14th Party Congress: Congress of the Era of Rising

The 14th National Party Congress is a profound political activity of the entire Party, people, and armed forces. It is a momentous event that promotes patriotism, revolutionary heroism, self-reliance, and the strength of national unity.

This tradition serves as a continuing source for us to confidently enter a new era — the era of the nation’s rise — with the ultimate goal of achieving a “wealthy people, strong nation, socialist society, standing shoulder to shoulder with world powers.”

The top priority in this era is to successfully achieve the strategic objectives that Vietnam aims to become a developing nation with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030; and become a developed nation with high income by 2045.

These are ambitious goals, intertwined with new opportunities, advantages, and challenges. To realise this aspiration, our nation must overcome significant challenges, particularly in the context of global epochal changes as humanity rapidly enters a new era of accelerated development and breakthroughs across all aspects globally, with the core being an increasingly fierce competition in knowledge and technology — a competition of soft power through industrial development and innovation.

The big question now is whether we have sufficient position and strength; sufficient will and determination to enter the new era, the era of powerful development and prosperity for our nation?
The answer is: We do.
General Secretary To Lam

To move our country forward on the path of development, General Secretary To Lam stated: “The big question now is whether we have sufficient position and strength; sufficient will and determination to enter the new era, the era of powerful development and prosperity for our nation? The answer is: We do.” The task now is to seize this historic opportunity to advance.

The opening of the 13th Party Central Committee’s 10th plenum in Hanoi on the morning of September 18, 2024. (Photo: NDO)

The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam holds great historical responsibility for the Fatherland, people and nation, and marks a new historical milestone in the Vietnamese nation’s take off and rise.

The Congress has the task of reviewing the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party in conjunction with evaluating the results and affirming the achievements made during the 13th tenure, 40 years of carrying out the 'Doi moi' (renewal), 35 years of implementing the 1991 Platform on national construction during the transitional period towards socialism, five years of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, from which to draw lessons; as well as setting out the directions and tasks for socio-economic development in the five years from 2026 to 2030, and determine the goals, directions and vision for national development until 2045.

At the same time, the Congress deeply and comprehensively reviewed the Party building work and the leadership and direction of the 13th Party Central Committee; determined the directions and tasks for Party building in the new term; assessed the implementation of the Party Charter; and, especially, elected the 14th Party Central Committee, consisting of comrades who are truly exemplary in political qualities, revolutionary ethics, leadership capacity, mettle and intelligence, capable of meeting the increasingly high requirements of the cause of rapid and sustainable national development and firmly protecting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the new situation.

The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam holds great historical responsibility for the Fatherland, people and nation, and marks a new historical milestone in the Vietnamese nation’s take-off and rise.

To ensure the success of the Congress, the eighth session of the 13th Party Central Committee discussed and clearly stated: First of all, the preparation of draft documents must be carried out in a scientific and serious manner, based on steadfastness and creative application of Marxism-Leninism and President Ho Chi Minh's ideology; steadfastly pursuing the goal of national independence and socialism; steadfastly adhering to the Party's Doi Moi policy; steadfastly adhering to the principles of Party building; and fully reflecting the new realities of the country.

Our Party emphasises the requirement that steadfastness must go hand in hand with innovation; there must be a close connection between theoretical research and summarising the practical development in the fields of politics, economy, culture, society, national defence and security, and foreign affairs.

An aerial view of Hanoi

The Congress documents must be scientific works that embody the theoretical and intellectual level of the entire Party, and the beliefs and aspirations of the entire nation; the policies, tasks, and solutions must have feasibility from within practice; with the participation and contribution of central agencies, committees, ministries, sectors, localities, socio-political organisations, and the people.

On August 13, 2024, at the Party Central Committee headquarters, the standing members of the sub-committee in charge of drafting documents for the 14th National Party Congress convened a meeting to contribute their ideas to the draft political report, which was approved at the 9th meeting of the 13th Party Central Committee.

Speaking at the meeting, Party General Secretary To Lam, who is also head of the sub-committee, emphasised the principles, guidelines, ideological methods, guiding viewpoints, and working methods as follow:

First, unifying the perception of a number of major issues, as follows: (i) Documents are the “torch that light the way” for us to go, they must ensure the crystallisation of all the quintessence and values of the past, present and future; must ensure the principle that the Party leads and rules; and must ensure the interests of the nation, prosperity and happiness of the people are above all, first and foremost. (ii) Documents should not be too long, must be highly directional so that Party committees at all levels and all Party members must fully understand and implement them. (iii) Summarising 40 years of innovation is a very necessary task that must be carried out very urgently with a great investment of effort and intelligence so that it can be filtered and included in the content of the documents in time. (iv) High focus on completing the quality of documents, meeting the requirements of organising Party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress in the first quarter of 2026. The Standing Committee of the Subcommittee and the Editorial Team must be “unanimous from top to bottom, consistent throughout” in the process of drafting the document.

Second, firmly adhering to the principled guiding viewpoints; conducting theoretical research based on summarising practical experience, standing on the ground of Vietnamese practice to determine methods for the Vietnamese revolution in the new era.

Third, the content of the document must ensure the highest promotion of the spirit of “self-reliance, self-confidence, self-strengthening, national pride”; constantly strengthen solidarity within the Party, great national solidarity; link ideology and action, “Party will and people’s heart”; make the most of opportunities and advantages; minimise risks and challenges; open up new development prospects; expand living space; build a strong Communist Party of Vietnam, a rich, democratic, fair and civilised Vietnam; and ensure the Vietnamese people have a prosperous and happy life”.

Regarding personnel work, on the afternoon of August 29, at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee, the Personnel Subcommittee of the 14th National Party Congress and the Steering Committee for the Planning of the 14th Party Central Committee, its Politburo, and its Secretariat convened a meeting to discuss and provide opinions on the draft report summarising the 13th Party Central Committee’s personnel affairs and the personnel directions for the 14th Party Central Committee.

After listening to the discussions, Party General Secretary To Lam, also the head of the subcommittee and the steering committee for central strategic cadre planning, delivered concluding remarks.

He emphasised that personnel work is a crucial aspect of each Party Congress. Cadre work is the key factor in Party-building efforts and a vital link in the overall operations of the Party, determining the success or failure of the revolution. Therefore, the preparation for personnel work must be meticulous, thorough, and prudent.

The selected personnel must be exemplary and outstanding and have enough mettle, qualities, intelligence, leadership capacity, and professional expertise, with high credibility among the people and within the Party.
General Secretary To Lam

The Party leader stressed that the selected personnel must be exemplary and outstanding and have enough mettle, qualities, intelligence, leadership capacity, and professional expertise, with high credibility among the people and within the Party.

They should be capable of handling strategic-level tasks, demonstrating a strong sense of discipline and close ties with the people while fostering unity within the Party and the entire nation. They must have sufficient credibility and leadership capacity to guide the country through the next development phase.

The personnel planning for the Party Central Committee, its Politburo and Secretariat is a matter of great importance and will be carried out regularly from now until the 14th National Party Congress. It is closely linked to the assignment, arrangement, and preparation of key leadership personnel for agencies, units, and localities for the next term.

Party General Secretary To Lam emphasised, “The personnel work for the Party Congress must be carried out urgently and cautiously, ensuring unity and consensus within the Party. It must also uphold the Party’s leadership and ruling role. The personnel selected must be officials with leadership capacity, professional competence, and credibility among the people and within the Party. The personnel preparation process must be conducted under the direct, comprehensive, regular, continuous, strict, and democratic leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, party committees, and party organisations. The interests of the Party, the nation, and the people must be placed above all else.”

General Secretary To Lam made the remarks while addressing the National Conference on the implementation and review of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW.

To successfully achieve the strategic goal of national development in the era of the nation’s rise, as outlined in the spirit of the 9th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, the Party has emphasised: steadfastly placing socio-economic development at the centre, Party building as the key, cultural development as the foundation, and ensuring national defence, security, and strengthening diplomacy as essential and regular tasks.

It is necessary to comprehensively and synchronously promote reforms, accelerate fast and sustainable national development, and strengthen national capabilities.

This includes building and completing a comprehensive institutional framework for national development, particularly a modern, integrated socialist-oriented market economy. Maximising social resources for sustainable national development, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation is also crucial.

Furthermore, comprehensive human development must be prioritised, along with fostering an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity. Culture should truly serve as the foundation for development, an intrinsic strength, and a crucial driving force for national progress and the improvement of people’s lives.

The 14th Party Congress is an especially significant political event, reflecting the Party’s great wisdom, immense responsibility, and noble mission in leading the Vietnamese revolution in the new era. It carries the profound meaning of shortening the path toward socialism, bringing the aspirations of President Ho Chi Minh and the entire nation closer to realisation.

Published: February 2025
Photos: VNA, NHan Dan
Design: NDO

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