Unity, democracy, and wisdom for the common development of the province.

PV:Comrade, in implementing the action program of the Provincial Fatherland Front for the 2014-2019 term, the Fatherland Front and its members have made many innovations in methods and content of activities. Could you share some of the outstanding results?

Comrade Nguyen Van Huy:During the 2014-2019 term, closely adhering to the functions and tasks of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the operation and development of the province, the VFF from the provincial to the grassroots level proactively participated in many contents and tasks, contributing to the overall development of the province; especially in gathering and building the great national unity bloc to creatively, innovatively, and practically implement campaigns and patriotic emulation movements. Typical examples include the campaigns "All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas"; poverty reduction; "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods"; the movements "Residential areas say no to unsafe food"; ensuring security and order, preventing and combating crime and social evils; ensuring traffic safety; caring for the welfare of military families; and the "gratitude and repayment" work...

The Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee presented Certificates of Commendation to collectives and individuals who have achieved outstanding results in Fatherland Front work.

Through the propaganda and mobilization efforts of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels, the people of Nghe An province have voluntarily contributed 5,658 billion VND; donated over 8 million square meters of land; and contributed 6.39 million man-days of labor to the construction of new rural areas. By the end of 2018, the entire province had 56 villages and hamlets, and 218 out of 431 communes and 3 district-level units that met the standards for new rural areas.

The monitoring and critical review activities, as stipulated in Decision No. 217-QD/TW dated December 12, 2013, of the Politburo, have been proactively implemented by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations. They have selected practical content, including issues of public concern and urgency. Specifically, these include the management and use of plant protection products; policies on irrigation fee subsidies; policies for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution; environmental pollution in industrial zones; food safety and hygiene; and vocational training policies for rural laborers.

Notably, through its monitoring activities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations have identified and recommended that Party committees and authorities at all levels address shortcomings and inadequacies in the implementation of the Party and State's policies and guidelines. Similarly, the critical review activities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its members at all levels have become increasingly systematic, focusing on draft policies, guidelines, and legal documents of the Party, State, National Assembly, and local authorities.

Residents of Phu Hoa hamlet, Nghia Phu commune, Nghia Dan district, learn about the regulations on implementing grassroots democracy. (Photo: Thu Giang)

Based on the direction of the Provincial Party Committee, during its term, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee directed the Fatherland Front at all levels to preside over and implement dialogue activities between local Party committees, authorities, and the people in 480 communes, wards, and towns on a regular basis, twice a year. In particular, the Fatherland Front at the commune level paid attention to post-dialogue monitoring to ensure that the suggestions and concerns of voters were addressed, ensuring the effectiveness of the dialogue. This contributed to resolving difficulties and grievances among the people, reducing mass complaints and appeals to higher levels, and promoting the socio-economic development of the locality.

The work on ethnic groups, religions, and people-to-people diplomacy, as well as the participation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations in Party and government building, has been renewed, made more flexible and creative, and has yielded practical results.

Through the campaign to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas led by the Fatherland Front at all levels, the people have voluntarily donated land and dismantled fences to expand rural roads. (Photo: Minh Chi)

PV:During the 2014-2019 term, it can be said that the Fatherland Front at all levels in the province undertook many tasks, including new and challenging ones. So, to ensure the successful completion of the above tasks, what lessons can be learned, in your opinion?

Comrade Nguyen Van Huy:From the practical experience of the Fatherland Front's work during the past term, the most important factor has been the direct and timely leadership and guidance of the Provincial Party Committee; and the regular coordination and support of the National Assembly delegation, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee through the annual coordination regulations between the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee and these agencies. Based on closely adhering to the functions and tasks of the Fatherland Front and the actual situation of the locality, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee has also developed a systematic action program to implement the Resolution of the Provincial Fatherland Front Congress for the 2014-2019 term, with specific goals and targets; stemming from the legitimate aspirations and interests of the people.

The working methods of the Provincial Fatherland Front and its member organizations are focused on innovation, enhancing proactiveness and creativity, clearly defining responsibilities in activities, clearly identifying the lead agency and coordinating agencies, and avoiding overlap and formality.

Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Nguyen Van Huy.

The Front Committee of Nghi Lien commune (Vinh City) discusses plans to mobilize the people to effectively implement local movements. Photo: Mai Hoa

During the term, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee organized 12 thematic monitoring sessions, and the Fatherland Front at the district and commune levels organized more than 900 thematic monitoring sessions. The Fatherland Front at all levels organized 1,012 social critique conferences, providing feedback on 1,740 documents; organized 917 dialogue sessions for critical feedback, and participated in providing feedback on 1,730 issues related to Party and government building.

During the 2014-2019 term, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee also focused more on building and strengthening its organization; training and developing the skills and operational capacity of its staff; combining self-study and self-improvement to enhance their sense of responsibility towards their work; closely adhering to assigned tasks; staying close to the grassroots and residential areas to disseminate information and mobilize support; knowing how to "listen to what the people say" and "act to earn the people's trust," overcoming the tendency towards a general and bureaucratic approach to Fatherland Front work. Practical experience proves that wherever there is an exemplary, responsible, and reputable head of the Fatherland Front and a capable and dedicated staff, the Fatherland Front's activities are effective, and its position and role are enhanced.

The work of summarizing and evaluating, along with the emulation and reward system for movements and campaigns led by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, is regularly organized; thereby promptly correcting and overcoming shortcomings and limitations, while simultaneously encouraging, motivating, and widely disseminating these movements and campaigns.

PV:Currently, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) is entrusted with many functions and tasks. To continue effectively fulfilling its functions and tasks, what will be the key priorities in the VFF's action program for the 2019-2024 term, Comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Van Huy:That's right! Currently, the Vietnam Fatherland Front is entrusted with many functions and tasks, including new ones that need to be implemented effectively. In addition, Nghe An is a province with unique characteristics, a large area, including 11 mountainous districts and towns, ethnic minority communities; 419 border lines, and 450,000 ethnic minority people, and 280,000 Catholic people.

During the 2014-2019 term, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee made many innovations in its work related to religion and ethnic groups. In the photo: Leaders of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee visit and present gifts to the families of religious leaders and officials in Quynh Thanh commune (Quynh Luu district). Photo courtesy of Minh Chi.

This reality presents a challenge for the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations in the 2019-2024 term: to continue to reflect on and innovate their methods of operation, and to innovate their propaganda and mobilization work to awaken patriotism and gain the people's support in carrying out tasks, emulation movements, and campaigns led by the Front, especially in building new rural areas and civilized urban areas. This must be coupled with strengthening the listening to the people's opinions, promptly identifying shortcomings in the implementation of the Party and State's policies at all levels, and proposing amendments to ensure that policies are issued in a way that harmonizes interests and protects the legitimate rights and interests of the people.

Another key focus should be on social monitoring and criticism; prioritizing monitoring activities that directly affect people's lives; and focusing on criticizing the Party and State's policies and guidelines that directly relate to the legitimate rights and interests of the people, as well as the rights and responsibilities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations.

The Provincial Fatherland Front will also continue to direct Fatherland Fronts at all levels to improve the quality of dialogue activities between Party committees, the government, and the people, contributing to strengthening the close relationship between the Party, the State, and the people…

Chairman of the Provincial Committee for International Cooperation Nguyen Van Huy.

Leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a solidarity house for a poor household in Anh Son district.

Given the functions, tasks, roles, and position of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), there is an increasing need to build a VFF Committee for the 2019-2024 term with members possessing high moral character, professional qualifications, capabilities, work skills, prestige, responsibility, and the ability to mobilize the strength of national unity to effectively implement the five programs set forth by the 14th VFF Congress. Therefore, delegates participating in the congress need to promote democracy and wisdom to consult and select qualified individuals for the new term 2019-2024 of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province.

PV:Thank you, comrade!