Straight lines, clear paths, united progress
Speaking at the opening of the 12th Central Conference, 13th tenure, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the Conference took place in the context of the entire Party, people and army changing from the state of "running and lining up" to "straight lines, clear paths, unanimously moving forward, reaching for the future".
Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc • July 29, 2025
Speaking at the opening of the 12th Central Conference, 13th tenure, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the conference took place in the context of the entire Party, people and army changing from the state of “running and lining up” to “straight lines, clear paths, unanimously moving forward, reaching for the future”. This transition was very rapid, but solid enough for a new stage that requires united efforts and high determination to reach for a strong and prosperous future.
The whole country has had 1 month of operating the 2-level local government, in the spirit of "running and queuing at the same time". The initial confusion and difficulties in operating the new model have been gradually identified and promptly overcome, with flexible and appropriate solutions, mobilizing forces to support administrative procedures at the grassroots level. And certainly, there will continue to be overcoming to move towards perfection, smooth operation of the apparatus, efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency in the coming time.
Having just started operating the two-level local government, preparations for organizing the congresses of newly established commune/ward party committees and implementing the arrangement and streamlining of the Party organization have also been carried out vigorously and urgently. Many commune-level party committee congresses have been successfully held. The new executive committee has been appointed. Thus, the apparatus and specific people have been clearly shaped, with clear job titles and positions.
Speaking at the opening of the 12th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee, General Secretary To Lam expressed his sincere thanks to the tireless efforts of the Central Committee members and all Party members in carrying out the Party's tasks, especially the work since the 11th Central Conference up to now; thanked the entire Party for uniting and working together with the people of the whole country to successfully complete the task of deploying a 2-level local government on July 1, 2025 with a new development space; bringing the nation into a new chapter in the history of the country's formation and development. After 1 month of operation, the whole country has changed from the state of "running and lining up" to "straight lines, clear paths, unanimous progress".
On July 21, during the inspection of the organization and operation of two-level local government in Thoi Son border ward (An Giang province) and My Hiep commune (Dong Thap province), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested localities to continue to closely monitor the situation and synchronously and effectively implement the policies, resolutions and conclusions of the Central Government on the organization of two-level local government. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that it is important to apply creatively and appropriately to local conditions; promote proactiveness, not wait or rely on others; promptly handle issues arising within authority; and in cases beyond authority, report to higher levels.
Changing the state from “running and lining up” to “straight lines, clear paths, and unanimous progress” also means that, from the Central to 34 provinces and cities and 3,321 communes, wards, and special zones, the entire political system and administrative system have operated in the direction of innovating the organizational apparatus, improving the quality of governance and scientific management, limiting intermediaries, eliminating overlapping functions, being closer to the people, serving the people better.
“A straight line, a clear path” also means that we have started, have shaped the path. That path, although it has been outlined, is of course not easy, especially in an unprecedented context, the challenges and difficulties ahead are not easy to imagine, to imagine in order to prepare effective solutions to deal with and overcome. In that context, consensus is extremely important, playing a decisive role. In the poem “The Stone” published in the Independent Vietnam Newspaper, issue 123, released on April 21, 1942, President Ho Chi Minh said: “Knowing how to unite our efforts, knowing how to unite our hearts, no matter how difficult the task, we can complete it”.
In the context of a two-level local government, that “stone” can be the difficulties that cadres and party members have to face. That difficulty can come from moving, from changing residence, from daily routine. That difficulty can also come from being demoted from a position, having less authority. That difficulty can also be unfamiliarity with a new model, new working environment, new apparatus, new people, new work. However, if each person in the team, in each collective “knows how to work together, knows how to be of one mind”, those “stones” called difficulties cannot block our way, hinder our path.
Unity and consensus are clear and vivid manifestations of solidarity. Solidarity is the core element in Ho Chi Minh's ideology, which he has always carefully built throughout his life of revolutionary activities for the country and the people. And historical facts have proven that when the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army become a unified bloc, unparalleled strength is created, helping our country defeat all invaders, achieving great achievements in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, typically in nearly 40 years of renovation. Solidarity is the source of strength of the Vietnamese people!
The unparalleled strength of solidarity, unity and unanimity clearly needs to be applied to the operation of the current two-level local government. In the context of the communal-level cadre team being like a miniature district level, with enhanced functions, tasks and powers, new colleagues and associates, and unfamiliar new jobs, solidarity plays a very important role. Solidarity is to gather forces, to unify perceptions and actions, to increase collective strength. Especially, in the context of many localities not yet merging headquarters, still working and living at different facilities, solidarity in thought and action, with the noble goal of being close to the people, for the people, putting the interests of the people first, needs to be taken seriously by cadres, civil servants, and public employees, especially the leadership team, to avoid creating gaps in handling work due to the disadvantage of separate working spaces.
After 1 month of operating the 2-level local government, the arising shortcomings and difficulties are also natural, in line with the development law in the new context. There is only one thing for sure, that is, when each member of the state administrative apparatus has solidarity, unity, and consensus in perception and action, surely all the difficulties that have to be faced, even if they have never happened before, will be resolved. It is like we lift the "stones" on the journey together to enter the new era, taking people and businesses as the center in the process of shifting the mindset from "controlling and subsidizing" administration to "governance and service".
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