The Party cell secretary must be a fair and impartial person.

(Baonghean) - The Party cell secretary is also the person who stands on the organizational and collective standpoint to solve common tasks, must 'put public interest first', and must not have a selfish, narrow-minded, individualistic, or profiteering attitude.

Recently, at the Competition for Excellent Party Cell Secretaries organized by the Party Committee of the Provincial Agencies, Comrade Duong Thanh Binh - Party Cell Secretary, Head of the Party Building Department, Provincial Political School won a high prize at the competition. Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with him about solutions to improve the quality of life as well as the qualities required of an excellent Party Cell Secretary.

Comrade Duong Thanh Binh (right) in an hour of discussion with students. Photo: Thanh Duy

Reporter:At the Competition for Excellent Party Cell Secretaries organized by the Party Committee of the Provincial Agencies, your presentation with the topic: "Improving the quality of regular Party cell activities to contribute to improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party cells and Party members" was highly appreciated by the Jury. Could you share why you chose this topic?

Comrade Duong Thanh Binh:Recognizing the important role of Party cell activities, Party committees from the central to local levels have paid special attention and issued many documents directing the improvement of the quality of Party cell activities.

On July 5, 2017, the Provincial Party Standing Committee issued Directive 13-CT/TU on "improving the quality of Party cell activities" to enhance the leadership capacity and fighting strength of grassroots Party organizations, and improve the quality of cadres and Party members.

Participating in teaching and researching in the field of political theory, as well as many years as Secretary of the Party Cell of the Faculty of Party Building, I am really concerned about how to innovate and improve the quality of Party cell activities, contributing to building a clean and strong Party cell, successfully completing assigned tasks. That is the reason why I chose the above topic to present at the Contest.

Reporter:Recently, the summary of 10 years of implementing Directive No. 10-CT/TW of the Secretariat on improving the quality of Party cell activities pointed out many existing situations, including Party cells whose activities often overlap with their professional fields. So, in your opinion, what solutions are needed to improve the quality of regular Party cell activities?

Comrade Duong Thanh Binh:It can be said that this is also the question that many people ask. The reason is that in the process of preparing and organizing activities, the Party cells mainly evaluate the results and deploy professional tasks.

There is nothing wrong with this, however, if we only evaluate the content of professional leadership activities, then the leadership activities of the Party cell are not comprehensive, but need to clearly demonstrate the content and leadership methods of the Party cell in various fields...

Obviously, if the appropriate leadership content and methods are not selected, it will lead to the functions and tasks of the Party organization and the profession overlapping; or the Party cell activities are just a formality, a "shadow" of the professional activities; or vice versa, the Party cell replaces the functions of the profession.

Therefore, to improve the quality of regular Party cell activities, in my opinion, it is necessary to do a good job of preparing Party cell activities, in which good preparation of content is of decisive significance; especially, focusing on key contents such as: thoroughly understanding the Party's guidelines, policies, and guidelines, the State's laws, regulations, programs, and work plans of superiors.

The content also needs to provide timely new information about the world, domestic and local situations; thereby, helping party members have the right ideological orientation, proactively and voluntarily carry out assigned tasks.

Based on the prescribed functions and tasks and from the practical situation of the agency, unit, and locality, the Party cell discusses, evaluates the results, and proposes directions, policies, contents, and solutions to lead the implementation of the tasks.

Next, the Party cell needs to evaluate, discuss and decide on issues related to internal Party building.

The Party cell secretary must have a firm grasp of the process and procedures for Party cell meetings in accordance with principles, but not rigidly; must maximize democracy, suggest realistic speech content, mobilize collective intellectual strength, and create an exciting atmosphere so that the Party cell meeting is truly effective.

At the same time, the Party cell secretary must focus on implementing well the basic characteristics of Party cell activities, which are leadership, education, and combat. These are the characteristics that most clearly demonstrate the nature and distinguish the content of Party activities from other forms of activities.

Organizing Party cell activities in a disciplined and timely manner at the beginning of the month is also very important because only then can we ensure the timeliness of Party cell leadership and raise the awareness and responsibility of each cadre and Party member.

Reporter:As you mentioned, we can see that the role of the Party cell secretary is extremely important in improving the quality of Party cell activities. So, in your opinion, what qualities and style does a good Party cell secretary need?

Comrade Duong Thanh Binh:In practice, it has been shown that Party cell secretaries who are well-evaluated often have strong political will, are steadfast in the goals of national independence and socialism, are loyal to Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought; strictly abide by the Party Platform, Party Statutes and Party resolutions; and resolutely protect the Party's viewpoints and guidelines and the State's policies and laws.

The Party cell secretary is also the person who stands on the organizational and collective standpoint to solve common work, must "put public interest first", and must not have a selfish, narrow-minded, individualistic, or profiteering attitude.

In the collective, the Party cell secretary must clearly express his/her opinions, not be ambiguous or evasive, dare to defend what is right, and criticize wrongdoings in the agency or unit.

On the other hand, the Party cell secretary must have qualifications and knowledge in both expertise, profession and Party work; must be a person with revolutionary ethics and a healthy, honest and exemplary lifestyle; have a spirit of thrift and anti-waste; not be corrupt or bureaucratic; not be opportunistic, selfish or ambitious for power; be trusted by Party members and the people; have a spirit of self-criticism and criticism, and maintain solidarity and unity in the Party cell.

The Party cell secretary must be sensitive to new things, have the capacity for innovation, be a pioneer in solving new and difficult problems in carrying out political tasks, professional tasks, and Party building work; have a bold, courageous, decisive, proactive, and creative spirit; be exemplary, take the lead, have prestige, and maintain close ties with the masses; at the same time have leadership and management skills and expertise; and fulfill the role of the "locomotive" in the Party Committee and Party cell.

Reporter:Thank you comrade!

Thanh Duy