“OUR COUNTRY HAS NEVER HAD SUCH FORTUNE, POTENTIAL, POSITION AND INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE AS IT DOES TODAY”

Following is the translation by the Vietnam News Agency of an article, under above title, written by Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to pay tribute to the legacy of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:

Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is an extremely excellent leader, a shining example in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and lifestyle. He fully embodies the quality, talent, mettle and brainpower of the generation of Vietnamese leaders in the renewal period, wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland and the people. He has prestige and great influence both at home and abroad, has made significant contributions and dedications to the revolutionary cause of our Party, State and people as well as peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

In the boundless sorrow at the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, we recall with deep emotion and cherish even more the shining moral example, a man of great personality with sharp theoretical thinking, who has left huge legacies and made extremely important contributions and dedications to the cause of building, developing and defending the Vietnamese Fatherland during the renewal period. Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is the first to assert, as approved and included in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress: “With all humility, we can still say that our country has never had such fortune, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today”.

These achievements are the crystallization of creativity, the outcomes of the persistent and continuous efforts throughout revolutionary periods and terms of our entire Party, people, and army on the basis of constantly developing and perfecting the theory and implementing socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam - That is to firmly adhere to, apply and creatively develop Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought in combination with promoting the nation’s fine cultural traditions and inheriting the intellectual quintessence of humanity; firmly adhering to the goal of national independence and socialism, persisting with the path of renewal; steadfastly upholding the Party's organization and operation principles, which are clearly demonstrated in the Party's resolutions at congresses and the resolutions of the Party Central Committee, and are summarized and systematized in the major theoretical works and projects of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, especially the article "Several theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" on the occasion of the 131st birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh.

Over the past time, along with the steadfast goal of national independence and socialism, we have focused on building and consolidating three fundamental elements: socialist democracy, socialist rule-of-law state, and socialist-oriented market economy. The overarching view is to place people at the centre, as the subject, the goal, the driving force, and the most important resource for development, without sacrificing social progress, equality, or the environment for mere economic growth. Through nearly 40 years of renewal under the Party's leadership, and thanks to the drastic participation and efforts of the entire political system, the entire people and the entire army in synchronously, drastically and effectively implementing the Party’s and State’s policies and guidelines, we have overcome numerous difficulties and challenges and obtained significant achievements of historic significance, asserted by the concrete results across various fields. They are also vivid, convincing evidence of the summary and general assessments of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

1. Economic development is the central task; focusing on three strategic breakthroughs regarding institutions, human resources and infrastructure; stepping up industrialization and modernization, restructuring the economy linked with renewing the growth model, improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness; paying due attention to maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, boosting growth, and ensuring major economic balances. It is also a crucial direction that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highlighted at the Government's annual meetings with localities to deploy socio-economic development tasks from 2017 to 2023, and it is clearly shown in the Party Central Committee's annual conclusions on socio-economic affairs. We have basically achieved his wish that the following year's results must be higher than the previous year in all areas; in which the economy has seen clear changes with proud achievements which have been highly evaluated by the international community, especially in recent years when we have faced more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages.

After nearly 40 years of renewal, Vietnam has transformed from a war-torn, impoverished, backward, and food-deprived country, which also underwent blockage and embargo for 30 years, into a middle-income nation with a per capita income of around 4,300 USD in 2023, nearly 60 times higher than in 1986. The average economic growth has exceeded 6.5% per year, placing Vietnam among the countries with the highest growth rates in the region and the world. The size of the economy has increased more than 95 times, from 4.5 billion USD in 1986 to 430 billion USD in 2023, ranking 35th in the world. The macroeconomic foundation is fundamentally stable, and the economy's major balances are maintained. Inflation has been controlled at around 4% per year, down from the “galloping” 3-digit rate in the early stage of the renewal period. In 2023, the country's total export-import turnover reached 681 billion USD. Vietnam has enjoyed a trade surplus for eight consecutive years and is among the world's top 20 countries in terms of trade volume. From a country suffering from severe food shortages, Vietnam has become one of the world's leading rice exporters, with over 8.1 million tones of rice shipped abroad in 2023, helping to ensure global food security. Vietnam's agricultural products are now present in more than 160 countries and territories. Energy security, employment, and labor supply-demand balance are ensured. The country's state budget overspending, public debt, government debt, and external debt are well controlled. Public debt in 2023 was estimated at around 37% of the country's GDP, well below the prescribed limit.

The economic structure has positively shifted towards the direction of industrialization and modernization. In 2023, the agricultural sector's proportion decreased to roughly 12%. The quality of growth is increasingly improved by stepping up the application of technological advances, raising productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy, and accelerating digital transformation and development of green economy, circular economy, sharing economy and knowledge-based economy. The investment and business environment has continually been improved. Vietnam remains a bright spot in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, with over 39.4 billion USD in 2023 and 23.2 billion USD disbursed, placing it among the world's top 20 countries in terms of FDI attraction. To date, there are 40,800 valid projects with total registered capital of approximately 487 billion USD. Vietnam has become a manufacturing hub and part of the global and regional supply chains of many leading technology corporations such as Samsung, LG, Intel, Apple, GE, and Foxconn. The private sector is encouraged to develop and plays an important role in the economy, with around 900,000 operating enterprises.

The socio-economic infrastructure system has been prioritized for resource allocation and investment, creating breakthroughs for development, particularly strategic transport infrastructure, urban infrastructure, energy infrastructure, telecommunications infrastructure, and infrastructure for education, healthcare, and climate change response. To date, over 2,000 kilometers of expressways have been completed and put into use, and the country is striving to have over 3,000 kilometers of expressways by 2025. Projects are being carried out to expand Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai International Airports, and build Long Thanh International Airport, which will have a total capacity of up to 100 million passengers per year when completed, with total investment reaching hundreds of trillions of VND. Additionally, international and regional-level seaports are being developed along with an inland waterway transport system. The country is actively preparing for the building and approval of plans on the development of a high-speed railway system for the 2025 – 2030 period.

2.With his special attention to and close direction on external affairs and diplomacy, at the 32nd National Diplomatic Conference on December 19, 2023, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that: “Foreign affairs and diplomacy have promoted the new position and strength, the combined strength of the entire nation, more firmly consolidating the complexion of open foreign affairs, which is favorable for national development and protection of the Fatherland in the new period.”

Over the past years, amid complicated developments of the world situation, we have persistently implemented a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; multilateralisation and diversification of external relations; being a good friend and reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community for the purpose of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world; focusing on building an independent, self-reliant and self-strengthened economy in association with active and proactive international integration in an intensive, extensive, comprehensive, practical and effective manner, obtaining many important achievements; the country's prestige and position in the international arena has been consolidated and enhanced.

From a country that underwent blockage and embargo for 30 years, Vietnam has now established diplomatic relations with 193 countries, and set up strategic partnership and comprehensive partnership with 30 countries. In particular, Vietnam has established a comprehensive strategic partnership or strategic partnership with all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and many G20 countries. Our Party has set up ties with 253 parties in 115 countries, including 92 communist parties, 63 ruling parties and 38 others joining the ruling coalitions or participating in politics. In recent years, most heads of state and leaders of major countries and important international organisations, including the United Nations, have visited and worked in Vietnam and expressed good impressions of the country and people of Vietnam; at the same time, our Party and State leaders have paid many successful visits to countries and partners across all continents.

In the recent past, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the Party General Secretary and State President, and Presidents of three major powers namely China, the US, and Russia. These efforts have strongly promoted and made foreign relations deeper, more stable and sustainable, helping to enhance political trust, foster close and effective cooperation in all fields, especially in education and training, science and technology, labour, culture, people-to-people exchanges, and locality-to-locality exchange. Vietnam is known to the world as a reliable partner, a safe destination for international investment and tourism, and a responsible member in solving major regional and global issues.

Vietnam has proactively and actively participated in and successfully undertaken many important international responsibilities; many proposals and initiatives of Vietnam have been recognised at multilateral mechanisms, frameworks and forums, especially the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partners; and making positive contributions to settling regional and global issues. Having strongly switched from “active participation” to “constructive contribution, shaping the rules of the game”, Vietnam has gradually raised the level of participation in promoting multilateral processes and institutions based on the common goal of peace, stability, security and development cooperation, on the basis of international law and the principle of equality and mutual benefit among relevant parties. Economic diplomacy has been fostered and Vietnam has expanded economic and trade ties with more than 230 countries and territories across the world; signed 16 free trade agreements with more than 60 countries, including many major economies. The protection of citizens and Vietnamese people abroad and the external information work have been implemented in a systematic, timely and effective manner, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc, preserving and promoting national cultural identity, and popularising the image of the country and people of Vietnam to international friends. The above-mentioned achievements have demonstrated the pioneering role of foreign affairs in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilising external resources for the country's development, and enhancing the nation's position and prestige. These achievements have affirmed the correctness of the foreign relations and diplomatic school of "Vietnamese Bamboo diplomacy: steady roots, sturdy trunks, flexible branches, imbued with the soul, characteristics and spirit of the Vietnamese nation” initiated, directed and wholeheartedly cultivated by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

3. Grasping and strictly implementing the viewpoint that ensuring defence and security is a key and regular task; firmly protecting national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, safeguarding the Party, State, People, socialist regime, culture and national interests; maintaining political stability and a peaceful environment; implementing the "Four Nos" defence policy; we have closely combined national defence, security, and foreign affairs in protecting the Fatherland; prioritising resources to consolidate and strengthen national defence and security potential; building a solid all-people defence position and people-based security position; focusing on building a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern People's Army and People's Public Security forces with new contents and mindset, which are strong in politics, ideology and organisation, absolutely loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the People, with a lean and strong apparatus. The quality of analysation, evaluation, forecast and consultancy have been improved; policies and strategies in military, defence, Fatherland protection and national security safeguarding have continued to be supplemented and perfected in the new situation. The country has remained proactive and ready with plans and solutions to respond to developments of the situation, avoiding to be passive or surprised in all circumstances. At the 8th meeting of the 13th Party Central Committee, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stressed that: “In all circumstances, it is a must to firmly protect the Fatherland's independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; safeguard the Party, State, people and the socialist regime; and protect the country's interests".

Over the past time, the defence industry and security industry have received great attention and been developed in the direction of modernity, dual-use, mastering technologies to manufacture and produce many types of weapons and equipment, actively contributing to the cause of stepping up national industrialisation and modernisation. Military, defence and security cooperation has been promoted in a more practical and effective way. Vietnam has actively and proactively participated in United Nations peacekeeping, and search and rescue operations in many countries and regions, which have been highly evaluated by the international community. The foreign defence policy following the diplomatic ideology of "Vietnamese Bamboo" has been an important strategy, contributing to the protection of the Fatherland early and from afar, and safeguarding the country before dangers occur. At the same time, we have summarised realities and supplemented theories defining "partners" and "objects", contributing to harmoniously and appropriately handling related international issues.

Meanwhile, we have paid special attention to building a society of order, discipline, security, safety and healthiness. This is an important task that the entire political system and the entire people have paid special attention to and achieved many positive results; in which, we have implemented many plans and solutions to curb the increase of, and resolutely attack and suppress all types of crimes, especially high-tech crime, cyber crime, and drug-related crime on key routes and areas, while enhancing research and application of advanced achievements in science and technology, digital transformation, transforming all aspects of crime prevention and control, improving the effectiveness of state management, promoting the combined strength of the entire political system and the public for protecting security and order. The stable socio-political situation and ensured security and social order and safety is one of the bright spots and strengths of Vietnam in today's volatile world. Vietnam jumped four places to the 41st position out of 163 countries and territories in the 2023 Global Peace Index in terms of national peace levels announced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP, Australia).

4. Culture, society, and the environment has received great attention, ensuring harmony with economic development, resulting in many important accomplishments. The role of culture as the spiritual foundation, a source of internal strength, and a breakthrough driving force for national development has been strongly promoted, especially after the National Cultural Conference in 2021 with an important keynote speech by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, which carries profound strategic orientation. In this speech, the Party leader quoted Uncle Ho's teaching that "Culture must light the way for the nation," pointing out that "As long as culture exists, the nation exists," and "Culture is the soul of the nation."

Implementing the viewpoint on building an advanced culture imbued with national identity, many traditional cultural values and culture heritage of the nation have been inherited, preserved, embellished, and developed, and these efforts have been highly valued by the international community. Vietnam has so far had 68 heritage sites and titles recognised by UNESCO. Cultural institutions are continuously renewed in content, and their quality and operational efficiency are improved. Building a humane society and developing well-rounded Vietnamese people with good personalities and beautiful lifestyle oriented towards the values of truth - goodness - beauty has been positively embraced by the whole society. The spirit of mutual support, solidarity, appreciation of relationships, justice and social morality is increasingly promoted and positively spread.

The quality of medical examination, treatment, and healthcare for the people is increasingly improved, the network of medical facilities is widely developed, and successfully and proactively responding to many dangerous epidemics. Notably, in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has "started behind but arrived ahead" with the efforts of the whole political system, the people and thanks to the effective assistance of the international community through the "Vaccine diplomacy strategy."

The quality of human resources is increasingly improved; education and training continue to be comprehensively reformed; the national education system is increasingly perfected, approaching international standards; the vocational training quality index is among the leading countries in ASEAN; the rate of trained labourers increased to 68% in 2023 from 49.14% in 2014.

Many modern scientific and technological achievements are quickly and widely applied; the startup and innovation ecosystem is promoted and developed; Vietnam's Global Innovation Index (GII) ranked 46th out of 132 in 2023, up 13 places from 2016. Consistently implementing the policy of not sacrificing social equality and progress, and the environment for mere economic gains, Vietnam committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the UK in 2021, and early joined the political declaration on establishing a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which has been applauded by the international community.

Social welfare is ensured, and the material and spiritual lives of the people are continuously improved with the spirit of “leaving no one behind.” Policies for people with meritorious services to the revolution, social welfare, social security, and sustainable poverty reduction are given special attention; the household poverty rate in 2023 decreased to 2.93% compared to over 58% in 1993. Vietnam has been recognised and highly appreciated by the world as a successful model for hunger eradication and poverty reduction among developing countries over the past 30 years. The building of new-style rural areas has been accelerated, contributing to the advancement of agricultural industrialisation and improving the quality of life for people in rural areas. As of the end of 2023, more than 78% of communes and 270 districts met the new-style rural area standards. The health insurance coverage has reached over 93%, approaching the goal of universal health coverage.

Vietnam has completed many targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule and has been recognised by the United Nations as one of the leading countries in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Significant progress has been made in child care and protection, youth education, enhancing the role of the elderly, promoting gender equality and women's advancement. Life expectancy in Vietnam has increased by nine years over the past 30 years, from 65.5 years in 1993 to 74.5 years in 2023. Vietnam's Human Development Index (HDI) has significantly improved, much higher than that of countries with similar income levels. The Happiness Index of Vietnam has risen by 11 places, from 65th to 54th out of 143 countries and territories.

5. Adhering to the viewpoint that building the Party is "key," with personnel work being "the key of the key," there have been significant and effective changes in Party building and rectification under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Party Central Committee's Secretariat headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. He has affirmed that "Building and rectifying the Party is always a particularly important task of vital significance to our Party and our regime," and that "Focus on building a comprehensive Party in terms of politics, ideology, morality, organisation and personnel in the spirit of 'Honour is the most sacred and noble thing', so that our Party can truly 'be ethical and civilised".

We have simultaneously implemented a range of measures to build a clean and strong political system; improve the leadership capacity and combat readiness of Party organisations and their members; and develop and train a contingent of cadres with sufficient qualities, abilities, prestige, and equal to the tasks, especially strategic-level cadres. The close relationship between the Party and the people has been strengthened and consolidated; the people's trust in the Party has been increasingly enhanced on the basis of synchronous and effective implementation of the mechanism "the Party's leadership, the State's management and the people's mastery," and the principle of “People know, people discuss, people do, people inspect, people supervise, people benefit.” The political system from the central to the grassroots levels continues to be consolidated and developed, and its operational efficiency improved; cadres and Party members' pioneering and exemplary role, respect for the people, closeness and trust in the people, understanding of the people, and learning from the people are continuously promoted, thereby contributing to strengthening political and social stability, creating favourable conditions for rapid and sustainable development.

Under the direction of the Central Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of Corruption and Negative Phenomena headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the fight against corruption and negative phenomena has been carried out vigorously, resolutely, persistently, and comprehensively, with specific focuses and priorities and no off-limits zones or exceptions. This work has produced many significant results, contributing to building a democratic, disciplined, and honest society, maintaining political stability and socio-economic development. Many serious economic and corruption cases have been brought to trial, gaining public support. At the same time, efforts continue to be exerted to build and perfect policies, guidelines, and institutions related to anti-corruption in association with mechanisms to control power, prevent abuse of power and violations of discipline and regulations, while protecting officials who dare to think, act, and take responsibility for the common good. Transparency and accountability in state administrative agencies and throughout society are being strengthened. The popularisation of information about mechanisms, policies, and management activities has been promoted on electronic portals of state agencies, making it easier for people, business, and organisations to access and supervise. Recent reality shows that the intensified anti-corruption efforts contribute to affirming the role and reputation of the Party and the State, and maintaining public trust, earning high praise from the international community. Vietnam's Corruption Perceptions Index has improved by 40 places, rising from 123rd in 2012 to 83rd out of 180 countries and territories in 2023.

6. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once stressed, "Under any circumstances, it is crucial to adhere to our ideological stance, consistently uphold the goals, viewpoints, and policies of our Party in building and perfecting the socialist rule-of-law state and legal system." Over the past years, the construction of a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people, and for the people has achieved many important results and continues to be refined theoretically through practical experience. The strategic breakthrough in institutional development has been a particular focus; the legal system has been undergone regular reviews, amendments, supplements and enhancements, contributing to socio-economic development and international integration, which involved many fundamental laws, such as the Constitution, the Penal Code, the Civil Code, the Land Law, the Investment Law, and the Enterprise Law. Efforts have concentrated on building a clean, strong, streamlined, effective, and development-facilitating state apparatus, which serves the people, in connection with restructuring and improving the quality of the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees; the number of ministries and equivalent agencies was reduced from 27 (in the 1992-1997 period) to 22 currently. Decentralisation and delegation of authority have been promoted, along with the allocation of resources as well as the improvement of the implementation capacity of lower levels and the supervision and control of power. Public service reform and public financial reform have seen positive changes, with increased transparency and accountability coupled with tightened discipline in state activities and among cadres, civil servants, and public employees. Administrative reform, especially simplifying and reducing administrative procedures and improving the investment and business climate, has been intensified, easing difficulties for production and business operations and creating all possible favourable conditions for people and enterprises.

Following the teachings of the beloved President Ho Chi Minh “Unity, unity, great unity - Success, success, great success”, the entire Party, armed forces and people of Vietnam always place a high priority on building and consolidating the great national unity, closely linking domestic unity with international solidarity, and combining national strength with the power of the era – considering it a fundamental and crucial element in the process of national building, development and defence. Under the leadership of the Party, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations, and people’s associations have continuously innovated the content and methods of their operation and intensified communications, mass mobilisation, and the promotion of solidarity and unity contributing to social consensus; stepped up monitoring and social criticism in association with enhancing transparency and accountability; focused on participating in the building of a clean, strong Party, State, and political system; and soundly acted as a bridge between the Party, State and the people, contributing to reinforcing public trust in the Party, State, and the socialist regime. The strength of the great national unity has been increasingly reinforced; human rights, citizen rights, and people’s right to mastery have been promoted and become more substantial and effective, particularly regarding their participation and decision-making on major national issues and policies directly affecting social life, demonstrating the regime's fine nature and superiority.

The significant and historically meaningful accomplishments of our country over the past nearly four decades affirm the correctness of the policy of reform, integration, and development under the Party’s leadership, the foremost factor decisive to every victory of the Vietnamese revolution, closely linked with the substantial contributions of previous generations of leaders, including the prominent role and outstanding imprints of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The comrade provided current and future generations with a shining example of revolutionary ethics and wholehearted dedication to the Party’s cause. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese citizens and hundreds of foreign delegations directly paid their respects and bid farewell; thousands of foreign delegations and tens of thousands of foreigners visited Vietnamese representative offices abroad to pay tribute; hundreds of countries and international organiations sent condolences; millions of Vietnamese people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, religions, and beliefs, especially the younger generation, expressed their profound sorrow at the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. These images reflected the deep respect and strong attachment of compatriots and soldiers across the country, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends, in recognition of the stature of an exceptionally outstanding leader of our Party, State, and People, while demonstrating the unwavering trust of the people in the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam and in the Vietnamese country with long-standing culture, civilisation, and heroism.

Being steadfast, applying, and creatively developing Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's ideology, and consistently pursuing the path of reform, integration, and development; being determined to achieve the goals of national independence and socialism; focusing on building and rectifying a clean and strong Party and the entire political system; building a streamlined, efficient and effective State; implementing and widely promoting socialist democracy; fully leveraging the collective strength, creativity, determination, and aspiration of the entire nation and the political system, in combination with the power of the era; we firmly believe that our country will develop to become more dignified and prosperous, and our people will certainly enjoy a life of convenience and happiness, as wished by our beloved President Ho Chi Minh and as the previous generations, including General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, wholeheartedly strived and devoted their lives for.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will forever belong to our nation, our people, and the cause of our country's reform. Building on his efforts, contributions, and dedication, and following his exemplary model, the current and future generations should further promote the spirit of unity “Before call, behind support,” "One call, thousands responses," "Above and below are of one heart," and "Seamless cooperation,” and should uphold the achievements made, strive to overcome all difficulties and challenges, maintain and enhance the country's strength, potential, position, and prestige, and successfully implement the cause of national industrialisation and modernisation, leading our country steadily on the path of rapid and sustainable development.