General Vo Nguyen Giap and delegates from the Binh Tri Thien delegation discussed in groups and contributed to the Draft Political Report of the 6th National Party Congress, December 7, 1986. (Photo: Kim Hung/VNA)

6th National Party Congress

The 6th Party Congress - the congress that opened the renovation process - drew four lessons.

First, in all its activities, the Party must thoroughly grasp the idea of ​​"taking the people as the root," building and promoting the mastery of the working people. In the conditions of the ruling party, it must pay special attention to consolidating the connection between the Party and the people; regularly carry out the struggle to prevent and overcome bureaucracy. Each communist party member must truly be both a leader and a truly loyal servant of the people. All policies and guidelines of the Party must originate from the interests, aspirations and capabilities of the working people, and must arouse the sympathy and response of the masses. Bureaucracy, commandism, being distant from the masses, and going against the interests of the people weaken the Party's strength.

Second, the Party must always start from reality, respect and act according to objective laws. To overcome shortcomings and change the situation, our Party must first change its perception and renew its thinking. It must correctly perceive and act in accordance with the system of objective laws, in which the specific laws of socialism increasingly strongly influence the general development direction of society.

Third, we must know how to combine the strength of the nation with the strength of the times in new conditions. Throughout our entire revolutionary career, we must attach special importance to combining national and international elements, traditional and modern elements, make good use of all possibilities to expand trade relations, economic and scientific and technical cooperation with the outside world to serve the cause of building socialism, and always fulfill our international obligations to fraternal and friendly countries.

Fourth, we must build the Party to be equal to the political task of a ruling party leading the people in carrying out the socialist revolution. To ensure that our Party fulfills that glorious historical mission, the urgent issue is to strengthen its fighting strength and improve the Party's leadership capacity and practical organizational capacity.

7th National Party Congress

From the experience after 5 years of implementing the renovation process, both successful and unsuccessful, the 7th Party Congress has put forward 5 initial experiences in carrying out the renovation process.

Firstly, it is necessary to maintain the socialist orientation in the process of innovation, combining the steadfastness in revolutionary principles and strategies with flexibility in tactics, sensitively grasping the new, emphasizing: Innovation is not about changing the goal of socialism but about making that goal be achieved effectively with correct concepts of socialism, with appropriate forms, steps and measures. The essential condition for the innovation to maintain the socialist orientation and achieve success is that in the process of innovation, the Party must persistently and creatively apply Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and maintain its role as a leader in society. The Party must innovate and rectify itself, constantly improving its leadership capacity and fighting strength.

Second, comprehensive, synchronous and thorough innovation, but must have appropriate steps, forms and methods. Practice shows that innovation is a profound revolution in all areas of social life. Along with economic innovation, it is necessary to gradually innovate the organization and operation of the political system, increasingly promoting the people's mastery and creativity in the political, economic, cultural and social fields.

Third, the development of a multi-sector commodity economy must go hand in hand with strengthening the State's management role in the socio-economy. To limit and overcome the negative consequences of the market economy, keep the renovation process on the right track and promote the good nature of socialism, the State must perform well its management role in the socio-economy through laws, plans, policies, information, propaganda, education and other tools.

Fourth, we affirm to continue to promote socialist democracy more and more deeply, but to promote democracy in the right direction and achieve results, that process must be well led, with firm steps appropriate to the general political and social situation.

Fifth, in the process of innovation, we must pay attention to forecasting the situation, promptly detect and properly resolve newly arising issues in the spirit of steadfastly implementing the innovation policy; strengthen the summary of practices and constantly perfect the theory on the path to building socialism in our country, emphasizing: The deeper the innovation process goes, the more new issues related to the perception of socialism and the path to building socialism appear. Only by strengthening the summary of practices and developing theories can the innovation process become a self-conscious, proactive and creative activity, reducing mistakes and complicated, circuitous steps.

8th National Party Congress

The 8th Party Congress summarized the 10-year renovation period (1986-1996) and drew six main lessons.

Firstly, firmly maintain the goals of national independence and socialism in the process of innovation; firmly grasp the two strategic tasks of building and defending the Fatherland, and persevere in Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought.

It is clearly stated that innovation is not about changing the socialist goal but about having a more correct concept of socialism and realizing that goal through appropriate forms, steps and measures. Combining steadfastness in revolutionary principles and strategies with flexibility, creativity in tactics, and sensitivity to grasping new things.

Second, closely combine economic innovation with political innovation from the beginning, focusing on economic innovation while gradually implementing political innovation.

In general, our Party has begun to innovate its political thinking in formulating domestic and foreign policies and guidelines. Without that innovation, there will be no other innovation. However, our Party was right to focus first on successfully implementing the task of economic innovation, overcoming the socio-economic crisis, creating the necessary material and spiritual premise to maintain political stability, build and consolidate people's trust, and create favorable conditions for innovation in other aspects of social life.

Third, building a multi-sector commodity economy operating according to market mechanisms, coupled with strengthening the State's management role in a socialist orientation. Economic growth is closely linked to social progress and equity, preserving and promoting national cultural identity, and protecting the ecological environment.

To develop productive forces, it is necessary to promote the capabilities of all economic sectors, admitting that in reality there is still exploitation and a certain polarization between rich and poor in society, but always paying attention to protecting the interests of workers, both encouraging legal enrichment and combating illegal enrichment, while attaching importance to hunger eradication, gradually implementing social justice, and moving towards making everyone and every family well-off.

Fourth, expand and strengthen the great national unity bloc, promote the strength of the whole nation.

Revolution is the cause of the people, for the people and by the people. It is the opinions, aspirations and initiatives of the people that are the source of the Party's renewal policy. It is also because the people responded to the new policy, bravely struggled and overcame countless difficulties and challenges that the renewal process achieved its successes.

Fifth, expand international cooperation, seek the sympathy, support and assistance of the people of the world, and combine the strength of the nation with the strength of the times.

Sixth, strengthen the Party's leadership role, considering Party building as a key task. It clearly states: The revolutionary cause of our country is led by the Communist Party. Our Party is the ruling Party. The victories and achievements, failures and losses of the revolution are all closely linked to the Party's responsibility.

9th National Party Congress

The 9th Party Congress affirmed: 15 years of innovation (1986-2000) have given us many valuable experiences. The innovation lessons raised by the 6th, 7th, and 8th Party Congresses are still of great value today, especially the following main lessons:

Firstly, in the process of innovation, we must persevere in the goal of national independence and socialism on the foundation of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought.

Second, innovation must be based on the people, for the benefit of the people, consistent with reality, and always creative.

Third, innovation must combine national strength with the strength of the times.

Fourth, the Party's correct guidelines are the decisive factor for the success of the innovation cause.

10th Party Congress

The 10th Party Congress summarized a number of theoretical and practical issues over 20 years of renovation (1986-2006), affirming that from the 20 years of renovation, our Party and State have accumulated more leadership and management experience. The following major lessons can be drawn:

Firstly, in the process of innovation, we must firmly adhere to the goal of national independence and socialism on the foundation of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought. Innovation does not mean abandoning the goal of socialism but making socialism more correctly perceived and built more effectively. Innovation does not mean moving away from but correctly perceiving, creatively applying and developing Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, taking them as the Party's ideological foundation and the compass for revolutionary action.

Second, comprehensive and synchronous innovation, with inheritance, appropriate steps, forms and methods. Innovation must be carried out from awareness and thinking to practical activities; from economics, politics, foreign affairs to all areas of social life; from Party leadership, State management to specific activities in each part of the political system. Innovation must be carried out in all aspects of social life, but must have a focus, key points, and appropriate steps; ensuring close and synchronous connection between the three tasks: economic development as the center, Party building as the key, and cultural development - the spiritual foundation of society.

Third, innovation must be for the benefit of the people, based on the people, promoting the proactive and creative role of the people, originating from practice, and being sensitive to the new. Revolution is the cause of the people, for the people and by the people. The opinions, aspirations and initiatives of the people play an important role in forming the Party's innovation policy. Relying on the people, originating from practice and regularly summarizing practice, discovering new factors, and gradually finding the law of development, that is the key to success.

Fourth, to promote internal strength to the fullest extent, while striving to take advantage of external strength, combining national strength with the strength of the times in new conditions. Promoting internal strength, considering it a decisive factor for development; at the same time, attach importance to mobilizing resources, through international integration and cooperation, taking advantage of external resources to promote stronger internal strength, in order to create a comprehensive strength for rapid and sustainable national development, on the basis of maintaining national independence and socialist orientation.

Fifth, improve the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party, constantly innovate the political system, build and gradually perfect socialist democracy, and ensure that power belongs to the people. Building a clean and strong Party is the key step and the decisive factor for the success of the renovation cause. Building a socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam of the people, by the people, for the people is a necessary requirement of society; the State must institutionalize and effectively organize the implementation of civil rights and human rights. Promote the role of the Fatherland Front and people's organizations in gathering people of all walks of life, and promote the strength of the great national unity bloc to successfully carry out the renovation cause.

Eleventh Party Congress

From the practice of leadership and direction in implementing the Resolution of the 10th Congress, at the 11th Congress, our Party drew the following experiences:

First, in any conditions and situations, we must persistently implement the reform policy and goals, steadfastly and creatively apply and develop Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought, and steadfastly pursue the goals of national independence and socialism.

Second, we must truly attach importance to the quality, efficiency of growth and sustainable development, improve the quality and efficiency of the economy, while maintaining a reasonable growth rate and maintaining macroeconomic stability.

Third, it is necessary to attach importance to closely combining economic growth with social progress and equity.

Fourth, pay special attention to strengthening Party building in terms of politics, ideology and organization.

Fifth, in leadership and direction, we must be very sensitive, resolute, creative, closely following the country's reality; focusing on forecasting, promptly proposing solutions suitable to the new situation; strengthening propaganda work, creating high consensus, promoting the strength of the entire political system and the whole society.

Looking back at 30 years of innovation, from the achievements as well as the limitations and shortcomings, we can draw the following lessons:

Firstly, in the process of innovation, we must be proactive and constantly creative on the basis of firmly pursuing the goals of national independence and socialism, creatively applying and developing Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought, inheriting and promoting national traditions, absorbing the quintessence of human culture, and applying international experience suitable for Vietnam.

For our country, innovation is an urgent requirement of the revolutionary cause, a matter of vital significance. The innovation process, besides opportunities, always presents new problems, difficulties and challenges, requiring the Party, the State and the people to be proactive and constantly creative.

Innovation does not mean abandoning the goal of socialism, but rather making socialism more correctly perceived and more effectively built. Building the country on the path of socialism in today's context is an extremely difficult, complicated and long-term task, but it is a lawful path to have a Vietnam with a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization. That revolutionary task requires our Party, State and people to be steadfast and persistent in the goal of national independence and socialism.

Innovation does not mean moving away from Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, but rather correctly perceiving, applying and constantly creatively developing those doctrines and thoughts, taking them as the ideological foundation and compass for the Party's actions, and as the most important methodological basis for analyzing the situation, planning and perfecting the innovation policy. Inheriting and promoting national traditions, absorbing the quintessence of human culture, and applying international experience suitable for Vietnam.

Second, innovation must always thoroughly grasp the viewpoint that "people are the root", for the benefit of the people, rely on the people, promote the role of mastery, sense of responsibility, creativity and all resources of the people; promote the strength of national solidarity.

Revolution is the work of the people, for the people and by the people. Innovation must be for the benefit of the people. If it is far from or goes against the interests of the people, innovation will fail.

The people's opinions, aspirations and initiatives arising from practice are a source of the Party's innovation policy. The people are the ones who create the achievements of innovation. Innovation must rely on the people. Therefore, innovation must always thoroughly grasp the viewpoint that "the people are the root," must be for the benefit of the people, and rely on the people.

Socialist democracy is the essence of our regime, both the goal and the driving force of national development. Building and promoting socialist democracy, ensuring that all power belongs to the people so that the people are truly the subject of innovation and enjoy the results of innovation. Innovation is a difficult and complicated task that requires promoting the people's mastery, creativity and all resources; promoting the strength of great national unity. To promote socialist democracy and the strength of great national unity, it is necessary to prevent and combat privileges, special interests, degradation and degeneration.

Third, innovation must be comprehensive, synchronous, and have appropriate steps; must respect objective laws, originate from practice, closely follow practice, attach importance to summarizing practice, researching theory, and focusing on promptly and effectively solving problems posed by practice.

Practice has shown that it is necessary to carry out comprehensive and synchronous innovation in all areas of social life; from awareness and ideology to practical activities; from Party leadership and State management to activities in each part of the political system; from activities at the central level to activities at the local and grassroots levels.

In the process of innovation, it is necessary to organize and implement resolutely with appropriate and effective steps, forms and methods; overcome the situation of impatience, subjectivity and haste which will cause instability, even disorder, creating opportunities for hostile forces to sabotage the innovation process; at the same time, it is necessary to be proactive, dynamic, constantly creative, overcome the situation of conservatism, stagnation and missed development opportunities.

Must respect objective laws. Consider the development of practice as a requirement and basis for innovation in theoretical thinking, guidelines, policies, mechanisms and policies. All guidelines, policies, policies and laws of the Party and State must originate from practice. Must closely follow practice, attach importance to summarizing practice, studying theory to adjust, supplement and develop innovation policies.

To gain people's trust, support, and active implementation of the renovation policy, the Party and State must promptly and effectively resolve issues raised by reality; promptly adjust and supplement institutions, mechanisms, and policies that are no longer suitable and hinder development; and practice what they preach.

Fourth, we must put national interests above all; firmly maintain independence and self-reliance, while proactively and actively integrating internationally on the basis of equality and mutual benefit; combine promoting national strength with the strength of the times to firmly build and defend the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Always consider national interests as paramount. In any circumstance, it is necessary to firmly maintain independence and self-reliance while proactively and actively integrating internationally. Combine promoting national strength with the strength of the times, domestic strength with international strength to create a comprehensive strength for rapid and sustainable national development. Promoting the strength of the entire nation is the basis for combining the strength of the times, making the strength of the entire nation stronger, based on the principles of respecting independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit, building and firmly protecting the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.

A corner of Hanoi today. (Illustration photo: Huy Hung/VNA)

The renovation is a great cause, the Party's correct leadership is the decisive factor for the success of the renovation. Strengthening the Party's leadership and governing capacity and building a clean and strong Party are key tasks. The Party must constantly self-rectify, self-renew, and improve its leadership capacity and fighting strength.

Cadres are the decisive factor in the success or failure of the revolution, and are the key factor in Party building. Building a contingent of cadres, especially strategic-level cadres, with sufficient capacity and qualities, equal to the task, is of decisive significance to the work of building a clean and strong Party, and successfully leading the cause of innovation.

Regularly improve the organization, enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the State's operations. Promote the role of the Fatherland Front and mass organizations in gathering people of all walks of life, and promote the strength of the great national unity bloc to successfully carry out the cause of innovation.

The strength of the entire political system under the leadership of the Party originates from and multiplies from the strength of the people. Strengthening and fostering close relationships between organizations in the political system, first of all the flesh-and-blood relationship between the Party and the people, is an important, urgent issue of vital significance to the Vietnamese revolution./.

According to Vietnam+