General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: People's hearts - National situation

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - Photo: chinhphu.vn

Here is the interview content.

* Dear General Secretary, the image of a hot "furnace" has been mentioned a lot by the people, as a recognition and support for the efforts and determination of the Party, the State and the entire political system in the fight against corruption and negativity. How does the General Secretary evaluate the results achieved in the past year?

- General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:Preventing and combating corruption is a big and very important task. The Central Committee has issued many resolutions; the National Assembly has not had a session without discussing it; voters have not had a meeting without mentioning it. And it is not just now that the work of preventing and combating corruption has been carried out, it has been carried out for a long time.

Looking back over the past year, it can be seen that the work of preventing and combating corruption has been directed and carried out in a more drastic, synchronous, systematic and certain manner, with the spirit of saying what you do and doing it at all costs, thus creating positive changes in reality, with clearer results, and making the people more confident and excited.

To achieve such results, first of all, the Politburo and the Secretariat have paid constant attention and given resolute direction. The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and the Central Inspection Commission have actively innovated their working methods, focused on improving work efficiency, and had many specific solutions to direct the removal of practical difficulties and thoroughly handle many serious and complicated cases and incidents that have received special attention from the public.

With the synchronous and smooth participation and close coordination of functional agencies, most of the important contents in the Steering Committee's work program have been seriously implemented and completed according to plan.

Many particularly serious corruption and economic cases have been investigated, prosecuted, and brought to trial promptly and strictly before the law, including high-ranking leaders, incumbent officials, and retired officials who have violated the law.

Right in the first days of 2018, the trial of a series of major cases, such as the case of Pham Cong Danh and accomplices (phase II); the case of Dinh La Thang, Trinh Xuan Thanh and accomplices occurring at the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN), the Vietnam Oil and Gas Construction Corporation (PVC), at the Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Real Estate Joint Stock Company (PVP Land); the case of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) contributing 800 billion VND to Oceanbank; or the case related to Phan Van Anh Vu... shows the determination to act, to do it thoroughly, to do it thoroughly, without "forbidden zones" in the fight against corruption and negativity. All are equal before the law, merit and crime are clearly distinguished, and the wrong is dealt with accordingly.

Last year, 8 Central working groups were established and went to 20 provinces and cities to inspect and supervise the inspection of cases, prosecution, investigation, prosecution, and trial of serious and complicated corruption and economic cases, thereby promoting the work of preventing and combating corruption in localities, initially overcoming the situation of "hot above, cold below".

Going to many places, contacting through many channels, understanding the people's hearts, I feel happy because the people have a high consensus, always accompanying and supporting the Party and State in the efforts to prevent and fight corruption and negativity. The "furnace" is hot because everyone is involved, determined to "light the furnace" to push back corruption.

* Dear General Secretary, through the inspection work, many Party committees, Party organizations, cadres and Party members who committed violations have been discovered and severely punished, which has been highly appreciated and agreed upon by the people. However, there are also concerns that behind those violations, are there still "loopholes" in personnel work that need to be overcome soon?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong: It is true that in the past year, the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Central Inspection Commission have reviewed and disciplined many Party committees, Party organizations, and many Party members who have committed violations, including high-ranking officials. Through inspections, it has been discovered that there are places where there are violations of Party regulations and rules, lack of responsibility, lax leadership, direction, inspection, and supervision, leading to violations in the management and use of State resources, land, capital, and assets, violations in personnel work, dishonest declaration of assets and income, ineffective implementation of investment projects and key works, causing great loss and waste to the national budget, causing internal disunity, resentment among the people, and negatively affecting the Party's reputation...

The reality in many localities and units also shows that there is still much work to be done in personnel work. For example, planning, training and fostering cadres is very necessary, but not to have the "label" of a source class for the Central Committee, for the Party Committee...

Or going on rotation is to practice and mature, not just going on rotation to get higher, "washing" through reality and then returning to hold this or that position. The rotation period is not long, not having had time to show, not having contributed much to the base, but already wanting to return...

Then the work of evaluating cadres, taking votes of confidence, arranging and using cadres, all must be fair, objective, avoiding formalities. Even the process and procedures are a way to limit negativity, promote the good, the right, so they must be strict, strictly implemented, avoiding the situation where the process is correct but the cadres promoted are not correct...

Through inspection, organizations and individuals with violations have been strictly handled; existing shortcomings and defects have been clearly pointed out for timely correction and improvement. But more importantly, it is necessary to prevent those violations and defects fundamentally and systematically, through regulations, statutes, laws and policies; and to "lock" power in a "cage" of mechanisms.

Based on practical experience, the Politburo has recently issued regulations on standards and criteria for evaluating cadres; on the 5-step process of promoting and appointing cadres; on rotating cadres; on checking and supervising asset declarations...

The selection, arrangement, transfer, rotation of cadres, decentralization of cadre management, planning, training, fostering of cadres, implementation of regimes and policies for cadres are also regulated more strictly, synchronously, comprehensively, with many innovations and improvements to limit loopholes and negativity.

* Dear General Secretary, the work of Party building and rectification, the fight against corruption, waste and negativity has had positive and clear changes in reality, and has been supported by the people. However, there are opinions that if we focus too much on preventing and fighting corruption, building and rectifying the Party, it will "slow down" and "retarded" development?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:Reality has provided the answer. The results achieved in economy, culture, society, foreign affairs, national defense, and security, along with positive changes in Party building and political system building, have created important and proud achievements for our entire Party, people, and army in the past year. An atmosphere of excitement and confidence is spreading throughout the country.

For the first time in many consecutive years, in the context of many difficulties and challenges, we have completed and exceeded all 13 socio-economic targets. The macro economy is stable, inflation is under control, budget revenue and major balances of the economy have all met and exceeded the set requirements.

GDP growth reached 6.81%, exports exceeded 200 billion USD, foreign direct investment attracted nearly 30 billion USD, welcomed about 13 million international tourists, nearly 127 thousand newly established enterprises...

The past year also witnessed remarkable successes in foreign affairs, with the successful hosting of APEC Year - 2017, conducting 18 high-level visits to 19 countries, attending 8 international conferences, and welcoming 36 heads of state and prime ministers of countries to visit Vietnam, thereby deepening the relationship between Vietnam and its partners; proactively and actively integrating, enhancing Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena. At the same time, we have persistently and resolutely defended our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintained a peaceful and favorable environment for the cause of national construction and defense.

Our Party has determined that economic development is the central task and Party building is the key task. These two tasks always go hand in hand and complement each other.

Reality shows that positive changes in the work of Party building and rectification, and the fight against corruption and negativity have contributed significantly to strengthening trust, creating consensus and excitement among the people. And this is the great source of motivation for us to successfully complete all assigned tasks, leading the country to continue to develop rapidly and sustainably, not vice versa.

* A major viewpoint that the General Secretary emphasized when he first attended and spoke at the Government Conference with localities, deploying tasks for 2018, was "We must develop faster and more sustainably to avoid falling behind, gradually catching up with advanced countries in the region and the world". To properly implement that directive, what key contents should we focus on, General Secretary?

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:In line with the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the resolutions and conclusions of the Central Committee, in the coming time, we must continue to focus on prioritizing the completion of the socialist-oriented market economic institution; respect and properly apply the objective laws of the market economy and international practices, ensuring the socialist orientation, in accordance with the development conditions of the country; harmoniously combine economic growth with the implementation of social progress and equity, cultural development, environmental protection, and ensuring national defense and security; create conditions for all economic sectors to be equal, cooperate, compete and develop together according to the law.

It is necessary to create stronger changes in restructuring the economy in association with renewing the growth model, improving labor productivity and economic competitiveness; mobilizing, allocating and effectively using resources, including both material and spiritual resources; promoting the potential and advantages of each industry, field, locality and the whole country, creating opportunities for all people to participate and benefit from growth; not to ignore the resolution of fundamental and long-term issues because of growth pressure; not to pursue quantity but ignore the quality of growth.

Along with economic development, we must pay more attention to cultural and social development, improve people's lives; build people with good personalities and lifestyles, build a healthy and synchronous cultural environment; focus on preserving Vietnamese cultural identity and character, and promote the role of family and community.

Promote fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training, develop high-quality human resources, enhance potential and promote the application of science and technology to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and develop the country rapidly and sustainably.

To further improve the work of Party and political system building, prevent and repel the degradation of political ideology, ethics and lifestyle, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation". Continue to innovate and streamline the apparatus to be more effective and efficient, and pay more attention to personnel work to select and assign truly virtuous, talented, honest, dedicated and truly devoted cadres to leadership positions in the State apparatus; tighten discipline and order, improve the ethics, culture and professionalism of cadres, civil servants and public employees; strengthen the prevention, combat, detection and strict handling of corruption, negativity and violations of the law.

Resolutely and persistently fight to maintain the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland; ensure political security and social order and safety; actively and proactively carry out effectively foreign affairs and international integration.

* A new spring is coming, everyone has wishes and hopes for a new year with more joy, happiness and success. Could you please share some thoughts on the threshold of the New Year of Mau Tuat 2018?

2018 is a pivotal year, of decisive significance for the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress; we still have a lot of work to do ahead. On the occasion of the New Year, I would like to wish all compatriots, soldiers nationwide, and overseas Vietnamese good health, peace, happiness, to continue to promote the achievements and experiences that have been gained, to join hands and be determined to successfully implement the set goals and tasks, to bring our beloved country to further development, to step forward more firmly and strongly.

* Sincerely thank the General Secretary!