Following the path of socialism, Vietnam successfully corrected the shortcomings that the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe encountered.

The book "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has just been introduced to readers in Hanoi, gathering 29 articles and speeches expressing consistent, steadfast thoughts and creative development, perfecting theoretical thinking and awareness of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam.

In an interview with VOV.VN reporter, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc - former Director of the Institute of Party History (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics) said that the General Secretary's book affirmed that socialism in Vietnam was developed on the theoretical foundation of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought, with a scientific basis and not done in a patchwork or temporary manner.

Socialism is the right path that mankind will take.

PV:Sir, in the context of many changes in the world, especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union, why does Vietnam still firmly follow the path that President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam chose, which is to move towards socialism?

Mr. Nguyen Trong Phuc:The collapse of the socialist model in the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries is not the end of socialism. The proof is that many countries are still persistently following the path of socialism, including Vietnam.

Vietnam has gradually corrected the shortcomings and limitations caused by subjectivity, voluntarism, and haste in building socialism that the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries had encountered in the past. In fact, Vietnam has successfully corrected those shortcomings and limitations through the renovation policy and continued to persevere on the path of building socialism and achieved great victories.

The socialist trend in some countries, such as those in Latin America, still wants to move towards socialism. Therefore, socialism is still a trend, a political regime, and the right path that humanity will follow as determined by our Party's Platform.

From the achievements of the renovation process, Vietnam has been affirming that socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam have been increasingly clearly perceived, and are being realized by the renovation policy, by the Platform (the Platform for national construction in the transitional period to socialism in 1991, later supplemented by the 2011 Platform at the 11th Congress) with the goal of building a society of rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization, and people-led society...

Flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square. Illustrative photo Vietnamplus

The book by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong summarizes the achievements of the process of building socialism before the renovation and reveals the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations, and how our Party has corrected them in the process of renovation from 1986 to the present. Currently, it can be affirmed that the process of building socialism in Vietnam has achieved great achievements.

From that practical summary, the General Secretary affirmed that the awareness of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam is increasingly clear in both theory and practice; step by step we have built the theoretical foundation of socialism in Vietnam in accordance with Vietnamese practice, not a model imposed from another country.

In terms of scientific methodology, Vietnam also affirms that there is essentially no common model of socialism for all countries. From the common nature of socialism or the common principles and viewpoints of Marxism-Leninism on socialism, each country needs to be creative with its own conditions.

Our country's renovation has successfully implemented Uncle Ho's instructions, which is to find its own rules, its own model, its own way of doing things, and now we have a very clear image of socialism, as in the work of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who summarized the model of socialism, answering the questions: What is socialism? Why did Vietnam choose the path of socialism? How and by what means can we gradually build socialism in Vietnam? From now until socialism is completed, what kind of journey will we go through? What is the form of economy and society? What is the model of political regime, social structure, and class? What are the foreign relations, the country's internal strength, national defense, and security?... all have been very clearly shaped.

In the process of moving towards socialism, mistakes and shortcomings are inevitable.

PV: The path to socialism that President Ho Chi Minh and our Party have chosen is an unprecedented path, not a miracle and will face many difficulties and challenges. Could you please tell us what those difficulties and challenges are?

Mr. Nguyen Trong Phuc:Moving towards socialism is a long process, building a completely new society, unprecedented in history, completely different from previous social forms.

Meanwhile, the socialist model has encountered resistance from opposing and reactionary forces of the old regime. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why there are so many anti-socialist and anti-communist forces today, even though we have built a good social regime, bringing benefits, a prosperous life, freedom and happiness to the majority of the people, not bringing benefits to any group or individual.

Because there is no precedent in history, the General Secretary has determined in that work: We will learn from experience as we do it. Whatever is good, correct, and clear, we will strive to firmly implement; whatever is unclear, we will continue to summarize to clarify more urgent issues of humanity and the people, thereby demonstrating more clearly in policies, laws, and specific policies.

In the process of implementation, it is inevitable that there will be mistakes and shortcomings, including ideological, political, moral, lifestyle degradation, self-evolution, and self-transformation within the Party... We must look straight at the truth to affirm that these are shortcomings and difficulties in order to improve Party education, build and rectify the Party strongly to have a truly revolutionary Party.

The 8 basic characteristics of socialism in Vietnam that our Party has summarized and drawn are a unique theoretical creative development achievement of our Party. To realize that model, it requires a long and arduous career, a huge investment of human and financial resources, constant creativity, especially thinking, searching for a reasonable roadmap and steps, and the right way to solve the assigned tasks.

Refuting wrong, reactionary, and negative views on socialism

PV:What is the special significance of the book "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in the current context, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Trong Phuc:The General Secretary's book affirms that socialism in Vietnam is developed on the theoretical foundation of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought, has its own scientific basis, and is not done in a patchwork or temporary manner.

The work of the General Secretary has raised the scientific and theoretical level of our Party to a new level, and that theoretical awareness has illuminated and promoted the process of building socialism in our country today to reach the final destination as determined by the 2011 Platform: by the middle of the 21st century, our country will achieve the basic goals of socialism, that is, to basically build the economic foundation of socialism with a suitable political, ideological and cultural superstructure, creating the basis for our country to become an increasingly prosperous and happy socialist country; The 13th National Party Congress also determined that by 2030 our country will become a developing country with modern industry and high average income, and by 2045 it will become a developed country with high income, prosperity, and socialist-oriented development.

The viewpoints as stated in the 13th National Party Congress and the Platform are being realized in the theoretical issues of socialism. Therefore, the General Secretary's book is being recognized throughout the Party, from the highest leaders to ordinary Party members, on the path to socialism, while encouraging all people to move towards the goal of socialism, with a clearer understanding of both theory and practice.

In addition, the General Secretary's book has made a great contribution to the world revolutionary movement on socialist theory. That contribution comes from the rich, profound, scientifically-based practice in the renovation process that Vietnam has drawn and summarized. Left-wing parties, movements, and theoretical researchers around the world have found that Vietnam has made a certain contribution to protecting the purity of Marxism-Leninism, protecting theoretical issues, and the viewpoints on socialism mentioned by Marx and Engels.

Another important meaning is that the General Secretary's work contributes to the struggle to refute the wrong and reactionary views of hostile forces that are seeking to negate socialism and the role of ruling Communist Parties in the world, including the Communist Party of Vietnam; contributing to protecting the ideological foundation of our Party, which is Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and protecting the scientific values ​​and revolutionary doctrines of Marx and Engels. At the same time, it encourages countries that are currently steadfastly following the path of socialism to continue to maintain their faith in the final victory of socialism.

PV:Yes, thank you sir./.