General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong chaired the first meeting of the Politburo and Secretariat.

The meeting also gave opinions on the policy of purchasing and using Covid-19 vaccines in our country. With the close direction of the Government, ministries, branches, localities and the proactive spirit in epidemic prevention and control, the Lunar New Year is considered a safe New Year, with many diverse forms of organization and practical actions, reducing unnecessary festival, cultural, artistic activities, and events with large crowds to focus on caring for and improving the material and spiritual life of the people to celebrate a joyful, exciting, safe, healthy, and meaningful New Year.

The Politburo and the Secretariat welcomed and highly appreciated the comprehensive and synchronous leadership and direction of the Party and State, the proactiveness of all levels and sectors in reviving the nation's fine traditions and mobilizing all resources to ensure that everyone and every family can celebrate a warm and happy Tet, especially in remote, border, island areas, areas under quarantine to prevent and fight the Covid-19 epidemic, armed forces on duty during Tet, frontline forces in the prevention and fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, workers and laborers who do not return home to celebrate Tet. Activities to celebrate Tet and enjoy Spring have been given attention and organized in conjunction with activities to celebrate the success of the 13th National Party Congress and the 91st anniversary of the Party's founding.

During Tet, leaders of the Party, State, and all levels and sectors visited, wished a happy new year, and encouraged units that had to be on duty and work during Tet. Tet care activities for policy beneficiaries, meritorious people, the elderly, the poor, social protection, and local workers received attention in many rich and diverse forms. In the difficult conditions due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, most businesses, agencies, and units paid attention to taking care of salaries and bonuses for workers during Tet.

Acknowledging the opinions of the members of the Politburo and the Secretariat, the General Secretary and the President welcomed the efforts of Party committees and authorities at all levels to pay attention to and take care of organizing Tet for the people to be joyful, excited, safe, healthy, thrifty and anti-wasteful in accordance with the direction of the Secretariat, especially the joyful and excited atmosphere to welcome the Spring of Tan Suu 2021, which is the resonance of the Tet spirit of the very successful 13th National Congress of Delegates and the 91st anniversary of the Party's founding. The people expressed their agreement with the Government's drastic and timely direction in the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic; and their high agreement with Decree 100 on the level of penalties for violations of regulations on alcohol concentration when driving vehicles.

The General Secretary and President emphasized that ministries, branches, provincial and municipal Party Committees must seriously implement Regulation No. 08-QD/TW of the Central Committee on the exemplary responsibility of cadres and Party members, in conjunction with implementing Resolution of the Central Committee 4 (term XII) onParty building and rectification, especially being exemplary in practicing thrift, fighting waste, preventing and fighting corruption; not using public funds for rewards, gifts, and presents, not using public vehicles and assets against regulations for activities during holidays and Tet. Political security, sovereignty over borders, seas and islands are maintained, social order and safety are guaranteed, fire and explosion prevention and fighting, crime prevention and fighting are directed resolutely, ensuring a peaceful life for the people, thereby further strengthening people's trust in the Party and the political system.

Regarding the key tasks in the first quarter of 2021, the General Secretary and President said that it is necessary to get to work immediately, not to be too intoxicated with Tet, Party committees, authorities, sectors and units need to focus on leadership, direction, and mobilize all conditions, means and measures to control the Covid-19 pandemic, not to affect people's lives and economic development, considering this a key task, top priority, both urgent and long-term in accordance with the direction of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Government and the Prime Minister. Raise the highest level of vigilance against the Covid-19 pandemic. Mobilize the entire political system to participate in epidemic prevention and control work, absolutely must not be subjective or negligent in the work of preventing and controlling the Covid-19 pandemic.

The General Secretary and President also particularly emphasized the need to immediately implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress so that the Resolution can truly come into life.

The General Secretary and President said: "We must get to work right away, not get carried away with Tet, especially we must effectively implement the policies set out by the 13th Congress, from organizing study, building action programs, all sectors, levels, localities, and agencies must do... As I said, the success of the Congress is just a step towards a major orientation, now we must concretize and institutionalize, all levels must do it so that it is not just on paper. All the work being done must continue, any shortcomings must be corrected immediately, advantages must be promoted in the spirit of the newly approved 13th Congress".

The General Secretary and President also requested that the Politburo's Directive on the election of the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term be well implemented. The Central Organizing Committee will coordinate with agencies to promptly advise the Politburo on assigning tasks to Politburo and Secretariat members and orienting the consolidation of Party and State leadership positions.

The Party Central Office coordinates with agencies to help the Politburo develop the full-term working program of the 13th Central Committee, the 2021 working program of the Politburo and the Secretariat. Prepare early the contents to serve the 2nd Conference of the 13th Central Committee (expected in March 2021). Develop the working regulations of the 13th Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat; the working regulations of the 13th Central Inspection Committee (expected to be presented at the 3rd Conference of the 13th Central Committee). Develop the 2021 Foreign Affairs Program of key leaders, Standing members of the Secretariat, Politburo members, Secretariat members, Vice President, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, and Deputy Prime Minister. The Central Organizing Committee shall coordinate with relevant agencies to promptly advise and propose policies for comrades who are not re-elected to the 13th Central Committee and are no longer of working age and are not National Assembly deputies.

The General Secretary and President requested that, immediately after Tet, all levels and sectors focus on directing the implementation of socio-economic development tasks and completing assigned political tasks. Carry out foreign affairs well; firmly protect sovereignty, borders, and territorial integrity; ensure political security, order, and social safety in all situations, and ensure a peaceful life for the people.

At the meeting of the Politburo and the Secretariat on the morning of February 18, members also gave their opinions on the policy of purchasing and using Covid-19 vaccines. The Politburo and the Secretariat basically agreed with the Report of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Health on the policy of purchasing and using Covid-19 vaccines for the Vietnamese people. The funding for purchasing, transporting, preserving and using vaccines will mainly come from the State budget and other legal sources. The purchase and use of vaccines will be carried out in emergency conditions and applied in special cases according to the provisions of law, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the manufacturer. The Government Party Committee will direct the Government, relevant ministries and branches to well organize the purchase and use of Covid-19 vaccines; at the same time, direct the promotion of research and organization of domestic production of Covid-19 vaccines that meet international standards and adapt to new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus./.