Full text of the General Secretary's closing speech at the 8th Central Conference

This afternoon (October 6), the 8th Conference of the 12th Party Central Committee closed after 5 days of urgent, serious, democratic and responsible work, completing all the contents of the proposed program.

VOV e-newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the closing speech of the 8th Conference of the 12th Party Central Committee by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Dear Central Committee comrades,

Dear Conference attendees,

After 5 days of urgent, serious, democratic and responsible work, the 8th Conference of the Central Executive Committee has completed all the contents of the proposed program. The Central Committee members and the comrades attending the Conference have seriously studied and prepared, enthusiastically discussed and contributed many important opinions to the reports and projects. The Politburo has fully absorbed and explained the issues with different opinions. The Central Executive Committee has highly unanimously passed the resolutions, conclusions and regulations of the Central Committee. To conclude the Conference, I would like to, on behalf of the Politburo, speak, clarify some issues and summarize the main results of the Conference.

1. On socio-economics

The Central Executive Committee agreed that, in the first 9 months of 2018, thanks to the efforts of the entire Party, people and army, our country's socio-economy continued to have positive and comprehensive changes in all fields. It is forecasted that by the end of 2018, all 12 planned targets can be completed, of which 8 targets will be exceeded. Notably: The growth rate continues to be maintained at a high level, reaching 6.6 - 6.8%, GDP scale is about 240.5 billion USD. Growth quality is increasingly improved. Macro-economy continues to be stable. Inflation is controlled; consumer price index remains below 4%. Major balances of the economy are basically ensured; financial and budgetary discipline are strengthened; budget deficit is at 3.67% of GDP; Public debt tends to decrease and is increasingly lower than the ceiling set by the National Assembly. The currency market is stable; the international balance of payments continues to improve. Exports are estimated at 238 billion USD, up 11.2% compared to 2017; trade surplus is more than 3 billion USD.

The cultural and social fields have received investment and development attention, achieving many important results, contributing positively to maintaining political stability, ensuring social order and safety, and improving the material and spiritual life of the people. The economic and social infrastructure in both urban and rural areas has been significantly improved. The new rural construction movement has achieved many positive results, with nearly 40% of the country's communes meeting new rural standards. Policies and regimes for people with meritorious services, policy beneficiaries, and social protection have been implemented with attention; the poverty rate according to the new standards has decreased to 5.2 - 5.7%. Vocational training and job creation continue to be promoted, labor productivity has improved; the unemployment rate in urban areas has decreased; the labor structure has shifted in a positive direction. Health care, physical education, sports, protection, and care for people's health, and social security have been ensured; Innovation in education and training, improvement of human resource quality, human development; resource management, environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and control, response to climate change; development of science and technology, start-up movement, innovation and creativity have achieved many positive results. The work of preventing and combating corruption, waste and negativity continues to be promoted, achieving many specific and clear results, welcomed, agreed and highly appreciated by cadres, party members and people. National defense and security potential is strengthened; political security, social order and safety are maintained; a peaceful and stable environment for development is ensured. Foreign affairs and international integration activities are promoted and expanded, contributing to enhancing the prestige and position of our country in the international arena.

The Central Committee affirmed that the results and achievements in 2018 have contributed to the successful implementation of socio-economic development tasks and plans in the first half of the 12th term, creating new momentum and motivation, and new spirit for the completion of the goals and tasks set for 2019 and the 5-year period of 2016-2020.

However, the Central Committee also pointed out that, in addition to the results and achievements that have been achieved, the country's socio-economic situation still faces many difficulties and challenges, and there are still some factors that can have a negative impact on macroeconomic stability, inflation control, security and social order. The domestic and international situation continues to develop in a complicated and unpredictable manner.

From now until the end of the year and in the coming years, the entire Party, people and army must continue to strive to successfully complete the goals and tasks set for the whole year of 2018. In 2019, we will continue to consolidate the macroeconomic foundation, control inflation, and improve the capacity to respond to unusual fluctuations in the market, especially the world market.

Maintain growth momentum on the basis of further improving the investment and business environment, enhancing productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy in conjunction with accelerating the implementation of three strategic breakthroughs, restructuring the economy and innovating the growth model. Promote administrative reform, judicial reform, streamlining the organizational apparatus and payroll, ensuring effective and efficient operations.

Focus on cultural and social development, environmental protection; ensure social security, enhance social welfare, and improve people's lives. Strengthen national defense, maintain national security, political stability, social order and safety. Proactively and actively integrate into the international community, expand and improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs activities, and enhance Vietnam's position and prestige in the region and the world.

In order to successfully complete the set goals and main tasks, it is necessary to continue to promote the results, achievements, experiences and lessons learned from the renovation practice, strengthen the leadership of the Party and the management of the State, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire political system; promote socialist democracy, people's mastery, the strength of great national unity, the spirit of dynamism, creativity and determination in leadership, direction and implementation of all levels, sectors from the central to local levels, the business community and all classes of people.

2. On the Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Marine Economy

The Central Executive Committee highly agreed with the comments and assessments on the results of the implementation of Resolution No. 09, and agreed to issue a new Resolution on the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, to gradually turn our country into a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea, relying on the sea and oriented towards the sea.

Strive to achieve the basic goals of sustainable economic, social and environmental development of the sea, coastal areas and islands by 2030. The growth of the marine economy and the average income per capita of coastal provinces and cities are increasingly higher than the overall growth rate of the whole country; the contribution of purely marine economic sectors accounts for about 10% of the country's GDP; the GRDP contribution of coastal provinces and cities accounts for 65 - 70% of the country's GDP. The Human Development Index (HDI) of coastal provinces and cities is higher than the national average; meeting the essential needs of people living on the islands... Strictly control, prevent and minimize marine environmental pollution, especially ocean plastic waste.

In coastal provinces and cities, hazardous waste and domestic solid waste are collected and treated to meet environmental standards; economic zones, industrial parks and coastal urban areas have centralized wastewater treatment systems, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and regulations and are planned and built in a sustainable manner, adapting to climate change and rising sea levels.

Pay attention to closely combining sustainable development of the marine economy with building a society harmoniously connected with the sea; preserving and sustainably developing biodiversity, marine ecosystems, protecting the environment, preventing and combating natural disasters, responding to climate change and rising sea levels in accordance with natural laws; expanding and improving the effectiveness of foreign affairs activities and international cooperation on the sea.

Ensure ecological balance and harmonize the relationships between conservation and development, connection and support between inland areas, coastal areas, islands and oceans. Resolutely and persistently fight to protect independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interests in seas and islands under national sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; maintain a peaceful environment, stability, national security, order and social safety in seas and islands for sustainable economic development.

TIn the context of the world implementing the 4th Industrial Revolution, it is necessary to pay attention to shifting from a marine economy that mainly relies on investment capital, resource exploitation, and environmental pollution to an economy based on knowledge, science and technology, effectively promoting the potential and advantages of Vietnam's sea. Restructuring, synchronously and sustainably developing marine economic sectors and fields, sea areas, coastal areas and islands in the direction of improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness.

Focus on developing coastal economic centers, investing in key areas; promoting advantages in geostrategic, economic, political and natural conditions. Exploiting, using and sustainably developing marine resources, as a driving force for national economic development.

Proactively adapt to regional and global changes, including climate change and rising sea levels; strengthen resource management and environmental protection based on specific planning and plans that are in line with reality. Pay great attention to basic investigation work, implement the motto of firmly grasping, strictly managing, exploiting and effectively using marine resources, and conserving marine biodiversity. Mobilize and effectively use all state and social resources, domestic and foreign, to implement the goals and strategic directions for sustainable development of the marine economy.

Focus on training human resources, developing science and technology, using advanced science and technology and high-quality human resources as a breakthrough to develop the marine economy. At the same time, urgently perfecting institutions and policies to create a favorable environment and conditions to attract investors with advanced and modern technology and management skills to develop infrastructure and the marine economy.

In the process of implementing the Resolution, it is necessary to pay special attention to education, propaganda, dissemination, raising awareness, and unifying ideology throughout the Party and the entire population. At the same time, it is necessary to continue to build and perfect institutions and policies, supplement and adjust planning, plans, programs, and investment projects to suit reality for effective implementation.

Focus on priority areas: Developing sea and island tourism; maritime economy; exploiting oil and gas and other mineral resources; aquaculture, seafood exploitation and developing fishing infrastructure; developing shipbuilding industry; developing renewable energy and new economic sectors. Focus on effective investment.Economic zones, industrial parks, coastal urban areas and a synchronous regional infrastructure system are the breakthrough foundation for developing coastal and marine areas into world destinations and gateways to the world.

3. On Party building work

At this Conference, after reviewing the Politburo's Reports, the Central Executive Committee decided on the following important issues:

One is,highly unanimous in promulgating the Regulations on exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members, first of all members of the Politburo, members of the Secretariat, members of the Party Central Committee. The Central Committee believes that, in recent years, thanks to the correct and timely policies and regulations of the Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat on exemplary responsibility, the sense of responsibility of cadres and party members has been gradually raised, thereby creating practical actions in work and life, creating positive changes in political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, working style; sense of discipline and internal solidarity. The implementation of the Party's policies and regulations on exemplary responsibility has contributed to strengthening the Party's discipline and order; improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of party organizations and party members; contributing to preventing and repelling degradation, corruption, negativity, and consolidating the trust of cadres, party members and people in the Party's leadership. Many comrades have consciously practiced and preserved moral qualities and lifestyles, devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their work, and have been loved and trusted by the masses.

However, the results obtained are still limited and have not met the requirements. The leadership, direction, organization, dissemination and implementation are still inadequate, not very effective and have not created a great spread. Some cadres and party members, including key leaders at all levels, have not clearly defined their responsibilities and have not been truly exemplary in training and maintaining qualities, ethics, lifestyles, etc., causing negative public opinion among cadres, party members and the people.

The Central Executive Committee basically agreed with the contents of the draft Regulation, believing that the draft had been carefully prepared, both general and specific, focused, key, and feasible; assigned the Politburo to continue to receive written comments from the Central Committee to complete and soon promulgate the Regulation. The Central Committee emphasized that if nearly 200 members of the 12th Central Committee, each comrade truly looked into themselves, promoted the responsibility of setting an example and taking the lead in implementation, it would have a great influence, creating a strong change in the entire Party, the entire political system, contributing to consolidating and strengthening the trust of cadres, party members, and people in the Central Executive Committee of the Party, the Politburo, and the Secretariat. Uncle Ho taught: "A living example is worth more than a hundred propaganda speeches". However, the writing must be very clear, concise, easy to understand, easy to implement, easy to check and monitor, not allowing bad and hostile forces to take advantage of, distort, incite and sabotage us.

Two is, unanimously decided to establish 5 sub-committees to prepare for the 13th National Party Congress, including: Document Sub-committee; Economic - Social Sub-committee; Party Charter Sub-committee; Personnel Sub-committee and Organization Sub-committee serving the Congress. When considering and deciding to establish the sub-committees, the Central Committee discussed and highly agreed with the Politburo's Report, and at the same time requested the sub-committees to urgently develop programs and plans to soon come into operation. In particular, the Document Sub-committee and the Economic - Social Sub-committee need to strengthen coordination with research and advisory agencies of the Party and State, distill and inherit research results in recent years and based on the actual situation of the country to propose to the Central Executive Committee and the 13th National Party Congress guidelines and policies to continue to promote stronger, deeper and more synchronous innovation, creating new impetus for rapid and sustainable national development, building a clean and strong Party.

Three isThe Central Executive Committee has considered and decided to introduce the General Secretary to the National Assembly to elect him as President of the 14th tenure; and to elect two additional members of the Central Inspection Commission of the 12th tenure. The Central Executive Committee has also considered and disciplined Nguyen Bac Son, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Secretary of the Party Committee, former Minister of Information and Communications by removing him from the position of member of the Central Executive Committee of the 11th tenure and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Information and Communications for the 2011-2016 term; Disciplinary action against comrade Tran Van Minh, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Head of the Central Organizing Committee, former Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party Personnel Committee, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City by expelling him from the Party (According to Regulation No. 30, dated July 26, 2016 of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat will continue to direct the implementation of the administrative disciplinary process against comrade Nguyen Bac Son and comrade Tran Van Minh to ensure consistency, timeliness, and compliance with Party discipline). The review and decision on personnel work and disciplinary action have been conducted very closely, democratically, and in accordance with Party regulations with the high consensus of the Central Committee.

Dear comrades,

The eighth meeting of the 12th Party Central Committee was a great success. In 2018 and the first half of the 12th term, the country's development has had positive and comprehensive changes in all fields, each year is better than the previous year. However, we absolutely cannot be subjective or complacent, because we still face many difficulties and challenges, there are still many big and difficult tasks to do and we must do better to successfully implement the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress.

I request that each Central comrade, in his/her position, immediately after this Conference, must focus on leading and directing the drastic and effective implementation of the Conference's resolutions, conclusions and regulations, contributing to the successful completion of the socio-economic development goals and tasks in the fourth quarter, the whole year of 2018 and the following years.

In that spirit, I hereby declare the closing of the 8th Conference of the 12th Party Central Committee. I wish you good health and success in fulfilling your responsibilities to the Party, the people and the country.