This morning, at the opening session of the 14th National Party Congress, while presenting the report on key documents, General Secretary To Lam stated that the 14th Congress of the Party is an especially significant political event for the entire Party, the people, and the armed forces; a milestone that marks the beginning of a new stage in the nation’s development.

This is a congress of strategic autonomy, self-reliance, national pride, and the unwavering aspiration to rise. It reflects a steadfast belief in the path chosen by our Party, by President Ho Chi Minh, and by our people. The congress is taking place at a profoundly meaningful historical moment.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized the need to confront the truth, to assess the situation accurately. He called for a resolute shift in mindset, institutional reform, and enhanced national governance capacity. Above all, he urged bold, decisive, and effective action - for a Vietnam that is peaceful, independent, democratic, prosperous, civilized, and happy, confidently advancing on the path to socialism.

The General Secretary noted that the process of preparing the congress documents was carried out meticulously, with seriousness, rigor, scientific grounding, and modern methodology. It inherits the wisdom of previous congresses, firmly upholds principled ideological frameworks, while also demonstrating a bold shift in development thinking - grounded in reality and respectful of objective laws. Every assessment, every goal, and every proposed solution is rooted in real-life conditions.

The documents prepared for this congress, the General Secretary emphasized, set forth a clear call to action: words must go hand in hand with deeds; goals, tasks, and solutions must be clearly defined; accountability must be tied to outcomes; breakthroughs must align with sustainability; and discipline in execution must go together with public satisfaction.

Highlighting key focuses and new elements in the draft documents, the General Secretary noted that the 13th Party Congress term unfolded under extraordinary circumstances, marked by overlapping difficulties and compounded challenges.

In the face of trials that "test gold by fire and strength through adversity," the Party demonstrated its political mettle, governing capacity, and fighting spirit - alongside a strong sense of unity and solidarity. It embodied the will and aspiration to advance, to shape the future, to think creatively, and to act decisively. The entire Party, the people, and the armed forces stood united in successfully implementing the 13th Congress Resolution, achieving significant, comprehensive, and breakthrough results with many standout highlights, and essentially meeting the core objectives that had been set.

The overall achievements of the 13th term have reaffirmed the Party’s leadership and credibility. Public trust in the Party, the State, and the political system has been further reinforced, laying a vital foundation for the country to enter a new phase of development with renewed energy, determination, and aspiration.

"The 13th term has once again affirmed a profound lesson," the General Secretary stressed. "In the face of towering waves, even storms, what determines success is steadfast political courage, unwavering conviction, unity of will, the strength of great national solidarity, effective implementation methods, strict discipline, and the unbreakable bond between the Party and the people."

The Congress is a call to action - a mandate of historic responsibility

This year’s documents were developed with a clear guiding principle: grounded in reality, respectful of objective laws, distilled from collective wisdom, and faithfully reflecting the will and aspirations of the people.

They express a bold shift in development thinking - identifying science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as central drivers; modern institutions and high-quality human resources as foundational pillars; and green, sustainable, and efficient development as key strategic directions.

The documents place particular emphasis on implementation. Sound policies and correct decisions will remain merely words on paper if execution is slow, ineffective, or deviates during rollout. That is why this congress places priority on designing actionable programs, as well as mechanisms for inspection, supervision, and performance evaluation. It considers data, metrics, and citizen feedback as essential tools for adjusting policies and ensuring accountability.

The congress documents place strong emphasis on the example set by Party members and officials, especially those in leadership positions. They underline the importance of upholding Party discipline and the rule of law, maintaining a steadfast commitment to fighting corruption, waste, and misconduct. At the same time, they stress the need to foster an environment that encourages innovation and development - one that protects those who dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility for the common good. The vision is to build a society grounded in discipline, integrity, civility, security, welfare, safety, and sustainable growth.

The guiding motto of the congress - Unity - Democracy - Discipline - Breakthrough - Development - serves as both a rallying cry and a mandate of historic responsibility.

According to the General Secretary, the theme of the 14th Congress demands that “we become more united, more disciplined, and more creative.” He called for humility, a willingness to listen, and the capacity for self-correction as essential qualities to achieve continuous growth and improvement.

The 14th Congress bears the historic responsibility of establishing breakthrough decisions that will serve as launchpads for achieving Vietnam’s two long-term centennial goals.

The overarching objective is to safeguard a peaceful and stable environment, ensure rapid and sustainable national development, and comprehensively improve the quality of life for the people. It calls for strategic autonomy, resilience, and confidence - to advance boldly in this new era. It affirms the nation’s determination to fulfill the goals set for 2030 and 2045.

Eight core themes throughout

To realize the objectives outlined, the political report defines 12 major directions, 6 key tasks, and 3 strategic breakthroughs. The action program has translated these into concrete tasks ready for immediate implementation.

The General Secretary emphasized that the underlying spirit is distilled into eight essential themes, clearly reflecting the imperative: Make the right choices - act swiftly - follow through to the end - and measure by results.

First is the completion of development institutions and the socialist rule-of-law state - with implementation as the key measure of success.

Second is establishing a new growth model based on the knowledge economy, digital economy, green economy, and circular economy.

Third is positioning science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the central drivers of development.

Fourth is culture and human development - the spiritual foundation of society, a source of internal strength, and both a resource and a driving force for the country’s progress.

Fifth is national defense, security, and diplomacy - maintaining peace as a condition for development, and using development to enhance the nation’s overall strength.

Sixth is the comprehensive building and rectification of the Party and the political system - with cadre work as “the key of all keys.”

The General Secretary stressed that cadre work must truly be the “key of all keys” - selecting the right people, assigning the right responsibilities, and evaluating officials based on results, effectiveness, and the trust they earn among the people. He underscored the need for a disciplined yet fair personnel system that ensures accountability and mobility - “in and out,” “up and down.” This includes strict discipline paired with mechanisms to protect those who dare to think, act, and take responsibility for the public good. At the same time, it must prevent opportunists and those seeking power through manipulation from infiltrating the political system.

"A strong Party is rooted in strict discipline, revolutionary ethics, and a spirit of service," the General Secretary emphasized. "Every Party member and official must engage in self-reflection and self-correction - resist temptation - feel shame when the people are still struggling in poverty. They must regard honor as sacred and integrity as the foundational quality of public ethics."

Seventh is building a healthy, disciplined, civilized, safe, and progressive Vietnamese society. The immediate focus is on reinforcing social order through the rule of law and administrative reform; preventing and combating corruption, waste, and misconduct; and fostering a contingent of officials who are “upright, dedicated, courageous in thought and action, and willing to take responsibility” - ensuring that “the rule of law goes hand in hand with the will of the people,” and that every individual feels a shared responsibility toward society.

Eighth is promoting great national unity - the foundation of the country’s strength.

The General Secretary also underscored that the three strategic breakthroughs identified at the 13th Party Congress remain critical for the entire 2021–2030 period. However, as the 14th term begins, he emphasized the urgent need to implement them with greater force, speed, and determination - as these are decisive levers for the nation’s next great leap forward.

The first breakthrough is institutional reform and effective implementation.

The second is the development of human resources - particularly high-quality talent closely linked to science, technology, and innovation.

The third is building modern, synchronized infrastructure.

"The people are the root" - the highest benchmark for every decision

The General Secretary affirmed that the central philosophy running through the congress documents - and the very foundation of Vietnam’s revolutionary strength - is the principle that "the people are the root." The people are the center, the subject, the goal, the driving force, and the ultimate source of development.

Every policy and decision must aim to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people, safeguard their right to be masters of their own destiny, and reflect a deep respect for their voices and experiences. The Party must remain closely connected to the people, serve them with dedication, be subject to their oversight, and be accountable to them for every decision it makes.

Public trust in the Party does not stem from words - it comes from actions. It is built on the fairness and integrity of officials, the effectiveness of institutions, the equity in public benefits, and the tangible outcomes in protecting lawful rights and resolving legitimate concerns of both citizens and businesses in a timely and thorough manner.

As the country enters a new phase, the General Secretary stressed the growing importance of consolidating the “people’s heart and mind front.” When the foundation of public trust is solid, national defense and security are strong. When the people’s will is united, reforms can go the distance. With the people’s support, any difficulty can be overcome, and any challenge resolved – just as President Ho Chi Minh once taught: “Even the easiest task will fail without the people’s support – even the hardest task can be done with their backing.”

“Each delegate attending the Congress, each official and Party member across the country, when studying the congress documents, should ask themselves: Does this decision benefit the people? Does it strengthen public trust? Will it improve people’s lives? Will it help make the nation stronger and more prosperous?” the General Secretary said.

“If the answer is unclear, the policy must be further refined – because no decision holds meaning unless it gains the people’s approval, support, and brings real, tangible benefits to their lives.” 

According to the General Secretary, “our greatest weakness lies in the gap between sound policies and underwhelming execution.” For this reason, the congress documents place strong emphasis on action - underscoring the responsibility of every level, every sector, and every official. There is a clear call to overcome the chronic issues of “much talk, little action,” of “eloquent words but poor delivery,” and, worse still, “talk without action.” He criticized the lack of oversight, the tendency to set high goals but deliver slowly and ineffectively.

The General Secretary stressed the need to translate congress resolutions into concrete programs and action plans with clear goals, measurable targets, defined timelines, and assigned responsibilities. Every task must have someone held fully accountable - avoiding a situation where “everyone’s job becomes no one’s responsibility,” or where duties are simply passed around.

He also emphasized the importance of setting up mechanisms for regular and ad-hoc inspection, supervision, and evaluation. There must be firm consequences for stagnation, avoidance, and blame-shifting, as well as timely rewards for those who perform well. Equally important is the effective protection of those who dare to think, act, and take responsibility for the common good.

A public service culture must be established - one that is upright, professional, and scientific. Public satisfaction, especially that of citizens and businesses, must be treated as a key benchmark. Decisions should be assessed based on data and results. Corruption must be strictly prevented, and transparency and accountability must be continuously strengthened.

“Execution must go hand in hand with discipline,” the General Secretary affirmed. “Party discipline must lead the way. The rule of law must be upheld. All power must be subject to control. All responsibilities must be clearly defined. All violations must be dealt with, and all sincere efforts for the people and the country must be recognized and protected.”

The 14th National Congress, he concluded, is a congress of trust and aspiration, of breakthroughs and decisive action, of discipline and creativity, of unity and development.

“Our 14th Congress is taking place as the ‘clock of history’ counts down to 2030 - the moment when our Party marks 100 years of its founding, struggle, growth, and development. Never before has the dream of a democratic, prosperous, thriving, civilized, and happy Vietnam felt so close. But never before have we faced such intense challenges, such urgent demands, and such fierce competitive pressure as we do today,” the General Secretary stressed. 
 

Tran Thuong - Huong Quynh