Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the meeting with the Party Committee, government and people of Bac Ninh Province on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.   

NDO – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has granted an interview to Nhan Dan Newspaper on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2022. Following is the full text of the interview.

Q: The year of the Ox - 2021 is coming to an end, a new spring has come to our country. Could you tell us about your feelings of the past year?

A: Many important political events took place in 2021, and we have performed well in our political tasks and successfully organised those events, which included: the 13th National Party Congress, which was very successful in many aspects from document development to human resources and organisation; the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure; and the consolidation of key leadership positions, quickly stabilising the organisation, and ensuring that the apparatus of the whole political system operates seamlessly, without leaving any gaps in direction, organisation and administration in the transition between the two tenures. In 2021, our country also faced many difficulties and challenges, especially the outbreak and the rapid spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the spirit of protecting health and life of the people first and foremost, our Party and State have had issued many synchronous guidelines and made many decisions, drastically “fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy” while restoring national socio-economic development and taking care of people's lives.

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the superiority of our regime can be clearly seen. The whole political system got involved, mobilising all resources, human strength and the power of the State and the people, with the sincere support of the international community and our compatriots abroad, to focus on epidemic prevention and control, especially vaccination, treatment of infected people, and support for people in need. Although there have been losses due to the fact that the epidemic was too complicated and unprecedented, the results of epidemic prevention and control are the clearest proof that, in any situation, our Party and State always places people at the centre, wholeheartedly serving the people. Through the pandemic, the people's confidence in the Party and the regime has continued to be firmly consolidated; patriotism, the strength of the great national unity bloc and love for people - the invaluable spiritual resource of our nation shone again.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with delegates to the National Cultural Conference implement the Resolution of the 13th Party National Congress. (Photo: Dang Khoa)

Thus, we have both focused all our capabilities on effectively combating the epidemic while restoring and developing production and maintaining an acceptable growth rate. Socio-political stability, national defence and security are being maintained; foreign relations are constantly expanding, especially with neighbouring countries, traditional friends and important partners; and Vietnam's position and prestige is growing increasingly enhanced in the international arena; as I always say “Our country has never enjoyed such fortune, power, international standing and prestige as it does today”. In my opinion, those are the easiest things to feel for the New Year of the Ox-2021.

Q: 2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. Could you tell us about the new things in the past year compared to previous terms?

A: First of all, it should be recalled that the 13th National Party Congress was held very successfully in many aspects, including new points compared to previous terms, not only setting the direction and tasks for the next 5 years, but also defining the direction and tasks to 2030, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, a vision to 2045, and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), with the goal to become a developed and high-income country. Therefore, the implementation of the Resolution of this Congress sets new requirements, first of all, the stage of learning, mastering and developing an action plan. Immediately after the congress, all Party committees urgently completed action plans, developed a master plan and for each year in line with reality. A new feature of this term is that the Party Central Committee directed the organisation of seven large-scale national conferences by fields and branches in a methodical and scientific manner to deeply grasp the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and unify it under a more specific action plan with a broader thinking and vision. As such, there is a clearer connection between blocks, sectors and regions. All conferences were organised both in face-to-face and online forms. These are: The National Assembly Election and the First Session of the 15th National Assembly; the first meeting of the Government with localities; conferences of the Fatherland Front bloc; conference of nine central government agencies; conference on Party building work and political system; and conference on foreign affairs. Specifically, the National Cultural Conference had a large scale and depth of content, looking back at the process of building and developing Vietnam’s culture and people in the 75 years since the first Cultural Conference was held in 1946. The method of organisation and extensive communications has brought a new spirit and determination to the whole sector, especially scientists, intellectuals, writers, artists, etc. It is a practical way of doing things, showing the smooth and synchronous coordination of the whole political system along with the solidarity, unity in awareness, will and action throughout the Party from the Central to grassroots levels to bring the Resolution of the Congress to life under the centralised and unified leadership of the Party.

Q: There has been an opinion that the organisation and implementation of the resolution is still weak. So how to fix it, to turn the resolution into a vivid reality?

A: As I said, “The closing of the congress is not the end. This is just the beginning. Whether it can be done or not, whether the resolution can be turned into a vivid reality, whether it produces material wealth, brings wealth to the country and happiness to the people, that is the actual success of the Congress". In order to overcome limitations and weaknesses in the implementation, it is necessary to innovate right from the stage of grasping the resolution, firmly grasping the new points and core contents, developing on a scientific basis, effectively organising the implementation of programmes and work plans, and spending adequate time to study and handle in a methodical and definitive way, with focus on prominent socio-economic issues.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chairs a meeting to implement urgent measures on the COVID-19 prevention and control.

The policy and decision are there. The next important step is to organise the implementation. Party committees and organisation at all levels need to closely follow the resolution, action plans and their characteristics along with the actual situation of each locality, agency, and unit; clearly assign tasks to establish a basis for reviewing and evaluating work results for each cadre; periodically hold preliminary reviews and summaries of experiences towards early detection and adjustment of inadequacies to suit reality, avoiding stereotypes and rigidity, especially major issues of driving force for development, or related to many fields, branches, regions, localities; and focus on building and replicating new models with good and effective practices, encouraging and protecting dynamic and creative cadres who dare to innovate, dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, while at the same time strictly handling violating cadres, including cases of taking advantage of innovation to do wrong, despite the Party's regulations and the laws of the State.

Besides opportunities and advantages, our country is facing many difficulties, especially the challenges caused by the pandemic, both in terms of economic and social problems. The more difficult the situation, the more it is necessary to uphold the spirit of solidarity and responsibility before the people and the Party to solve the problems, promote and exploit all resources well to build and develop the country. We have a solid foundation, which is the great strength of the national unity bloc, the people's confidence in the Party, the achievements of more than 35 years of Doi Moi (Renewal). I believe that the guidelines and resolutions of the Party and the aspirations of the nation will be realised.

Q: Party building and rectification, and anti-corruption are outstanding marks in the 12th National Congress and the first year of the 13th Party Congress. What is the orientation for this key task in the coming years?

A: This is a difficult, complicated and extremely sensitive job. In recent years, especially during 2021 and the 12th National Congress, we have completed many tasks thanks to the drastic, persistent and methodical guidance of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Party Central Committee, the Central Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Phenomena Prevention and Control, the synchronous, rhythmic and effective participation of functional agencies, and especially the high support and agreement of cadres, party members and people. Those are also good lessons to be learned.

The new point in this term is that, not only the fight against corruption, but also the fight against the negative acts, with a focus on combating the deterioration of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, manifestations of corruption, “self-evolution”, and “self-transformation”. This is the root of the problem. Deterioration in political thought, corruption, morals and lifestyle will lead to corruption. This is also a disease of individualism which Uncle Ho warned to consider as a cruel enemy, a kind of internal invader. Although it does not carry a sword or a gun, it is very deceitful and cunning, pulling people downhill without breaking, corrupting people and morality. We must resolutely fight to eliminate it.

In building and rectifying the Party, preventing and combating corruption and negativity, many cadres, including senior officials, have been handled, regardless of who they are, there is no “prohibited zone” and no exception. But there are still cadres who cannot resist greed, losing all honour - the most sacred and noble thing of every human being, eroding trust in the Party, and bringing shame to their families.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chairs a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Phenomena Prevention and Control.

From that fact, it is necessary to continue to research and summarise which stages are still weak, then focus on overcoming those stages towards becoming more drastic, synchronous, and rhythmic. First of all, it is necessary to review the Party’s regulations and the State’s laws, focusing on economic management, land and personnel work; and to urgently amend, supplement, complete, and if necessary replace regulations and contents that are no longer appropriate, overlap, or leave loopholes for bad actors to take advantage of. There must be very specific provisions, with strong enough sanctions to act as a legal corridor so that corruption is not possible, to warn, deter and serve as a basis for considering and handling violations. In the course of inspection, examination, audit and investigation, if detecting the case with signs of crime, immediately transfer the file to the investigating agency for consideration and handling according to regulations. Party committees and organisations at all levels must seriously and effectively implement the task of preventing and combating corruption and negativity in the spirit of Conclusion No.21-KL/TW of the 4th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee and Regulation No.32-QD/TW of the Politburo. The work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity in the coming time must create a new spirit of determination and resolutely prevent, detect and strictly handle corrupt and negative acts. In the long term, it is necessary to comprehensively and strongly renovate the work of cadres, from the stage of discovery, source creation, training, rotation, and especially arrangement, use and appointment; at the same time strengthening control over power in this work and fight against running for office and power in the spirit of Regulation No.205 of the Politburo. To build a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level, who are qualified, talented and dedicated to the assigned tasks, both virtue and talent must be respected; taking virtue as the root and always creating the most favourable environment for cadres to contribute to the country goes hand in hand with maintaining discipline and strictly handling all violations. When cadres are virtuous, have a pure heart, and wholeheartedly serve the country for the people, there will be no more corruption and negativity.

Q: On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, what is your message to people and soldiers across the country?

A: We welcome the New Year of the Tiger on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the Party with many great opportunities but also many challenges. I hope that the whole Party, people and army will be even more united, join hands to repel the COVID-19 pandemic, soon recover for socio-economic development, stabilise, bring life back to the new normal, and celebrate the traditional New Year festival in a warm, joyful, peaceful and happy atmosphere, while continuing to promote the glorious traditions of the Party, striving to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Congress, and building the country towards quick and sustainable development. In 2022, we strive to do better than 2021.

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 renewed solidarity to overcome all difficulties and challenges to firmly walk on our path of innovation and international integration.

Thank you very much!

BAC VAN
Translated by NDO