General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - A leader with heart and vision of the Party

In recent years, despite facing many challenges, our country's economy is still a bright spot in the not-so-bright picture of the global economy. Vietnam's prestige and position have been increasingly enhanced in the international arena. That is a continuing achievement of the renovation process initiated and led by our Party. Associated with that pride is the name of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - the person our people call a leader with heart and vision of the Party, always devoted to the country and the people. He is not only a sharp theorist, but also a person who acts decisively, humanely, effectively, protecting the honor, prestige, purity and strength of the Party, and is an important contributor to expanding international relations and cooperation for the development of the country.

The theorist has a superior thinking ability.

The book "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

It is a "bedside" document for those working in propaganda; it is a sharp weapon to fight against the wrong views of hostile forces.

As a person who is absolutely loyal to the noble goals and ideals of the revolution that the Party, Uncle Ho and our people have chosen, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has spent a lot of time and enthusiasm researching socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam since he was a staff member at the Communist Magazine, more than 50 years ago.

This is a very big, fundamental issue of our country's revolution, and reality increasingly requires more comprehensive and complete understanding of the content, in line with the inevitable development trend of the times. With sharp theoretical thinking, a passionate heart of revolutionary enthusiasm, and vivid practice, the General Secretary has written many articles and analyses, gradually clarifying the issues raised. Among them, the article published in May 2021 must be mentioned. Titled " Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam", The author has thoroughly explained and presented many new points, answering more fully both in theory and practice about what is socialism? Why did Vietnam choose the path to socialism? How and by what means to gradually build socialism in Vietnam? What is the significance of the practice of innovation and socialism in Vietnam in recent times and what issues are raised?

The thoughts and content of the General Secretary's article are the result of more than half a century of hard research and creative labor by a theorist with outstanding thinking.

The thoughts and content of the General Secretary's article are the result of more than half a century of hard work and creative labor by a theorist with outstanding thinking; it is a process of vivid practical experience through working positions such as Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, Chairman of the National Assembly, President, especially the years as General Secretary of the Party that the author has experienced or is holding.

It is also the will, sentiment, and revolutionary enthusiasm urged by a cadre with a pure and upright lifestyle - an exemplary leader, trusted and respected by the people, that has contributed to the appeal and value of the article, enriching the theoretical treasure of socialism.

Having special significance in terms of ideology, theory and practice, the article has attracted the attention of domestic and foreign researchers and scholars, cadres, party members and our people, and at the same time expressed support for the issues and viewpoints that the author has drawn from practice with a deeper, more multi-dimensional and more systematic view of capitalism and socialism. This is not a new issue, but there are few articles that have received as much attention and appreciation from domestic public opinion and international friends as this article by the General Secretary.

Opinions of party members when reading the book of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong published in Nhan Dan Newspaper.

Many foreign researchers have shared: “The article (the General Secretary's article) is like a textbook of high scientific value, guiding the activities of thinkers, theorists, revolutionary soldiers, cadres, and party members of countries following the path of socialism”; The article “contributes to enriching the theoretical treasure of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought on national independence associated with socialism”; The article “has reference value for countries in the transitional period to socialism as well as theoretical-practical research work”; The article “is a reference document for progressive forces in the world striving for the development of the most equitable societies”;...

In the Resolution on awarding the Lenin Prize of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (April 14, 2020) to five collectives and individuals, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Lenin's birth, for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, there is a paragraph stating: "Having made great personal contributions to the practice of building socialism and developing the communist movement in the current period; many years of research and application of Marxism-Leninism; scientific research on current issues of socialism when he was Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Magazine and Chairman of the Theoretical Council of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; having made constant efforts to strengthen the friendly and fraternal relations between the people of Vietnam and the Russian Federation".

This is a noble award, recognizing and honoring the General Secretary's contributions in researching, supplementing and developing theories on socialism and in practical activities to gradually turn socialism into reality in Vietnam.

Along with many other articles on this issue, the General Secretary has inspired and instilled strong belief in cadres and party members about socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam.

Along with many other articles on this issue, the General Secretary has inspired and strongly believed in cadres and party members about socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam. The article is a valuable research document for scholars at home and abroad when studying this fundamental issue of the revolution; a "bedside" document for those working in propaganda; a sharp weapon to fight against the wrong views of hostile forces to protect the ideological foundation of our Party.

Fight against corruption and negativity resolutely and humanely

In each article and speech of the General Secretary, regardless of the event, context, or field, he always demonstrates high theoretical thinking and practical summary.

Reading the speeches of the General Secretary at several opening sessions of the National Assembly, Government Conferences, national conferences to thoroughly implement the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, the Fatherland Front, the work of Party building and rectification, the Party Internal Affairs sector; studying and thoroughly understanding the six resolutions of the Politburo on the development of six economic regions; speeches at the conferences of the Central Military Commission, the Central Public Security Party Committee, the Foreign Affairs sector, etc., we can see this very clearly.

Many articles and speeches of the General Secretary on a specialized issue or a field were selected to be printed into books and became valuable documents for party organizations, organizations in the political system, agencies, units, and localities in the process of research, study, dissemination, and implementation. Among them, the most obvious is the book " Resolutely and persistently fighting against corruption and negativity, contributing to building our Party and State increasingly clean and strong". published by the National Political Publishing House Truth in early 2023, on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the founding of our Party.

The content of the articles, thoughts and guiding viewpoints in this book are drawn from rich practice, demonstrating the vision, clear-sighted intelligence, close, decisive and comprehensive direction, the consistency between words and actions, and the persuasiveness of the General Secretary; contributing to clarifying the theoretical thinking of our Party on preventing and combating corruption, negativity and building and rectifying the Party. Studying the articles in the book, readers will clearly see therein a panoramic picture of the current situation, especially the scientific, methodical, decisive leadership and direction methods, and unprecedented results in the current fight against corruption and negativity of our Party.

It can be said that one of the successes that left a deep impression in the three recent National Party Congresses is the result of the fight against corruption and negativity, in which the General Secretary is the one who "lit the fire, spread the fire and kept the fire" for the entire political system to join in, no one can stand aside. The fight against this "internal invader" has been carried out by the Party for a long time and was pointed out as one of the four dangers to our regime since the National Congress of Delegates in the mid-term of the 7th term of the Party (January 1994), but it has never been as fierce as it is now, with no forbidden areas and no exceptions.

After being elected General Secretary, he signed and issued Resolution 4 of the 11th Central Committee. Some urgent issues on Party building today and organize a national conference to disseminate and direct implementation. The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption under the Politburo, headed by the General Secretary, was established on February 1, 2013.

Studying the articles in the book, readers can clearly see a panoramic picture of the current situation, especially the scientific, methodical, drastic leadership and direction methods, and unprecedented results in the current fight against corruption and negative practices of our Party.

The content of the articles, thoughts, and guiding viewpoints in this book demonstrate the vision, clear intelligence, close, decisive, comprehensive direction, and consistency between words and actions, and the persuasiveness of the General Secretary.

Many statements of the General Secretary were passed on by cadres, party members and people as a message: " When the furnace is hot, even fresh wood put in here will burn ."

Although the implementation of this important resolution has had positive changes, it has not yet met the requirements set out. The degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle of a significant number of cadres and party members has not been pushed back, and in some cases, it has become more sophisticated and complicated; corruption, waste, and negativity are still serious, concentrated among party members holding positions in the state apparatus. The thoughts of cadres, party members, and the people at that time were worried and anxious. That was also the thing that the leader of our Party was most concerned about and determined to push back this incurable disease.

Therefore, Resolution 4 of the 12th Central Committee was born with a more drastic, synchronous and comprehensive guiding ideology, which is reflected right from the title of the resolution. Under the direct leadership of the General Secretary, the functional agencies coordinate more smoothly. The work of Party building and rectification is closely linked to promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, and the fight against corruption and negativity.

Under the direct and close guidance of the General Secretary and Head of the Steering Committee, the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity has been identified as an irreversible trend and is increasingly becoming more in-depth and effective.

The manifestations of distorted perception are corrected promptly, "whoever feels discouraged should stand aside and let others do it"; while doing, learn from experience, closely linking prevention with combat, in which prevention is fundamental, long-term, and combat must be resolute. Anyone who violates must be strictly handled, but "hit the one who runs away, no one hits the one who runs back"; cut off a rotten branch to save the whole green tree; handle strictly but also open up a path for the violator to atone for his sins. Many statements of the General Secretary are passed on by cadres, party members and people as a message, a reminder: "When the furnace is hot, fresh wood must burn when put in here"; "Discipline a few people to save thousands of people". "What's the use of having a lot of money, you can't take it with you when you die. Honor is the most sacred and noble thing!", etc.

Under the direct and close guidance of the General Secretary, Head of the Steering Committee, the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity has been identified as an irreversible trend and is increasingly becoming more in-depth and effective. It is this reality that has helped the General Secretary summarize theoretical issues and orient this work.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the National Conference to review anti-corruption work in the 2013-2020 period. Source: VNA

He pointed out that the direct fundamental cause of corruption is the degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle; negativity is the environment that gives rise to corruption, and corruption in turn aggravates the negative situation. Therefore, the focus of preventing negativity is to prevent degradation of political ideology, morality, and lifestyle among cadres, party members, civil servants, and public employees, that is, to eradicate corruption.

Thus, we must prevent corruption early and from afar; we must build a strict prevention mechanism so that corruption and negativity are "impossible"; a strict deterrent and punishment mechanism so that corruption and negativity are "not dared" to occur; we must build a culture of integrity so that corruption and negativity are "not wanted"; and a guarantee mechanism so that corruption and negativity are "not needed".

The battle to eliminate this “inborn defect of power” is still fierce. But with the strong direction of the Party Central Committee, directly led by the General Secretary, and with the participation of the entire political system, we believe that we will succeed.

In that spirit, the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption and negativity was given additional tasks, not only directing the prevention and fight against corruption but also preventing and fighting negativity, focusing on the degradation of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle among cadres, party members, civil servants, and public employees, first of all leaders and managers at all levels of organizations in the political system nationwide. The provincial Steering Committee on anti-corruption and negativity was also established, strengthening the leadership of the Party at all levels, overcoming the situation of "hot above, cold below".

Building a foreign policy and diplomacy imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo"

From September to December 2023, the two heads of the world's two leading countries, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, accepted the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to pay a State visit to Vietnam.

That shows that the position of Vietnam, the prestige of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the leader of our Party in the international arena are increasingly enhanced. That is the result of realizing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress on foreign policy. To date, our Party has relations with 253 parties in 115 countries; in terms of state diplomacy, Vietnam has relations with 193 countries and territories, including three countries with special relations (including China, Laos and Cambodia), six Comprehensive Strategic Partners (including Russia, India, South Korea, the US, Japan and Australia), 11 Strategic Partners and 12 Comprehensive Partners.

To date, our Party has relations with 253 parties in 115 countries; in terms of state diplomacy, Vietnam has relations with 193 countries and territories, including three special relations (including China, Laos and Cambodia), six comprehensive strategic partners (including Russia, India, South Korea, the US, Japan and Australia), 11 strategic partners and 12 comprehensive partners.

Identifying foreign affairs as the cause of the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire political system, at the 13th Party Congress, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong clearly outlined the orientation and organization of foreign affairs activities, especially high-level foreign affairs; proactively, actively, deepening and becoming more substantive in relations with partners; promoting multilateral foreign affairs; maintaining an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, cooperative and developmental foreign policy; multilateralizing and diversifying international relations; proactively and actively integrating deeply into the international community, taking national and ethnic interests as the top priority, first and foremost,...

Our Party's foreign policy increasingly reflects the aspiration of the entire nation to expand cooperative relations for national development. Vietnam is ready to "be a friend, a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community"; steadfast in principles and goals, flexible and clever in strategy.

From the practice of foreign affairs, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong concluded that Vietnamese diplomacy reflects the identity of the Vietnamese people in diplomatic relations with the world and through interactions with the outside world to enrich its own identity in a very unique and creative way, making an important contribution to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Inheriting and promoting the identity, cultural roots and national traditions, selectively absorbing the quintessence of the world and progressive ideas of the times, Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology, we have formed a school of foreign affairs and diplomacy imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo".

That is to be both steadfast in principles and flexible in tactics; gentle and clever but also very resilient and determined; flexible and creative but very brave and courageous in the face of all difficulties and challenges, for national independence, for the freedom and happiness of the people; united and humane but resolute and persistent in protecting national interests.

Vietnamese diplomacy reflects the identity of the Vietnamese people in diplomatic relations with the world and through interactions with the outside world to enrich its own unique and creative identity, making important contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong
General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

Since ancient times, the familiar bamboo tree has been closely associated with the homeland, the country and as a cultural symbol of the Vietnamese people, soft but durable, resilient, "The trunk is thin, the leaves are fragile/But how can it become a wall, oh bamboo?" (Nguyen Duy). It is meaningful that the General Secretary chose the image of the bamboo tree to talk about the foreign affairs and diplomacy of our nation, imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo", "firm roots, strong trunk, flexible branches"; imbued with the soul, character and spirit of the Vietnamese people: Soft, clever, but very resilient.

As the highest leader of the Party, the General Secretary has made many important contributions to realizing that policy. The history of the formation and development of relations between nations and peoples has never been smooth, but always carries with it interwoven light and dark colors, even yesterday they were enemies, but today they join hands to cooperate for mutual benefit. That is the inevitable development trend of the times. History is always history, no one can erase or change; but the future is in our hands, belongs to us.

To develop the country and aspire for peace, for the common progress of humanity, our Party and our people have known how to "put aside the past, look to the future", overcome all differences in political regimes, strive together to resolve any disagreements, if any, create a peaceful, stable, cooperative environment, to build a prosperous and happy country. That explains why Vietnam is currently the only country in the world to establish and maintain a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, Russia and the United States .

From September to December 2023, the two heads of two leading countries in the world accepted the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to pay a State visit to Vietnam, showing that the position of Vietnam, the prestige of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the leader of our Party in the international arena are increasingly enhanced.

Vietnam is always ready to be a friend and reliable partner to other countries. To strengthen the neighborly and friendly relationship between the two countries, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping regularly maintain contact, send congratulatory messages, hold high-level talks, and organize state visits, even in the most difficult circumstances such as the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

That is the work to "consolidate and strengthen the friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China to continuously develop healthily, stably, and increasingly better, which is both a historical responsibility and an objective requirement, in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the people of our two countries, beneficial to peace, stability and prosperous development in the region and the world" as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong wrote in the congratulatory message to General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (July 1, 1921 - July 1, 2021).

Vietnam is always ready to be a friend and reliable partner with all countries.

Overcoming geographical distance and many differences, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made a historic visit to the United States in 2015. No one could have imagined that, for the first time in history, at the White House, a meeting between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Obama would take place. At that time, Vice President Joe Biden quoted Kieu: "The sky still allows us to have today/The mist at the end of the alley clears, the clouds in the sky part."

Nine years later, during US President Joe Biden's State visit to Vietnam in September 2023, at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the two sides issued a Joint Statement, officially upgrading the relationship to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. This is also the first time in history that Vietnam has upgraded its partnership with a country from Comprehensive Partnership to the highest level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, skipping the Strategic Partnership level, in just 10 years (from 2013 to 2023).

With the people at home as well as international friends, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left many impressions.

For the people at home as well as international friends, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left many marks, not only contributing to supplementing and developing the theory of socialism and the path to socialism, but also being a leader who took drastic actions to build the Party up to the task, expanding international cooperation to develop the country, for peace and common progress of humanity.

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