativity, to continue to direct decisively, take bolder and more effective steps to "fight internal invaders".

Major General Nguyen Hong Quan (Photo: Tien Tuan).

At the Central Executive Committee meeting on the afternoon of August 3, four Central Committee members were dismissed for violating Party regulations in performing assigned duties and tasks; violating regulations on what Party members are not allowed to do, the responsibility to set an example, and regulations on preventing and combating corruption and negativity.

According to Major General Nguyen Hong Quan, this is also a clear demonstration of the commitment that the new General Secretary emphasized at the press conference after being elected, which is to continue the fight against corruption and negativity in the spirit of no forbidden zones, no exceptions, regardless of who the person is. It is also an affirmation that the fight against corruption and negativity will not stop, as the new General Secretary emphasized.

Major General Nguyen Hong Quan commented that this orientation is the foundation and an important preparation step to build a team of strategic-level cadres for the upcoming 14th Party Congress.

“Personnel work needs to be more resolute and innovative, because staff is the key of the key. Only with a strict personnel process can we avoid the mistakes we have encountered in the past,” Mr. Quan stated his opinion.

In implementing foreign policy, according to Major General Nguyen Hong Quan, priority should be given to creating, consolidating and building an existing peaceful and stable environment.

Emphasizing that besides advantages, there are still many challenges, Mr. Quan supported the new General Secretary's view that Vietnam needs to maintain balanced relations with other countries and develop a foreign policy with the orientation of building, promoting and upgrading relations with all partners to raise the country's position.

Quoting the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong that “our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as it does today,” Major General Nguyen Hong Quan affirmed that this is also a great expectation in the coming period, but also a challenge, requiring us to be bolder in innovation and more decisive. “This depends greatly on the leadership and direction of the new General Secretary,” Mr. Quan said.

In addition, the new General Secretary will also hold the role of Secretary of the Central Military Commission, so Major General Nguyen Hong Quan expects the Party leadership to continue the cause of building a regular, elite, and modern people's army, not only to protect the Fatherland but also to contribute to strengthening the country's position.

General Secretary and President To Lam chaired a press conference after being elected by the Central Executive Committee to hold the position of General Secretary (Photo: Tien Tuan).

Regarding the pressures and challenges facing the new General Secretary, Major General Nguyen Hong Quan said that the pressure comes from the practical demands of the country. The pressure also comes from the people's expectations of a key leadership apparatus headed by the General Secretary, to continue to promote Party building and rectification while promoting economic development so that Vietnam does not fall behind other countries.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc (former Director of the Institute of Party History) affirmed that our Party has a tradition of solidarity, unity and always inherits the achievements and develops the work of previous generations of leaders.

He believes that with that spirit, General Secretary and President To Lam - who has spent a long time working in the public security sector with the task of firmly protecting the achievements of the revolution, protecting the Party, the State and the people - will inherit well the legacy left by the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, including many important achievements in the fight against corruption and negativity.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc also put his faith in the new General Secretary’s assertion of the relentless anti-corruption momentum. He emphasized that this is an inevitable trend, because if corruption is not prevented, it will be a major obstacle to the country’s development.

“Under the leadership and direction of the new General Secretary, the next phase of the fight against corruption and negativity will definitely be better, more effective and supported by all the people and the entire Party. I have a very strong belief in that,” said Mr. Phuc.

Supporting the priority orientation of General Secretary and President To Lam in preparing for party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress, Mr. Phuc emphasized the importance of personnel preparation.

This was also one of the focuses shared by the new General Secretary at the press conference after being elected as the head of the Party on the morning of August 3.

The lesson from the recent handling of a series of high-ranking officials, according to Mr. Phuc, is a step to purify officials to remove unworthy people from the apparatus.

"That is also the foundation for the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat to carefully select new elements in the coming time, ensuring the continuous and solid leadership of the Party," Mr. Phuc said, expecting that the personnel work for the 14th Congress will be carried out more thoroughly, firmly, decisively, and systematically.

Referring to Regulation 144 on revolutionary ethical standards for cadres and party members in the new period, Mr. Phuc said that in preparing personnel for the 14th Congress, it is necessary to pay attention to selecting strategic-level cadres and management leaders who must first have ethical standards, because that is the "root".

“This pressure and burden is placed on the shoulders of the Personnel Subcommittee with the direct leadership role of the new General Secretary, and I believe that the lessons on personnel in the 13th term will be overcome so that the next Party Congress can select truly worthy, excellent and exemplary cadres,” the former Director of the Institute of Party History expected.