The driving force behind the country's rapid and sustainable development.

On the occasion of welcoming the Year of the Rabbit 2023 and commemorating the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2023), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong took the time to answer an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). The following is the content of the interview:

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Reporter:Mr. General Secretary, could you please tell us about some of the outstanding achievements in our country's construction and development in 2022?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:Looking back at 2022, we see that the global and domestic situations have presented new and more challenging challenges than anticipated. The world has experienced rapid, complex, and unpredictable changes unprecedented in history. Domestically, we have simultaneously strived to restore and develop the socio-economic sector while continuing to address the lingering problems caused by the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, seasonal diseases, and the consequences of natural disasters, storms, and floods.

Total import and export turnover in 2022 reached a record high, increasing by 10% compared to 2021.

In that context, with the unity and determination of the entire political system, we achieved and exceeded 14 out of 15 planned targets. The country's GDP growth reached 8.02%, significantly higher than the planned target of 6-6.5%. The main sectors of the economy recovered and experienced strong growth. State budget revenue increased by 20% compared to 2021; total social investment increased by 12.5% ​​compared to the previous year, with disbursed foreign direct investment reaching US$22 billion, an increase of 16%. Total import and export turnover reached a record high of US$740 billion, an increase of 10% compared to 2021 (Vietnam continues to be among the top 25 economies in terms of trade).

The cultural sector has received more attention, especially since the National Cultural Conference at the end of 2021. We are focusing on building national values, cultural values, family values, and the values ​​of Vietnamese people in the new era. Many large-scale cultural, sports, and entertainment events, especially the 31st SEA Games, have been organized very successfully.

Vietnamese athletes achieved many resounding victories at the 31st SEA Games.

Education and healthcare are gradually being strengthened and reformed after the COVID-19 pandemic, progressively improving quality to meet the learning and medical needs of the people. Social policies, especially those for those who have contributed to the revolution, social welfare policies, and support for businesses, workers, and people severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and floods, have been implemented promptly, contributing to ensuring social security, stability, and further improving people's lives.

National defense and security have been strengthened, firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; political security, social order, and safety have been maintained; and foreign relations have continued to be promoted and deepened. Party building and the political system, as well as the fight against corruption and negative phenomena, have continued to be intensified and carried out synchronously from the central to local levels, creating positive changes in practice and gaining the support and approval of cadres, Party members, and the people.

These achievements are primarily due to the close, timely, and correct leadership of the Party; the effective support and supervision of the National Assembly; the decisive and systematic direction and management of the Government; the unity and close coordination of all sectors and levels; the resolute involvement of the entire political system; and the efforts of the entire Party, people, and army. With the spirit of "leading the way," "one call, all respond," "unity of purpose," and "smooth communication," we have gradually overcome difficulties and challenges, achieving relatively comprehensive success in the set goals and tasks. This is the great driving force that propels the country into 2023 with renewed confidence, enthusiasm, and determination, continuing its rapid and sustainable development.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong presents gifts to outstanding national war veterans and martyrs' representatives on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2022).

However, the situation ahead still presents many difficulties and challenges; we must not be complacent and must continue to effectively control the COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging diseases, while focusing our efforts on economic and social recovery and development. In particular, we must maintain macroeconomic stability, control inflation, and ensure the major balances of the economy. We must accelerate economic restructuring, linked to innovation in the growth model, enhancing the internal capacity, self-reliance, resilience, and adaptability of the economy; consolidating, promoting, and creating new growth drivers in the medium and long term. We must speed up the implementation of strategic breakthroughs, the Economic and Social Recovery and Development Program, the three National Target Programs, and projects to build a synchronous and modern infrastructure system, especially national key projects. Improving the quality of human resources, promoting the application and development of science and technology, digital transformation, green transformation, and innovation to adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Focusing on developing culture and education, ensuring social security, and continuously improving the lives of the people. Strictly managing and effectively utilizing land and resources, protecting the environment, and proactively responding to climate change. Concentrating on strengthening Party building and the political system. Intensifying the fight against corruption and negative practices. Strengthening national defense and security, firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and maintaining political security, order, and social safety. Actively and comprehensively integrating into the international community, and improving the effectiveness of foreign affairs.

Reporter:It can be affirmed that in 2022, most of the important directions in the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party were concretized and implemented at all levels. How does the General Secretary assess these steps, Mr. General Secretary?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:Over the past year, the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party has been implemented vigorously, concretized into specialized resolutions of the Central Committee and the Politburo, practical action programs of the National Assembly and the Government, and widely disseminated to ministries, departments, agencies at all levels, cadres, Party members, and the people.

Sixth Conference of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 13th term.

At the 5th and 6th Conferences, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam thoroughly discussed and concretized all the core contents and major issues raised in the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, such as: Land management and use; Agriculture, farmers, and rural areas; Development of the collective economy; National master plan orientation for the period 2021-2030 and vision to 2050; Promoting industrialization and modernization by 2030, vision to 2045; Building grassroots Party organizations and Party members; Continuing to build and perfect the socialist rule of law state of Vietnam; Continuing to innovate the Party's leadership methods over the activities of the political system. These are practical issues for the people, with important significance for the socio-economic development of the country in the coming period, and for the integrity and strength of the Party and the political system.

As we know, each region has its own unique characteristics. To fully utilize the potential and advantages of each region, in addition to general national development policies, specific policies tailored to each region are necessary. Prior to this term, regional development orientations had been implemented through several thematic resolutions of previous Politburo members; however, the results were not as desired, and the potential advantages of each region have not been rationally exploited and effectively utilized.

Therefore, the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party clearly stated: “Better exploit and maximize the advantages of each region in terms of infrastructure, natural conditions, geo-economic and geopolitical location, human resources, and strengthen intra-regional and inter-regional linkages to participate in global value chains, creating new development spaces...”. This orientation was concretized by the Politburo into six specialized resolutions on the development of six key regions: the Northern Midlands and Mountains; the Mekong Delta; the Central Highlands; the Southeast; the North Central and Central Coastal regions; and the Red River Delta. Following these resolutions, national conferences were held to disseminate the basic contents of these resolutions.

I have repeatedly emphasized that with each resolution, the crucial and decisive issue remains how to effectively implement it, ensuring practical results and resolutely overcoming the situation where "the resolution sounds great, but its implementation is fraught with difficulties," or "it starts strong but ends weakly," or "it begins with a bang but ends with a whimper."

A positive shift can be observed: immediately after the national conferences to disseminate the Politburo's Resolution on regional development, the Party Caucus of the National Assembly and the Party Committee of the Government promptly developed, promulgated, and implemented the Action Program to implement the Resolution, assigning specific tasks to ministries and agencies at the central level and localities in the regions, based on adhering closely to the guiding principles and content of the Resolutions, while also being appropriate to the actual situation of the regions and sub-regions. Subsequently, central ministries and agencies and localities in the regions gradually concretized the Politburo's Resolution and the National Assembly and Government's Action Program through specific, highly feasible mechanisms, policies, plans, projects, and resources. But first and foremost, and directly, are the Party committees, governments, and people of the localities in each region, who, having already shown determination, are now even more determined; Having innovated and strived, we will continue to innovate and strive even more vigorously, seizing opportunities and advantages; overcoming difficulties and challenges, successfully achieving the goals set forth in the resolution, creating a new, breakthrough transformation in socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the regions, and together with the whole country, continue to promote the process of innovation, industrialization, and modernization of the country.

Convergence of resources through national master planning

Reporter:Continuing the momentum of previous years, the fight against corruption and negative practices has been implemented decisively and systematically, making strong, important, and comprehensive progress, becoming an irreversible movement and trend. Could the General Secretary please elaborate on the outstanding new aspects of this work?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:In 2022, the fight against corruption and negative practices was decisively led and directed by the Central Committee, with many new developments and concrete results, receiving the support and high praise of cadres, Party members, the people, and international public opinion.

First and foremost, the functions and tasks of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption have been revised and supplemented, with many innovations in content, methods, and scope of activities, including addressing "negative phenomena." Provincial-level Steering Committees on Anti-Corruption and Negative Phenomena have been established in all 63 provinces and cities and quickly became operational, achieving initial results. The Central Steering Committee selects weak points and difficult issues to focus on addressing; it works very seriously, responsibly, systematically, and scientifically, with very smooth and close coordination, high determination, and increasingly clear effectiveness; it truly acts as the "commander-in-chief" and "conductor" of the anti-corruption and negative phenomenon prevention and control work. Provincial-level Steering Committees will implement activities in this direction.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption and negative phenomena on November 18, 2022.

In 2022, we uncovered, investigated, and handled several major and serious cases (Viet A, FLC, Tan Hoang Minh, the Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AIC, and Van Thinh Phat...). This was a very difficult, complex, and sensitive task, but thanks to thorough, meticulous, objective, and highly unified preparation, it received public support and approval.

Recently, the Politburo issued Regulation No. 41-QD/TW, dated November 3, 2021, on the dismissal and resignation of officials, and Notice No. 20-TB/TW, dated September 8, 2022, on the reassignment of officials after disciplinary action. The issuance of these regulations is a further step in perfecting the Party's principles and discipline, demonstrating a decisive and strong spirit in handling corrupt and degenerate officials, and promptly replacing those who no longer possess the necessary competence and prestige, following the motto: "There is entry, exit, promotion, and demotion."

Regarding some opinions that focusing too much on combating corruption and negative practices will discourage those who dare to think and act, and slow down the country's development, it can be affirmed, and reality has proven, to be completely the opposite. It is precisely because of doing a good job in building and rectifying the Party and the political system, and intensifying the fight against corruption and negative practices, that we have maintained political and social stability, restored and developed the economy and society, expanded foreign relations, and strengthened the trust of the people and international friends. At the same time, we refute the distorted arguments of hostile forces that the handling of errant officials and Party members is "internal power struggles" or "factionalism." Intensifying the fight against corruption and negative practices only discourages those with ulterior motives. I have said it many times before: "Those who don't dare to act should step aside and let others do it."

Reporter:Against the backdrop of rapidly changing, complex, and unpredictable regional and global situations, the foreign affairs work of our Party and State continues to be implemented actively, dynamically, and effectively, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Can this be considered a bright spot in the past year, Mr. General Secretary?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:The Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party affirmed: Consistently implementing an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developmental foreign policy; multilateralizing and diversifying foreign relations. Combining national strength with the strength of the times, proactively and actively integrating into the international community comprehensively and deeply; Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community.

To implement that consistent foreign policy, in the context of the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have proactively and responsibly contributed to the common efforts of the international community in preventing and controlling the epidemic, while also leveraging international support to effectively control this dangerous disease and quickly restore and develop socio-economic activities.

General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping presented the Friendship Order to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China.

With a proactive, positive, and highly responsible spirit, we have undertaken many important international responsibilities: Non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, member of the United Nations Human Rights Council...; sending hundreds of officers and soldiers to participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces. Participating in resolving many important international issues, Vietnam's voice, initiatives, and reasonable and compassionate solutions, based on equality, harmony, and humanity, and respecting international law, have received the approval and support of the international community.

Many major diplomatic activities were conducted at the right time, with the right policies, including organizing and conducting high-level visits, which had a strong impact and created high consensus throughout the Party, the people, and the armed forces of Vietnam, and received the approval and support of international public opinion. The recent official visit to China by a high-level delegation of the Vietnamese Party was not only a particularly important event for Vietnam and China, but also attracted significant international attention. The content, protocol, and results of the visit demonstrated the mutual respect between the two Parties and two countries. Both sides issued a Joint Statement on further strengthening and deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China; affirming the determination to continue promoting cooperation between the two Parties and two countries in the future.

On the afternoon of December 16, 2022, in Hanoi, the Ministry of National Defence held a ceremony to present the President's Decision to four officers assigned to United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic and to summarize the terms of service of the four officers serving in Central Africa and South Sudan.

This year-end period, the visits of our Party and State leaders to other countries, participation in numerous regional and international forums (ASEAN, AIPA, ASEM, APEC, IPU…), as well as visits by high-ranking leaders from other countries to Vietnam, reflect a vibrant picture on the foreign affairs front. This represents a strong implementation of our Party's foreign policy, both bilaterally and multilaterally, creating a favorable international environment to accelerate industrialization, modernization, and socio-economic development. These results contribute to the overall achievements of the country and enhance Vietnam's role, position, and prestige in the international arena.

In the context of a rapidly changing and unpredictable world situation, our country, despite facing many difficulties, will certainly achieve success in implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, with the collective efforts and high determination of the entire Party, people, and army. This will lead our country to increasingly develop, become stronger and more prosperous, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the world, as President Ho Chi Minh envisioned.

Reporter: Thank you very much, Mr. General Secretary!