Full text of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's speech opening the mid-term conference of the 13th Party Central Committee

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered the opening speech at the Conference - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Dear Central Committee,

Dear Conference attendees,

Implementing the Central Committee's entire working program, starting today, the 13th Central Executive Committee will hold the seventh Central Conference (mid-term Conference) to give opinions on the following contents:Report on reviewing the leadership and direction of the Politburo and Secretariat in the mid-term and a number of key tasks until the end of the 13th Party Congress term; Taking the Central Executive Committee's vote of confidence for the comrades of the Politburo and Secretariat of the 13th tenure; and a number of other important issues.This is a very important conference for the successful completion of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; it is an opportunity for us to look back and objectively and comprehensively evaluate the results and achievements since the beginning of the term, point out the remaining limitations and weaknesses, causes and lessons learned; forecast the new situation with intertwined opportunities, advantages and difficulties and challenges; from there, propose major policies and decisions that need to be focused on leading and directing implementation in the second half of the 13th term.

First of all, on behalf of the Politburo and the Secretariat, I would like to warmly welcome the comrades of the Central Executive Committee and delegates attending the Conference. I would like to send you my warm greetings, sincere regards and best wishes!

Dear comrades,

According to the Working Regulations, the Party Central Office has worked with relevant agencies to actively prepare and promptly send the Conference documents for your review. Next, I would like to express some opinions, which are suggestive and raise issues, hoping that you will pay attention during the research, discussion, consideration and decision-making process.

1. On the mid-term review report on the leadership and direction of the Politburo and Secretariat and a number of key tasks until the end of the term of the 13th National Party Congress

As you know, in preparation for this Conference, over the past time, the Politburo has closely directed the Party Central Office to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to urgently and seriously prepare a draft Report reviewing the leadership and direction of the Politburo and Secretariat in the mid-term and propose a number of key tasks until the end of the 13th Party Congress term. The draft has been sent to Politburo and Secretariat members for direct comments on the document for initial completion. On May 8, the Politburo and Secretariat met, continued to discuss thoroughly and gave many accurate instructions for completion.ReportCentral Committee today. Contents ofReportObjectively and comprehensively mentioned the context of the world and domestic situation from the 13th Congress to the present with rapid, unusual developments and more difficulties and complexities than forecasted as well as compared to the same period in previous terms; pointed out the outstanding advantages, limitations, and main shortcomings, and analyzed the causes, drawing some lessons in leadership and direction on Party building and rectification; socio-economic development; ensuring national defense, security, foreign affairs and international integration; building and perfecting the law and the socialist rule of law state of Vietnam; internal affairs, preventing and combating corruption and negativity; mass mobilization, ethnic and religious work; and especially the innovation of leadership methods, working style and manners. At the same time, analyzed and forecasted the world and domestic situation from now until the end of the term, and proposed a number of key tasks that need to be focused on directing and implementing in the second half of the 13th term.

We respectfully request that the Central Committee uphold the spirit of responsibility, promote democracy, be frank and objective in discussing and giving opinions on the contents and issues mentioned in the Report; clearly express your opinions, agree or disagree with the comments and assessments of the Politburo and the Secretariat, and have specific proposals and recommendations on the contents and issues that need to be supplemented, clarified or adjusted and amended (if any). Pay attention to linking the review of the leadership and direction of the Politburo and the Secretariat with the assessment of the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress in the context of the domestic and international situation with many new difficulties and challenges that have emerged and are more complicated and severe. Focus on analyzing, clarifying and creating high consensus on the advantages, results and achievements that have been achieved; at the same time, frankly point out the remaining limitations and weaknesses; analyze the causes and draw lessons from the 13th National Party Congress to date. Analyze and forecast scientifically the new context, situation, trends, and major issues that may occur in the world and in the country; from there, propose major policies, decisions, key tasks, and key solutions that need to be focused on, resolutely led, and directed for implementation in the second half of the 13th term, contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

From there, voting to pass the Report will serve as a basis for the Politburo and the Secretariat to continue to promote the advantages and successful lessons learned in the first half of the XIII term, urgently and seriously overcome the remaining limitations and shortcomings to better fulfill their responsibilities in the second half of this term, contributing together with the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to successfully implement the Resolution of the XIII Party Congress. Here, I would like to reiterate and emphasize a few things that I think are necessary. In some previous speeches, I have boldly affirmed: With all modesty, we can still say: "Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today". The results and achievements achieved in the past time are the crystallization of the creativity of a process of persistent and continuous efforts over many terms of our entire Party, people and army. However, in my closing speech at the 13th National Congress of the Party, I reminded and noted that: "The results and success of the Congress are very important, but that is only the beginning. Whether we can do it or not, whether we can turn the Resolution into a vivid reality or not; whether we can create material wealth, bring wealth and happiness to the people or not, that is the actual success of the Congress". I hope that comrades will pay close attention to that.

2. On the Central Executive Committee's vote of confidence for Politburo members and Secretariat members of the 13th tenure

This is one of the very important innovations in the Party's personnel work, which has been carried out since the 11th term up to now. The purpose is to better and more effectively implement the policies, guidelines, resolutions and conclusions of the Party Central Committee on building and rectifying the Party and the political system to be clean and strong in all aspects; to build a team of high-ranking Party officials with sufficient qualities and capacity, equal to the task; to help comrades get a vote of confidence."self-reflection", "self-correction", continue to strive, cultivate and train moral qualities, lifestyle and constantly improve exemplary responsibility, qualifications and working capacity, to meet the requirements of the cause of building and defending the Fatherland in the new situation, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the trust of cadres, party members and people in the Party.

Based on the summary of the vote of confidence according to the regulations of the 11th and 12th Politburo, on February 2, 2023, the 13th Politburo issued Regulation No. 96-QD/TW, and on April 6, 2023 issuedPlan No. 16-KH/TW "On the Central Executive Committee's vote of confidence for members of the 13th Politburo and Secretariat".

To implement the above Regulations and Plans, the Politburo and Secretariat members have seriously and thoughtfully prepared and submitted them to the Central Committee.Personal review reportof oneself, including self-assessment and evaluation of political qualities, ethics, lifestyle, sense of organization and discipline; results of performing assigned duties and tasks; pointing out limitations and solutions to overcome them; reporting and explaining issues requested by competent authorities or the person writing the form.

Based on the significance, importance and sensitivity of the issue, we request that Central Committee members carefully study the Personal Review Reports of each Politburo and Secretariat member and, based on the actual working relationship, clearly express their opinions on the level of trust for each Politburo and Secretariat member in accordance with Regulation No. 96-QD/TW and Plan No. 16-KH/TW of the Politburo. In particular: Ensure the leadership of the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee, strictly implement the principles of centralism, democracy, self-criticism and criticism; promote the responsibility and constructive spirit of Party Central Committee members in reviewing and expressing their trust; respect the right to report and explain of Politburo and Secretariat members of the XIII tenure. Correctly assess the qualities, capacities, specific results in performing assigned duties and the prestige of the person who is voted for a vote of confidence. Ensure democracy, objectivity, impartiality, publicity and transparency in the vote of confidence and the use of the results of the vote of confidence. Resolutely do not allow violations or abuse of the vote of confidence to cause division and loss of internal solidarity.

Dear comrades,

This Central Conference is the Central Conferencemidterm, will consider and decide on many issues of great importance to the completion of the political tasks of the 13th Central Executive Committee from now until the end of the term in the context of the world and domestic situation that has, is, and will continue to have rapid, complicated, and unpredictable developments; difficulties and challenges are greater than forecast as well as compared to recent terms.

We request the Central Committee and the comrades attending the Conference to promote their intelligence, uphold their sense of responsibility, focus on research, discuss thoroughly, and give their opinions to complete the mid-term review report on the leadership and direction of the Politburo and Secretariat and a number of key tasks until the end of the 13th Party Congress term. At the same time, express your opinions on the level of trust in each member of the Politburo and Secretariat, contributing to further enhancing the Party's leadership and governing capacity, making our Party increasingly clean and strong, meeting the increasingly high requirements of the new development period.

In that spirit, I hereby declare open the Mid-Term Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee. I wish our Conference great success!

Thank you very much, comrades!