VietNamNet would like to introduce an article by Prof. Hoang Chi Bao, a member of the Central Theoretical Council.

Prof. Hoang Chi Bao

Looking back on 30 years of Doi Moi (renovation), many leaders said that the country has developed in many aspects but development is still slow while in some fields we have lagged behind others. This fact requires that we must continue renovation. So how can theory be renovated to keep up with the facts, to become the fulcrum for the next renovation?

Theory is the ability to reflect reality. Of course, it is only relative because there is no absolute truth. Therefore, theory must try to reflect reality. And it is good if theory can nearly reflect the true reality.

Theory also plays the role of forecasting, leading, and orienting actual development. With every change of practice, theory must have dynamic power and creativity to make timely adjustments.

For example, we determine that the state economy is the key. We have been very consistent in terms of ideology, but now theory must explain how to make the state sector play the key role to lead the economy.

Another example is the recognition of the private sector as the driving force of development. We used to have misconception, as we did not consider the private sector an element of socialism and the source of negative things. But now we think differently: the private sector ARE people, who participate in doing business. When admitting the ownership of the people, when the law also stipulates that all citizens are allowed to do everything that is not prohibited by law, it is clear the private sector is an indispensable economic subject, which is natural, healthy and must be developed.

So we will have theories to pave the way for concrete action to help the private sector create the dynamics for development as we have identified.

Synchronous innovation of economics and politics

Observing the XII National Party Congress, we see a highlight of economic and political innovation. Political innovation includes renovation of methods of the Party’s leadership. The Party even emphasized the need of making studies of the issues like the ruling Party, the concept of ruling, the content and method of the ruling, the conditions for effective ruling, and risk for the only ruling party.

How to solve the story that a ruling party still controls power, with full democratic development? It is a big problem of our political theory.

How to avoid the overlaps between the party and the state?

A leader we need at this time must have wise thought, who can shake the whole society especially at the turning point.

The merger of the party and state agencies as one for agencies with similar functions and tasks will be a political breakthrough.

Besides, we have the state of law. This is the essence of democracy. And only practicing democracy we can control power. Implementing democracy is nothing else the best guarantee of human rights and civil rights, ie human and civil rights in the context of the country’s development and the world today.

Our Constitution has constitutionalized not only competence but also the responsibility of the party, specified in Clause 1, Article 4: "The Party is responsible in front of the people and society for its decisions." Besides, there is a chapter with many articles about human rights and civil rights.

How to pick the right persons?

The leaders and the leading bodies of the Party and State today must reflect the will and aspirations of the people, society and must have virtue, political stuff, capacity, intelligence an a modern style and methods to have the strength to lead the whole society and the people to the set target.

The qualities and personality of the leaders of modern times, the time of innovation is much different from the previous time. Each historical period has its own requirements for people.

Uncle Ho concluded that the public tasks, the tasks assigned by the Party, the people, and the country are the most important and individuals have to sacrifice his own interests.

To do that, the leaders must have courage to overcome fame. This is the "Achilles heel" of humans, and leaders are also human after all. The good leaders are people who can overcome this fatal weakness.

It is complicated and tricky that there are leaders who said that they loved the people, but their acts proved the contrary. They did for themselves more than for the people. The people know about it and they call it a lie.

The actual situation requires talented leaders. This talent is not measured by education but the effectiveness of one’s job, by the way of handling work, how to create social effects, to benefit the people and the ability to remove the tie, the barriers to promote development.

A leader that we need at this time must have wise thought, who can shake the whole society especially at the turning point.

That leader must be brave, determined and dare to take responsibility. That person must also have a steadfast belief to be able to contribute to the overall development of society.

It will be a disaster if opportunists hold senior positions. This is the concern of not only the party but also the people because the people’s lives depend on the Party. The people always protect, trust in the Party. The more they believe in the Party, the more they require the Party to choose good leaders.

Watching the fight against corruption of China at the XVIII Congress, we can see that any member of the Central Party Committee committing corruption will be punished very seriously.

To combat corruption, the legal system must be very strict. In particular, we need to rely on public opinion, or the voice of the people and information of the media. The people with all their sensitivity and intuition can recommend measures.

Nguyen Hoa