The most precious things a person possesses are life and honor.

Recognizing corruption as one of the major threats to the survival of the Party and the regime, the Party and the State have always prioritized the fight against corruption and negative practices. This is one of the vital tasks in building and rectifying the Party and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of State management.

The Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party clearly states that one of the key tasks in this term is to continue to strengthen the fight against corruption and negative phenomena.

The fight against corruption and negative practices has truly "become an irreversible movement and trend," receiving the support and high praise of officials, Party members, and the people, and is recognized by international friends.

As a result, corruption has been gradually curbed and prevented, making a significant contribution to maintaining political stability, promoting socio-economic development, and strengthening the trust of cadres, Party members, and the people in the Party and the State.

Handbook on anti-corruption work

The book "Resolutely and Persistently Fighting Against Corruption and Negative Phenomena, Contributing to Building a Cleaner and Stronger Party and State" by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is considered a handbook on the fight against corruption and negative phenomena. The book also provides an important theoretical and practical foundation for refuting erroneous and hostile viewpoints.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was very thoughtful and concerned about the title of the book about combating corruption and negative practices that bears his name.

“The General Secretary did not intend to write a book on combating corruption and negative practices under his own name, nor did he want to glorify himself. However, after reviewing the entire content of the book, and especially after seeing the preface stating that the Central Internal Affairs Committee collaborated with the National Political Publishing House to compile this book, the General Secretary agreed,” said Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc, when he was serving as Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Committee, at the book launch on November 11, 2023.

Part one, "Some Issues Drawn from the Practical Experience of the Fight Against Corruption and Negative Phenomena in Vietnam," includes the General Secretary's overview article "The Fight Against Corruption and Negative Phenomena: A Necessary and Inevitable Task; an Irreversible Trend!"; four concluding remarks by the General Secretary at the National Conferences on Anti-Corruption Work in 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2022; and conclusions from 36 sessions and meetings of the Steering Committee and its Standing Committee.

The second part, "Consistently adhering to the principle: 'Preventing corruption and negative phenomena early, from afar, and at both the root and the branches,' includes articles that demonstrate the General Secretary's sharp thinking and superior political vision on "the fundamental issue in the fight against corruption and negative phenomena: prevention from afar and from an early stage, with the focus on building and rectifying the Party, and especially preventing and combating the decline in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle among cadres and Party members, that is, eradicating corruption and negative phenomena at their root."

The third section, "Unity from top to bottom, seamless communication from left to right," compiles the opinions and assessments of various segments of the population, politicians, scholars, and international friends, expressing recognition, support, and profound trust in the fight against "internal enemies."

The General Secretary stated: "Corruption (embezzlement, extortion) is a negative and evil social phenomenon that exists in every era, every regime, and every country; it is a 'congenital defect' of power."

Throughout the Vietnamese revolutionary leadership, the Party has recognized and increasingly understood the dangers and harmful effects of corruption and negative practices on the Party, the regime, and the nation-building process. Therefore, mechanisms to control power are necessary to prevent its "corruption." The General Secretary emphasized: "All power must be strictly controlled by mechanisms; power must be bound by responsibility; responsibility must match power, the higher the power, the greater the responsibility; anyone who abuses or exploits power for personal gain must be held accountable and punished."

Therefore, those entrusted with positions and authority must constantly cultivate and improve themselves, regularly engage in self-reflection and self-correction; at the same time, they must strengthen effective supervision and control over the exercise of power.

Corruption exists in every era, under every regime, and in every country; it cannot be eradicated completely in a short period of time. Therefore, the fight against corruption and negative practices requires high determination, great effort, and the right methods; complacency and haste are unacceptable. This is also a crucial guideline for the Party and State in determining the principle of combining "construction" and "combat" in the fight against corruption and negative practices.

"The most precious things a person possesses are life and honor in life."

However, some argue that over-focusing on combating corruption will discourage those who dare to think and act, and slow down the country's development. Through thorough analysis and explanations, supported by numerous factual data and evidence, the General Secretary affirmed: "The fight against corruption and negative practices has made a very important contribution to promoting socio-economic development, maintaining political stability, and especially, has gradually restored and strengthened the people's trust."

In the fight against corruption and negative phenomena, "prevention is the main, fundamental, and long-term approach, while combating it is important and urgent." The General Secretary's consistent viewpoint in the fight against corruption and negative phenomena is that "there must be a close and synchronized combination of proactive prevention with proactive detection and timely and strict handling of corrupt and negative acts; in which prevention is the main, fundamental, and long-term approach; detection and handling are important and breakthrough."

However, for effective prevention, a mechanism must be established. That mechanism must ensure feasibility and high effectiveness. The General Secretary demanded: “We must build a strict prevention mechanism to make corruption and negative practices ‘impossible’; a mechanism for severe deterrence and punishment to make people ‘not dare’ to engage in corruption and negative practices; build a culture of integrity to make people ‘not want’ to engage in corruption and negative practices; and a mechanism to ensure that corruption and negative practices are ‘not needed’.”

The General Secretary particularly emphasized that cadres and Party members, especially leaders, must value integrity, uphold honor, and feel ashamed when they or their relatives engage in corrupt or negative behavior.

“The most precious thing a person possesses is life and honor, because a person only lives once. We must live in such a way that we do not feel sorrow or regret for wasted years; so that we are not ashamed of petty, cowardly actions that earn us the contempt of others; so that when we close our eyes for the last time, we can proudly say: All our life, all our strength, we have dedicated to the noblest cause in the world – the struggle for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for the survival of the Nation, the glory of our race, and the happiness of the people!” General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed.