From the courage to overcome difficulties to the desire to rise up in the new era

The 13th Congress term (2021-2026) ended with historical milestones. On the eve of the 14th National Congress of the Party, Vietnam News Agency had an interview with Comrade Nguyen Hoa Binh, Politburo member, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Government Party Committee, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister on the results achieved during the 13th National Congress term and the orientations, tasks, and key solutions to successfully implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress.

The 13th Congress term takes place in a particularly harsh context: more difficulties, challenges, greater and more severe than opportunities and advantages. Can the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister give a general assessment of the comprehensive results that the country has achieved in this gold testing period and what are the key factors that created those miracles?

- The 13th Congress term is a special term, starting with extremely difficult trials, especially for the bravery and intelligence of our Party, State and people. We are entering a period when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and spread, seriously affecting the world economy, the region and Vietnam; followed by supply chain disruptions, strong global inflation and geopolitical conflicts weakening many economies around the world.

But it is in the midst of hardship that the bravery and intelligence of Vietnamese people shine even brighter. With the spirit of turning risks into opportunities, under the wise and comprehensive leadership of the Party, the drastic management of the Government and the joint efforts and consensus of the entire people, we have overcome difficulties and challenges, completed socio-economic development targets and tasks and achieved comprehensive results in many fields with 10 outstanding bright spots:

First, the macro economy is stable, growth is explosive, and major balances are guaranteed. In 2025, GDP will increase by an impressive 8.02%, bringing the average for the whole period to the highest level in the region (6.3%). The economic scale reached over 514 billion USD (ranked 32nd in the world), with average income per capita exceeding 5,000 USD. Inflation is controlled (3.31%), public debt decreased to 34.4% of GDP, budget revenue reached a record of VND2.65 trillion (exceeding 34%), affirming the strong internal strength of the economy.

Second, successfully carry out the revolution of restructuring the apparatus, rearranging administrative units, ensuring streamlining, efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency. This is a special mark of the entire 13th Congress term, through the arrangement, new development space has been opened, local government at 2 levels has been organized near the people, better serving the people and drastically reducing the number of administrative units, cutting the intermediate levels: reducing 100% of general departments, more than 1,000 departments, branches, about 145,000 positions; helping to save regular expenditure of about VND39,000 billion/year to reserve resources for investment, development and social security.

Third, perfecting institutions with breakthrough thinking, creating development. Law-making work has shifted strongly from management thinking to creating and removing bottlenecks. During the term, the Government submitted to the National Assembly for approval a record amount of documents (178 laws, resolutions and decrees), including key laws such as the Land Law, Housing Law, and Real Estate Business Law. At the same time, implement decentralization and complete delegation of authority in the spirit of local decisions, local actions, and local responsibilities; cut and simplify nearly 3,000 business regulations, and put Vietnam in the group of countries with an open, transparent, and attractive investment and business environment.

Fourth, strategic infrastructure has made remarkable progress. Complete 3,345 km of expressway, more than 1,700 km of coastal road, exceeding the target set by the 13th National Congress, forming the North - South spine axis. Gradually completing telecommunications networks, important digital infrastructure and other economic infrastructure, preparing to start construction of high-speed railways in the coming term.

Fifth, innovate the growth model, creating new momentum for the era of growth. The economy is having a strong shift in quality, from breadth to depth, growth based on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. Green economy and energy transition become the main trend with a strong commitment to Net Zero. Total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in the term reached over 184 billion USD; has attracted the world's leading technology enterprises (such as Samsung, Amkor, NVIDIA...) to invest in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, making Vietnam gradually an important link in the global supply chain.

Sixth, resolutely remove difficulties and obstacles, and unlock resources for the economy. Implementing the Resolution of the Central Government, the Government has resolutely led and directed the handling of long-standing issues; removed legal obstacles for a series of energy projects, loss-making industries, weak banks and thousands of real estate projects. To date, there have been 3,289 land projects with a total investment of about 1.67 million billion VND, a land use scale of about 70,000 hectares have been cleared, continue to be invested, create jobs and make a practical contribution to growth.

Seventh, culture is truly a roadmap, becoming an endogenous strength and a driving force for development. Good traditional cultural values, family values and Vietnamese human standards in the new era are aroused and spread strongly. The cultural industry has been formed and flourished, Vietnam's heritage and cultural identity have become a world heritage, not only contributing to economic growth but also becoming a source of pride, fostering patriotism, self-reliance and the desire to contribute in each citizen.

Eighth, do a good job of social security. Our Party and State pay special attention to social security with the spirit of not leaving anyone behind. The elimination of all temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide has been completed 5 years in advance; the multidimensional poverty rate has decreased sharply to 1.3%. Each year, more than 1 million billion VND has been spent on social security activities. Income and benefits have improved, the national happiness index has increased by 37 places.

Ninth, education and health care have improved remarkably, the quality of life has been improved. The health system is widely developed, and grassroots health care is strengthened. In the fight against Covid-19 epidemics, it has successfully protected people's lives and health; although Vietnam is a country that cannot produce vaccines, it has vaccinated all people for free. National health insurance achieves an coverage rate of over 95%, ensuring that all people have fair access to basic services and enjoy the fruits of development. The average life expectancy of the people is 74.8 years old. inherently innovating education, the quality of human resources has changed positively. We have paid attention to and allocated appropriate resources to build 248 inter-level boarding schools for students in border communes to improve education and human resource quality, contributing to strengthening national defense and security; implementing a roadmap for tuition exemption and reduction for preschool children and primary school students.

Tenth, national defense and security are firmly consolidated, protecting the Fatherland early and from afar; foreign affairs and international integration work have achieved important achievements of strategic significance. We have built military and police forces in a streamlined, strong, modern direction, capable of dealing with all traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Political security and social order and safety are maintained. uses the right to handle unusual and complicated international relations, maintain a peaceful environment for development. To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries, has Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Strategic Partnership with most major powers and key partners in the world. Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena has been increasingly enhanced, affirming its role as an active and responsible member in the international community, a trusted partner, actively contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

There are three key factors that create these impressive achievements. First and most decisively is the wise leadership, courage, and strategic vision of the Party, especially the strong and close direction of the Politburo and the Secretariat, headed by the General Secretary. Second is the drastic, dynamic, creative management, daring to think, daring to do, daring to take responsibility of the Government, always sticking to reality, responding flexibly, promptly, and effectively to all developments and situations. And third, the most important thing is the solidarity, unity, and absolute support of the people, the strength of the great national unity bloc is highly promoted in the most difficult times.

In the process of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, many new, unprecedented issues, beyond the forecast capacity, have raised extremely difficult problems. The Government has handled these issues very promptly and effectively. From that vivid and hard work, can the Deputy Prime Minister share the most profound lessons learned in leadership, direction and management?

- Doing things that are precedentful is easy, but doing things that are unprecedented, difficult, sensitive things that affect the interests of many people is extremely difficult. From the fight against the epidemic to the revolution in organizational structure, every decision made must carefully consider between the good and the bad, between the immediate and the long-term. The following 6 lessons can be drawn from the experience of directing and operating:

First, there must be a new thinking, strategic vision, closely following reality and putting the interests of the nation and people above all. The unpredictable changing world context requires leaders not to think in a worn-out way, not to be satisfied with old experiences. All decisions must be based on practice, respecting reality and taking reality as a measure. At the same time, there must be a long-term strategic vision, overcoming immediate local benefits to towards the sustainable development of the nation and people.

Second, there must be high determination, great efforts, drastic and effective actions. When there is a correct policy, it must be implemented resolutely and urgently, doing it as it is, not retreating, only discussing work. The government must be exemplary in doing things first, spreading the spirit of daring to think, daring to do things to each locality and grassroots. The hesitation that reduces development opportunities is a fault of the people.

Third, always take the people as the center and subject; all decisions must aim at protecting the people, caring for the people, for the prosperous and happy life of the people. Our Party has no higher goal than maintaining the country's independence and sovereignty, constantly caring for and improving the people's happy life. During the pandemic, people's health and lives are paramount; during storms and floods, people's safety is paramount; in economic development, eliminating temporary housing, reducing poverty, and increasing income for people is a key task. Only when the people enjoy the fruits, the leadership of the Party and the management of the Government will be truly successful and sustainable.

Fourth, management direction must be in-depth and specific according to the 6 clear principle: clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibilities, clear products, clear authority. The reality shows that wherever the leader is close, determined, and dares to take responsibility in the spirit of 6 clear, the work is completed, the bottlenecks are cleared.

Fifth, identify the right focus and key points, not spread them out, have a reasonable roadmap and priority order. In the context of limited national resources and huge investment demand, the lesson in resource allocation is extremely important, it is necessary to choose breakthroughs, projects with high spillover, creating a driving force to focus on final investment.

Sixth, strengthen ideological work, create consensus among the people. Policy communication work must be one step ahead to provide official information, orient public opinion and create social consensus. When people deeply understand that all decisions of the Government are for the benefit of the nation, the people, for the lives of the people, they are ready to share, accompany and support. Policy planning and implementation must be reasonable, properly resolving the legitimate rights and interests of people and businesses.

Dear Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, before the 14th National Party Congress, which is also a historic moment, bringing the country into a new era of development, to successfully achieve the set strategic goals, which key strategic breakthroughs and management solutions will the Government prioritize in the coming period?

- Towards the 14th National Congress and vision to 2030 - the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, and 2045 - the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country, the Government has identified the following 10 key groups of tasks:

First, accelerate sustainable economic development, creating a solid foundation for the new era. Concentrate all resources, remove all barriers to strive for double-digit growth rate per year. Renovate old growth drivers and thoroughly exploit new drivers (digital economy, green economy, circular economy), taking science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main driving force; developing the state economy truly plays a leading role, developing the private economy is the most important driving force of the economy.

Second, continue to innovate the thinking of building and perfecting institutions, considering this a breakthrough of breakthroughs. Strongly innovate the thinking of law-making to create development and liberate production resources. Continue to promote decentralization and delegation of authority in the spirit of local decisions, local actions, local responsibilities, the Central Government focuses on creating, supervising and inspecting. Immediately eliminate overlapping regulations, sub-licenses, and the mechanism of asking and giving that is holding back resources; resolutely abandon the mindset of not being able to manage and then banning.

Third, promote growth model innovation, based on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. Building a comprehensive, documentless digital government. Develop a green economy, a circular economy, and strongly implement the carbon credit market. Increase investment in new growth drivers such as AI, chips, semiconductors, renewable energy, nuclear energy. Modernize the smart grid, strongly develop renewable energy and electricity, offshore wind power, ensure absolute national energy security, serving high growth.

Fourth, focus on investing and completing and putting into use infrastructure projects connecting regions and areas. Concentrate resources to start construction of the North-South high-speed railway. Long Thanh International Airport will be completed and put into operation soon. Research and restart the nuclear power program to ensure a clean and stable energy platform for industrialization and modernization.

Fifth, developing science, technology and innovation is the top national policy. Promote research and development (R&D) models. Build regional-scale national data centers and innovation centers. Research on specific, outstanding mechanisms, attract and retain the world's leading technology corporations to Vietnam. Promote innovative startups in the whole society; encourage businesses to invest in developing and applying science and technology, especially new technology and high technology.

Sixth, the breakthrough in high-quality human resources. Basically and comprehensively innovate higher education and vocational education. Proactively prepare human resources to master technology in the fields of nuclear energy, high-speed railways, digital economy, international financial centers, semiconductor industry, AI in the shortest time. At the same time, implementing policies to attract truly talented people and have superior treatment to attract and retain leading scientists and overseas Vietnamese talents to contribute to the Fatherland.

Seventh, continue to streamline the apparatus and reform administration. Continue to review to reduce focal points within ministries, branches and localities; implement 100% of digital records and results of handling administrative procedures; resolutely remove from the apparatus those who harass, avoid, and fear responsibility, and replace them with those who dare to think and dare to do.

Eighth, consider cultural development on par with economic development, comprehensive development of Vietnamese culture and people. Effectively implement the National Target Program on Cultural Excitation. Build and develop an advanced, identity-rich, synchronous Vietnamese culture on the foundation of national value system, family value system and new-era Vietnamese human standards. Strongly develop cultural industries, turn culture into endogenous strength and important economic resources.

Ninth, sustainable social development, ensuring social security, effective management and use of resources, environmental protection, and adaptation to climate change. Implement a roadmap for tuition exemption for high school students and strive to exempt hospital fees at a basic level for all people according to the roadmap. Accelerate and soon complete the project of 1 million social housing apartments, so that workers have a place to settle down and work. Build a social security net covering the entire population, ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey of national development. Proactively take measures to be ready to respond to all types of natural disasters; fundamentally overcome environmental pollution, flooding, landslides, etc.

tenth, enhance foreign affairs and strengthen national defense and security. Protecting the Fatherland early and from afar. At the same time, proactively and actively integrate deeply and substantially into the international community, turning international commitments into specific economic benefits. Build a lean, compact, strong army and police force, move straight to modernity, self-reliance, self-reliance, and dual-use. Maintain a peaceful and stable political environment for economic development, while resolutely and persistently protecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Sincerely thank Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh!

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