Communist Review - The 13^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) was held in Hanoi, the country's capital, from January 25, 2021 to February 1, 2021 and adopted the Congress’s Resolution. The Communist Review presents the full text of the 13^th National Party Congress Resolution as follows

The 13^th National Congress was held in Hanoi capital from January 25, 2021 to February 1, 2021 after discussing documents submitted by the 12^th National Party Congress’ Central Committee,

DECIDES

I- The Congress agreed with the basic contents of outcome evaluation of the implementation of the 12^th National Congress Resolution and the general assessment of the 10 years of implementing the Platform for national construction during the transition to socialism in 1991 (supplemented and developed in 2011), 10 years of executing the 2011-2020 socio-economic development strategy, 30 years of carrying out the 1991 Platform, 35 years of launching the Doi Moi as well as with the future national development orientations and tasks  mentioned in documents submitted by the 12^th National Party Congress' Central Committee, specifically:

1. Outcomes of the implementation of the 12^th National Congress’s Resolution

During the 12^th National Congress, by seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges, particularly heavy impact of the global economic crisis and recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire Party, people and army of Vietnam have brought into full play the spirit of solidarity, determination, resilience and recorded critical, holistic and impressive successes. As a result, the macroeconomic stability was maintained, inflation was controlled and growth was maintained at a fairly high level; potential, size and competitiveness of the economy grew strong. The people's well-being continued to improve, the building and rectification of the Party and the political system were given special attention and conducted in a holistic, synchronous and effective manner in all areas. The control, supervision and fight against corruption, wastefullness and negative behavior have made strong changes and achieved substantive effects. The socialist rule of law state in Vietnam has been continuously strengthened. The leadership role of the Party over the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations has been strengthened, and the coordination relationship has become increasingly close and synchronous. Social and political stability, national defense and security were constantly consolidated. Independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, national interests were firmly safeguarded;  foreign relations and international integration are deepening and effective; Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena was enhanced. In particular, in 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic caused serious socio-economic losses. However, thanks to the promotion of the strength of great national unity, the superiority of the socialist regime, the synchronous and drastic participation of the whole political system under the clear-sighted leadership of the Party and  the unanimous support of the people, our country has gradually  tackled the pandemic and promoted  production, business and socio-economic recovery, stabilized people's lives, thereby strengthening people's faith in the Party, State and the socialist regime, affirming the mettle, the will and good traditions of our nation.

The achievements obtained during the past 5 years have resulted from the creativity and all-out effort made by the entire Party, people and army through several Congress, making  historic and tremendous strides through 35 years of renovation. There are many reasons leading to the above-mentioned achievements, but the overarching and most important reasons are the solidarity, the consensus and the effective leadership of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat and Party Committees at all levels in the synchronous implementation of the Resolution of the 12^th Congress to promptly and effectively deal with many newly arising problems and also the drastic measures of Government and authorities at all levels, the efforts in renovating the National Assembly and the People's Councils at all levels, the active and effective participation of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, the synchronous coordination of the whole political system, the efforts made by cadres and party members, the innovative spirit and the sense of responsibility of the business community and all classes of people as well as the   assistance of international community.

However, the improvement of institutions, renewal of growth models, economic restructuring, industrialization and modernization are still slow and have not yet made fundamental changes; productivity, performance and competitiveness of national economy are not high. Education and training, science and technology have not yet become key drivers of socio-economic development. Socio - cultural life has not achieved many breakthroughs; a number of population still live in difficulties. Resource management, environmental protection and adaptability to climate change are inadequate. The fields of defense, security and foreign affairs still have some limitations. The strength of the great national unity and socialist democracy have not been fully promoted in some localities.  Amid fast and complicated developments in the new situation, the building of a socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam has not yet met the requirements of socio-economic development. The Party building and rectification work has revealed some shortcomings.

Ten years of implementation of the Platform (supplemented and developed in 2011) and the Ten-year Socio-economic Development Strategy (2011 - 2020) have made important progress in both theoretical awareness and implementation, affirming the great values ​​of the Platform and the Party’s clear-sighted leadership. The economy, culture and society have continued to develop, the national defense, security and foreign affairs have been strengthened, and people's material and spiritual life has been markedly improved. However, socio-economic development has not been commensurate with the country's potential and advantages. Vietnam still faces difficulties and challenges. Some indicators in the Ten-year Socio-economic Development Strategy (2011-2020) and the goal of modernization and industrialization have not been achieved. The Doi Moi process and the international situation continue to pose many theoretical and practical problems that need to be resolved in order to steer the country toward socialism in a sustainable way. In particular, it is necessary to clearly define and effectively deal with big relationships.

After 35 years of Doi Moi and 30 years of carrying out the Platform for nation-building in the transitional period to socialism (Platform 1991), our theories on renovation policies, socialism and the path toward socialism were significantly consolidated and gradually concretized. The country has made historic and tremendous strides and grew more vibrantly and comprehensively than the pre-Doi Moi period. Size and level of economic development  have significantly elevated. The people's well-being remarkably improved. Never has Vietnam enjoyed such fortune, potential, status and prestige as of today. The achievements during the 35 years of Doi Moi and 30 years of implementing the 1991 Platform, especially the 10 years of the Platform supplemented and developed in 2011 have affirmed that the path to socialism in Vietnam is appropriate to its real conditions and the general trend and that the Party’s clear-sighted leadership is the leading factor determining the success of Vietnam’s revolution. Amid fast and complicated developments in the global situation, the Party’s Platform remains the flag of ideology, the flag of combat, the flag gathering the great national solidarity for the goal of “rich people, strong nation and an equitable, democratic, and civilised nation”.

2. Development vision and orientations

In the coming years, the domestic and international situation will bring both opportunities and challenges for the building and defense of the Fatherland. Therefore, our entire Party, people and army must unite, renew mind, have high political determination, make accurate and timely forecasts and proactively respond to any situation, make more efforts to comprehensively and synchronously promote reform, constantly increase the national potential in all aspects, firmly defend the Homeland and the achieved results for rapid and sustainable development of the country. Vietnam is determined to successfully implement the following key objectives, orientations and tasks:

Guidance:

- To stay consistent to Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thoughts and be flexible, innovative in their applications and development; to stay firm on national independence and socialism goals. to stay firm on the Party's directions; to stay consistent to the principles of Party building in order to build and safeguard the socialist Vietnam.

- To maximise the national interests in line with the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law and on the basis of equality and win-win cooperation; to continue to develop the country rapidly and sustainably; to ensure the synchronous and coordinated implementation of tasks with socio-economic development at its core, Party building as the key, cultural development as the mental foundation, and defense and security as the critical and regular tasks.

- To awaken patriotism, promote awareness of national resilience, maximize the great national solidarity and aspiration for a prosperous and happy Vietnam; to bring into full play the synergy of the entire political system, the time-honored tradition and the Vietnamese people; to improve the quality of human resources by fostering talents; to  accelerate innovation and application of advanced technologies, particularly the advances of the 4th Revolution as the driver for rapid growth and sustainable development.

- To combine the strength of nation and that of the times, uphold the will to independence, self-reliance, promote the active integration and improve the efficiency of international cooperation; to maximise internal resources and take advantage of external resources in which the internal resources, especially human resources are of the utmost importance.

- The decisive factors to succeed in the building and defending of our nation is the continuation of Party building and rectification, the enhancement of the Party's leadership, ruling and combative capacity, the building of a truly pure and strong Party and political system, an efficacious, competent and productive State apparatus, and a pool of cadre and Party members of high qualifications, strong competence and good credibility, particularly those at the strategic level.

Overarching goals:

To enhance the Party's leadership, ruling and combative capacity; to build a pure and strong Party and political system; to strengthen the people's trust in the Party, State and the socialist system; to awaken the aspiration for national building toward prosperity and happiness; to tap into the collective will and power of the great national solidarity alongside the power of the times; to comprehensively and synchronously advance the cause of Doi Moi, accelerate industrialization and modernization; to build and steadfastly defend the Homeland and to maintain an environment of peace and stability. We shall make every effort so that by mid-21st century, Vietnam will become a socialist-oriented developed country.

Concrete goals:

- By 2025 - the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification: Vietnam shall be a developing country with a modern-oriented industry base and graduate from lower-middle income status.

- By 2030 - the centenary of the Party: Vietnam shall be a developing country with a modern industry base and upper-middle income.

- By 2045 - the centenary of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam which is named now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Vietnam shall be a high-income developed country.

The Congress adopted key targets to chart the course for national development from 2021 to 2025 as follow:

Economy: Average annual economic growth over the next five years shall be 6.5 to 7%. By 2025, annual GDP per capita shall be 4,700 USD - 5,000 USD;
the contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to growth shall be about 45%; average growth rate of social labor productivity shall be over 6.5%/year; urbanization rate will be about 45%; the proportion of processing and manufacturing industry in GDP shall reach over 25%; the digital economy shall account for about 20% of GDP.

Society: By 2025, the proportion of agricultural labour in the total workforce shall be around 25%. Trained labor shall be 70%, urban unemployment in 2025 shall be under 4%, and the rate of multidimensional poverty reduction shall be maintained at 1 - 1.5% per year. There shall  be 10 doctors and 30 hospital beds per ten thousand people; Total health insurance coverage shall be 95%, and life expectancy shall be 74.5 years,
the rate of communes meeting new rural standards shall be at least 80%, of which at least 10% meet the standards of model new rural areas.

Environment: By 2025, clean water coverage shall be 95 to 100% in urban areas, and 93 to 95% in rural areas, the rate of collection and treatment of municipal solid waste according to standards shall reach 90%; the rate of industrial parks and export processing zones equipped with a centralized wastewater treatment system meeting environmental standards shall be 92%; 100% of facilities causing serious pollution shall be duly handled, and forest coverage shall be maintained stably at 42%.

National development orientations for 2021-2030:

(1) To renew mind, holistically improve our institutions for the sustainable development of economy, politics, culture, society, environment; to overcome obstacles; to mobilize all potentials and resources as a driver for the rapid growth and the sustainable development of the nation.

(2) To holistically perfect regulations and institutions, particularly our socialist-oriented market economy institutions, foster a favorable, healthy, fair business environment to  mobilize, manage and effectively utilize all resources, promote investment, production and business activities; to maintain macroeconomic stability, reform the growth model, restructure the national economy, accelerate industrialization and modernization; to focus on building infrastructure and urban development; to develop  the rural economy associated with building a new countryside; to prioritize resources for rural infrastructure development in mountainous and ethnic minority areas; to promote national digital transformation, develop the digital economy on the basis of science and technology, innovation; to improve productivity, quality and competitiveness of the economy, harmoniously and effectively connect domestic and international markets.

(3) To create breakthroughs in the fundamental and comprehensive renovation in education, to develop high-quality human resources, to foster and nurture talents; to promote research and development activities, apply technological advances of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to all areas of social life, prioritize a number of high-potential areas to create engines for growth to catch up and surpass countries in the region and the world.

(4) To create all conditions for human development and build the Vietnamese culture imbued with advancement and national identity so that culture can truly become an endogenous force, a driving force for the national development and defense; to uphold cultural resources, create the most favorable environment and social conditions to arouse patriotism, national pride, belief and aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country; to consider the talents, intelligence and qualities of Vietnamese people as the most important development goal and driving force of the country.

(5) To manage social development in an effective and strict manner, ensure social and human security, promote social advancement and equity; to establish cultural values in connection with moral values; to pay heed to improving the quality of health services, the quality of the population, give priority to human development; to well implement policies on labor, employment, income, social welfare and social security; to holistically improve the people's material and spiritual life.

(6) To proactively and effectively respond to climate change, mitigate natural disasters, prevent and fight against disease outbreaks, manage, exploit and use natural resources in an economic, efficient and sustainable manner; to consider the protection of human health and the environment as the most important goal; to resolutely eliminate projects that cause environmental pollution in order to safeguard the quality of the living environment and  protect biodiversity and ecosystems; to build a circular green economy.

(7) To resolutely and persistently safeguard the country’s independence, sovereignty, unity territorial integrity, protect the Party, State, people and socialist regime; To maintain political security, ensure social order and safety, human security, economic security, cyber security, develop a disciplined society; to actively prevent and reduce armed conflict; early detect and timely handle  adverse factors, especially high-risk factors, proactively defeat the hostile forces’ plots.

(8) To engage in foreign affairs in a holistic, effective and innovative manner, proactively and actively promote comprehensive and extensive international integration; to maintain a peaceful and stable environment, constantly improve Vietnam's international position and prestige.

(9) To widely promote socialist democracy, the people's right to self-governance and mastery; to bring into play the strength of the great national unity; to build and improve people's trust, strengthen their voice in the development process and to advance social consensus; to continue to reform Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations.

(10) To build and perfect a socialist rule-of-law state and a pure, strong, effective and well structured political system for the people and for the national development; to promote publicity, transparency and accountability; to control state power associated with tightening discipline in the activities of the State and of cadres, civil servants and public employees; to push ahead with the fight against corruption, wastefulness, bureaucracy, crime and social ills.

(11) To continue to build and improve holistically the Party which is vanguard fighters of the Vietnamese working class; to improve the method of the Party's leadership and ruling and combative capacity, build a truly pure and strong political system, an efficacious, competent and productive State apparatus, and a contingent of party members, cadre and civil servants at all levels, especially at the strategic level with required qualities, competences and prestige, capable to assume the assigned tasks; to popularize effectively ideological beliefs and theoretical foundation; to focus on protecting the Party and internal politics; To strengthen inspection, supervision and loose discipline during the  fight against corruption and the mass mobilization work of the Party.

(12) To well handle major relationships: The relationship between stability, renovation and development, between economic reform and political renovation, between market rules and socialist orientation, between the development of productive forces and the building and improvement of socialist relations of production, between the State, market and society, between economic growth and cultural development, progress, social justice, and environmental protection, between building and defending the socialist Vietnam, between independence, self-reliance and international integration, between the Party's leadership, the State's management and the people's mastery, between democracy and rules of law, social discipline. In the awareness and settlement of these major relations, it is necessary to maintain the socialist orientation, develop higher relations of production, develop culture, ensure social progress and justice, protect the environment, defend the Socialist Fatherland, maintain independence and self-reliance and promote the people's mastery.

Core tasks of the 13^th Party Congress

(1) To continue stepping up Party building and rectification and the building of a socialist rule-of-law state  and a comprehensive, pure and strong political system; to renew the method of the Party's leadership and ruling; to organize an effective compact political apparatus; to proceed with the fight against bureaucracy, corruption and wastefulness, interest groups, prevent the “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” inside the Party, form a contingent of party members, cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level with required qualities, competences and prestige, capable to assume the assigned tasks, improve people's trust in Party, State and socialism.

(2) To focus on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, organizing a mass vaccination campaign in the context of  epidemic, socio-economic recovery; to renew the growth model, restructure the economy, perfect synchronously the development institution suitable to the market economy;  to develop synchronously and promote connectivity between regions, areas, economic sectors, production and business types; to formulate policies to effectively support enterprises in agriculture; to promote research, technology transfer and applications, especially advances of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to implement national digital transformation and develop the digital economy, improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy; to effectively mobilize, allocate and use resources to create engine for rapid and sustainable economic growth;  to improve legal framework, especially the law on intellectual property protection and settlement of civil disputes; to overcome obstacles to the development of the country.

(3) To safeguard independence and self-reliance and improve the quality and effectiveness of foreign affairs and international integration; to strengthen national defense and security potentials, build  revolutionary, regular, elite, and step-by-step modernized Vietnam People's Army  and People's Public Security, prioritize the modernization of some forces, creating a solid foundation to achieve the goal of building the revolutionary, regular, elite and modern People's Army and People's Public Security by 2030; to steadfastly safeguard national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, including our territorial waters, islands,  air and space; to uphold an environment of peace and stability for national development.

(4) To awaken the aspiration for national development towards prosperity and happiness; to tap into the virtues of the Vietnamese culture and its people in the cause for national construction and defense and international integration; to formulate specific policies on cultural development of ethnic minorities; to effectively implement social policies and ensure social progress and equality; to improve the quality of life and happiness indicators for the Vietnamese people.

(5) To complete an integrated system of laws, mechanisms and policies to promote democratic socialism and the people’s mastery, build a socialist rule-of-law state and a pure, strong, effective and well structured political system; To launch judicial reform, strengthen the rule of law, ensure social discipline and exemplary compliance with the law, respect of democracy by the Party committees, party organizations, authorities and the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations at all levels, by  officials and party members; To strengthen the great national solidarity.

(6) To diligently manage and effectively make use of land and natural resources; To protect and improve the environment; To take effective measures to adapt to climate change.

Strategic breakthroughs

(1) To holistically improve our institutions, particularly our socialist-oriented market economy institutions; to renovate national governance towards modernity and competitiveness; to prioritize the perfection of our legal system, as well as mechanisms and policies to foster a favorable, healthy, fair business environment conducive to innovation; to mobilize, manage and effectively utilize all resources for development, especially land, finance, establish the public - private partnership; to promote reasonable and effective decentralization, strengthen inspection, supervision and control of state power by the legal system.

(2) To promote human resources development, particularly qualified human resources with priority given to leadership and management positions and core sectors by improving the quality of education and effectively implementing policies of recruitment, fostering and nurturing talents; to reinforce scientific research, technology transfer and applications; to awaken the aspiration for national development towards prosperity and happiness; to tap into the virtues of the Vietnamese culture and its people, the spirit of solidarity and national bride in the cause for national construction and defense.

(3) To build a holistic and modern socio-economic infrastructure system; to prioritize the development of core national projects on transportation and climate change adaptation. To focus on ICT infrastructure development, laying the groundwork for national digital transformation and the gradual development of a digital economy and society.

II- The Congress adopted the Political Report, the Ten-year Socio-economic Development Strategy (2021 – 2030) and the next Five-year Socio-economic Development Plan  (2021-2025). Based on the report of the Presidium of the Congress and the election results, the Congress assigned the 13^th Party Central Committee to finalize and officially promulgate this document.

III- The Congress approved the report summarizing the work of Party building and the implementation of the Party Charter of the 12^th Central Committee,  agreed not to amend or supplement the current Party Charter. It assigned the 13^th Party Central Committee to direct the promulgation of regulations and guidelines of the Central Committee, strengthen inspection and supervision, ensure comprehensive implementation of the Charter throughout the Party.

IV- The Congress approved the Report on reviewing and assessing the leadership of the 12^th Party Central Committee to submit to the 13^th  Congress. It assigned the 13^th Party Central Committee to collect opinions of delegates, promote its advantages, cope with its shortcomings and improve the effectiveness of leadership in the next tenure.

V- The Congress has re-elected Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the 12^th Party Central Committee as General Secretary of the 13^th Party Central Committee.

VI- The Congress has elected the members of the 13^th Central Committee consisting of 200 members in which there are 180 full members and 20 alternate members.

VII- The 13^th Party Central Committee and all levels of party committees and organizations direct the successful implementation of policies regulated in documents of the 13^th Congress.

The Congress calls on the entire Party, people, army and compatriots at home and abroad to strongly promote patriotism, national pride, socialist democracy and the strength of great national unity, cultural values, aspiration to develop the country, the strength of Vietnamese people, the role of science - technology and innovation in order to successfully implement the Resolution of the Congress for the rapid growth and a sustainable development of our country, establishing a new miracle for a prosperous and happy Vietnam that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the five continents as the aspiration of the great President Ho Chi Minh and our entire nation.

This article was published in the Communist Review No. 959 (February 2021)