Full text of speech by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 4th Conference of the Central Executive Committee

Dear Central Committee,

Dear Conference attendees,

Implementing the Central Committee's full-term working program, today, the Central Executive Committee began the 4th Conference of the 13th tenure to discuss and give opinions on the following issues: The situation of Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control and viewpoints and policies on pandemic prevention and control in the new situation; The socio-economic situation in 2021 and the expected socio-economic development plan for 2022; The implementation of the state budget in 2021, the state budget estimate for 2022 and the 3-year state financial and budget plan for 2022 - 2024; The policy of postponing the implementation of salary policy reform according to Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW of the 7th Central Conference of the 12th tenure; Continuing to promote Party building and rectification, preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party; Amending and supplementing Regulation No. 47-QD/TW, dated November 1, 2011 of the Central Executive Committee on things that party members are not allowed to do; and a number of other important issues.

First of all, on behalf of the Politburo and the Secretariat, I would like to warmly welcome the Central Executive Committee members and invited delegates to the Conference; I would like to send you my sincere greetings and best wishes.

Dear comrades,

In preparation for the Conference, the Politburo has recently directed the Government Party Committee, Party Committees and relevant agencies to actively prepare Reports, Projects and Submissions. According to the Working Regulations, the Central Party Office has sent documents for you to study in advance. To save time and to suit the current complicated epidemic situation, we would like to ask for your permission to not re-read the Submissions in the Hall to spend more time on discussion. Next, I would like to speak and note a number of issues related to the contents and tasks of the Conference, which are suggestive and raise issues, hoping that you will pay attention during the process of research, discussion, consideration and decision. In summary, there are two major groups of issues:

1. Some socio-economic issues in 2021 - 2022.

The Central Executive Committee's review, direction and finalization of contents related to viewpoints and policies on Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control, socio-economic development, state finance and budget, and the timing of implementing the salary reform policy this year are of particular importance due to the complicated and unusually volatile context and situation; in addition to opportunities and advantages, many new difficulties and challenges have also emerged, which are more severe and severe than forecast. 2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, creating new momentum and new momentum for the successful implementation of the 5-year socio-economic development plan 2021 - 2025; 10-year socio-economic development strategy 2021 - 2030; and vision to 2045. However, from the beginning of 2021 until now, the Covid-19 pandemic with new variants, spreading faster and more dangerously, continues to develop in a complicated, difficult-to-control manner, negatively affecting the world economy, including Southeast Asia and our country; profoundly changing the economic order, structure, governance methods, organization of economic activities and global social life, forcing many countries to adjust their orientations and strategies for disease prevention and control in conjunction with socio-economic development in the direction of: Improving internal strength, focusing on developing the domestic market, developing the digital economy, digital society, e-commerce... The world economy has recovered and grown again, but it is still slow, uneven, not really stable, still depending on the development of the epidemic and the ability to prevent, combat and safely adapt to the Covid-19 epidemic; global public debt has increased sharply, the world financial and monetary markets have many potential risks.

After the great success of the 13th National Party Congress, the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat have led the successful election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term; promptly completed the leadership bodies of the Party and the State; promptly developed Programs and Plans to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Congress and actively organized a number of National Conferences to implement them, including the Plan for socio-economic development, state finance and budget, and public investment in 2021 and the 5-year period of 2021-2025. The entire political system has proactively and actively participated; inherited and promoted the achievements and results that have been achieved; overcome the remaining limitations and weaknesses; and calmly and soberly propose many policies and measures to promptly and properly handle new issues arising from the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the fourth outbreak since the end of April until now, with the new strain - Delta, spreading very quickly, extremely dangerous, difficult to control, has greatly and extremely negatively affected all aspects of economic, cultural and social life of our country; on the material and spiritual life of our people and the psychology and social mood; especially taking the lives of thousands of our compatriots, including officers and soldiers of the armed forces, doctors, medical staff and grassroots cadres at the front line of the fight against the epidemic.

Therefore, together with the General Summary Report, the Government Party Committee has researched and developed reports on the situation of Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control; viewpoints, policies and solutions on pandemic prevention and control in the new situation; socio-economic situation in 2021, the expected socio-economic development plan for 2022; the implementation of the state budget in 2021, the state budget estimate for 2022 and the 3-year state budget-finance plan for 2022 - 2024; as well as the postponement of the implementation of salary policy reform according to Resolution No. 07-NQ/TW of the 7th Central Conference of the 12th tenure. These reports are organically and closely related to each other; I would like to request that you take the time to carefully study the submitted documents and, based on the actual situation in your sectors, fields and localities, discuss and evaluate objectively and comprehensively the situation of disease prevention and control, socio-economic development in the first 9 months of the year, forecast until the end of 2021, especially the forecast of the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the world and in our country in the coming time. Pay attention to summarizing and evaluating the necessity, correctness, effectiveness, efficiency, as well as the limitations and shortcomings in the promulgation and implementation of new policies, measures to handle practical issues arising in the process of both preventing and controlling the disease, overcoming the consequences caused by the disease, and maintaining and developing the socio-economy in the past time. Clearly indicate the results and achievements that have been achieved, the new difficulties and challenges that are arising, the limitations and weaknesses that need to be overcome; Analyze and clarify the causes, especially subjective causes. Compare and analyze the ability to complete the goals and tasks planned for 2021, especially the goals and tasks of controlling the epidemic soon, maintaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring major balances of the economy, supporting workers and businesses to maintain, recover, and develop production and business activities, taking care of people's lives, ensuring social security; protecting national independence, sovereignty, political security and social order and safety; maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development in the new situation.

Based on analyzing and forecasting possible scenarios, especially the epidemic situation in the world and in our country in the coming time; grasping opportunities, advantages and difficulties, challenges, clearly defining viewpoints and policies on epidemic prevention, control and socio-economic recovery and development in the new situation; general goals, basic and most important indicators; orientations, guidelines, policies, tasks, solutions and plans, specific implementation roadmap for 2022, ensuring close to reality, high feasibility, meeting the requirements of the annual socio-economic development plan, finance - state budget, associated with disease prevention, control and implementation of the salary policy reform roadmap in the spirit of looking straight at the truth, being truly objective, impartial, not evasive, not pessimistic but also not embellishing to focus on leadership and direction of implementation from now until the end of 2021 and throughout 2022.

As we all know, the Party's leadership is the leading factor that determines all victories of the Vietnamese revolution; Party building and rectification are always key, especially important tasks, of vital significance to our Party and our regime. It is not by chance that the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat regularly pay attention to leading and directing the implementation of this task. In the past 10 years alone, the Central Committee has discussed and issued many important resolutions and decisions and focused on directing their implementation in a drastic, drastic, and effective manner: On December 31, 2011, the 4th Central Conference of the 11th tenure issued the Resolution "Some urgent issues on Party building at present" (abbreviated as the 4th Central Resolution on Party building). Then, on February 27, 2012, the Politburo held a national cadre conference to implement the Resolution (meeting for 2 and a half days). On August 13, 2012, the National Conference was held to guide the implementation of self-criticism and criticism in the spirit of Resolution No. 4 of the Central Committee. Implementing Conclusion No. 21-KL/TW dated March 25, 2012 of the 5th Central Committee Conference, term XI, in February 2013, the Politburo decided to establish the "Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption" under the Politburo, with the General Secretary as Head of the Committee; at the same time, re-establish the Central Internal Affairs Committee as a standing agency; and recently, on September 16, 2021, the Politburo decided to add the function and task of preventing and combating negativity to the Steering Committee. On October 30, 2016, the 12th Central Executive Committee continued to issue Resolution No. 4 of the Central Committee "On strengthening Party building and rectification; preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party". On December 9, 2016, the Politburo held a National Cadre Conference (online) to implement this Resolution with the participation of all comrades of the Politburo, the Secretariat, comrades of the Party Central Committee, key leaders of departments, ministries, branches, and organizations at the Central level and in provinces and cities nationwide, demonstrating the seriousness and high determination of our entire Party in the work of Party building and rectification. On November 1, 2011, the 3rd Central Conference of the 11th tenure issued Regulation No. 47 on 19 things that Party members are not allowed to do. On May 15, 2016, the 12th Politburo issued Directive No. 05 "On promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle". After 5 years of implementation, recently, on May 18, 2021, the 13th Politburo directed a preliminary review of the implementation of Directive No. 05 and organized a National Conference to disseminate the results, and decided to issue Conclusion No. 01 on continuing to implement Directive No. 05.

Party and State leaders attend the Conference. Photo: VNA

Implementing the Resolutions of the 4th Central Committee of the 11th and 12th tenures and the decisions and regulations of the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat on strengthening Party building and rectification, in the past time, we have achieved very important initial results, creating a clear change in the work of Party building and rectification, which has been agreed upon, supported and highly appreciated by the entire Party and the entire people. However, the degradation of political ideology, morality and lifestyle, the manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" have not been fundamentally prevented and repelled, and in some aspects, they have even become more sophisticated and complicated, which can cause unpredictable consequences. The 13th National Party Congress has set out basic tasks to build the Party and the political system to be increasingly clean and strong in all aspects; in which it affirmed to continue to persistently and resolutely implement the Resolutions of the 4th Central Committee of the 11th tenure and the Resolutions of the 4th Central Committee of the 12th tenure on Party building and rectification. To implement the Resolution of the 13th National Congress, this 4th Central Conference will continue to discuss and create high consensus on policies, goals, tasks and solutions to "Strengthen Party building and rectification; prevent and repel the degradation of political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party".

The Politburo's report and related documents sent to the Central Committee have stated quite fully the contents of the Project. I would like to ask comrades to give their opinions on the necessity and correctness of issuing the Conclusion of this Central Conference on continuing to implement the Resolution of the 12th Central Committee, Session 4, with the new name, theme and scope of the draft Conclusion. Clearly state what needs to be supplemented or adjusted; whether it is necessary to link Party building and rectification with building the political system in accordance with the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress; along with prevention and pushback, it is necessary to actively prevent and proactively, resolutely fight against and strictly handle the degradation of political ideology, ethics, lifestyle and corrupt and negative behaviors... From there, correctly assess the situation and causes; clearly identify the goals, viewpoints, guiding thoughts and appropriate policies and measures for each content and issue, especially breakthrough solutions in this term. On the basis of inheriting previous Central Resolutions, especially Central Resolution 4 of the 11th and 12th terms, I request that you study, supplement, and further clarify the requirements for preventing and combating not only corruption but also negativity; but what are the manifestations of negativity? To what extent? What are the causes? What are the harmful effects?

With the spirit of looking straight at the truth, correctly assessing the truth, I request that comrades go into depth to analyze, dissect, clarify, point out the right causes, and propose effective remedies. Give specific opinions on the Project's recommendations: Continue to implement the Resolution of the 12th Central Committee, Session 4, with the highest efficiency; at the same time, focus on prioritizing the implementation of key groups of tasks and solutions on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level and leaders, with sufficient qualities, capacity and prestige, equal to the task; on continuing to innovate and improve the quality of political ideology, self-criticism and criticism; on focusing on perfecting laws, mechanisms and policies; on strengthening inspection, supervision and party discipline, resolutely and persistently fighting against corruption and negativity; on promoting the role and responsibility of elected bodies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and the people in participating in Party building. Are the above groups of solutions accurate, strong and feasible enough to change the situation? What additional solutions need to be added, and what issues need to be noted in the content of each group of solutions? Which solutions can we implement immediately; which solutions need additional regulations and instructions; and how should they be implemented?...

Delegates vote to approve the conference agenda. Photo: VNA

Regarding the amendment and supplementation of the Regulation on things that party members are not allowed to do: To contribute to building and rectifying the Party in the above spirit, from the practice of 4 years of implementing Regulation No. 115, dated December 7, 2007 of the 10th Politburo, the 3rd Central Conference of the 11th tenure issued Regulation No. 47, dated November 1, 2011 of the 11th Central Executive Committee on things that party members are not allowed to do (as mentioned above). The reality of nearly 10 years of implementation has shown that these regulations are very necessary; the contents of the Regulations are still basically suitable and meet the requirements of management, education and training of cadres and party members. However, in response to new requirements, it is necessary to continue to supplement and improve some important contents on training political ideology, maintaining moral qualities and lifestyles of cadres and party members, contributing to preventing and overcoming in a stronger and more drastic way the signs of degradation and negativity; strictly maintaining Party discipline and order. In addition, there are some things that are not clear enough in practice, some contents are difficult to apply, causing difficulties when considering violations by party members; or some contents that have changed in the regulations of the Party and the State, need to be supplemented and amended to suit the new situation.

We request that Central Committee members and delegates attending the Conference, with their rich experience and practice in their localities, agencies and units, contribute specific, practical and feasible opinions, directly amend the draft Regulation, create high consensus within the Central Committee to promulgate new Regulations on things that Party members are not allowed to do, meeting the requirements of being accurate, complete, easy to understand, easy to remember, easy to implement and easy to check and supervise, contributing to adjusting the awareness and behavior of cadres and Party members in a positive and correct direction, creating a stronger and more obvious change in the work of Party building and rectification in the coming time (Thus, the 3 consecutive terms of the 11th, 12th and 13th Congresses all chose the 4th Central Conference as the first Conference of each term to discuss the work of Party building and the political system - that is absolutely not by chance. Each Conference has new inheritance and development).

Dear comrades,

The contents presented at this Central Conference are very important issues for the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, including the implementation of the central task of socio-economic development and the implementation of the key task of Party building and rectification. I request that comrades promote a high sense of responsibility, study, discuss enthusiastically, contribute ideas to complete the reports, projects, draft resolutions, conclusions of the Central Committee and consider and decide at the end of the session.

In that spirit, I hereby declare open the 4th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee; wish our Conference great success, and certainly great success, leaving a new mark on the path of development and growth of our Party, our Country, and our People.

Thank you very much!./.