Expressing joy at how Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary To Lam, in his article Radiant Vietnam, went to the heart of the matter of the issues currently plaguing the Party and the country, Meritorious Teacher, Hero of Labor of the Renovation Period, member of the Eighth National Assembly, and Chairman of the DTU Council Le Cong Co emphasizes that, “looking at the seven sets of solutions proposed by General Secretary To Lam, it seems to me that the leader of our Party has faced the truth to solve practical issues. That is the reform needed to start the era of national growth.”
To the heart of the matter of existing problems
Distinguished Teacher, Hero of Labor of the Renovation Period, member of the Eighth National Assembly, and Chairman of the DTU University Council Le Cong Co explains: The article Radiant Vietnam by General Secretary To Lam had me reflect on the Party’s formation, struggle, and development. As a Party member, former special operations soldier, and participant in the resistance against the US, I am very happy to see the leader of our Party going to the heart of the matter of the issues currently plaguing the Party and the country.
In my view, the development of the Party was a key factor in our national victory. Lessons learned during the war are what made me realize that the development of a Party branch is essential to the development of a school. Therefore, when the university had just been founded, I invited several retired Party members to establish the first Party branch right away, with myself as secretary and placed under the Quang Nam–Da Nang People’s Party Committee of the time. As the university grew, its Party branch grew along with it, and the development of its Party branch was the core of the development of the school. Now that we have grown into one of the nine big universities in the country, our Party branch counts nearly 450 members, from master’s degree holders to leading professors.
Distinguished Teacher, Hero of Labor of the Renovation Period, member of the
Eighth National Assembly, and Chairman of the DTU Council Le Cong Co. Photo: T. Tai
In his article, the General Secretary tasked us to continue developing the Party, straightening it out for purity and robustness, and resolutely dealing with cadre and members whose political thought, morality, or lifestyle have declined. This is an issue that our Party must regularly and continuously work on to create strong, pioneering Party organizations. Just as during the war: wherever there is hardship, wherever sacrifices are needed, Party members are to be there, taking the lead and going forward.
Looking at the seven sets of solutions proposed by the General Secretary, it seems to me that the leader of our Party has faced the truth to solve practical issues. That is the reform needed to start the era of national growth. On streamlining administration, I remember, the first session of the National Assembly in 1986 of the Renovation Period. I attended as a representative for the former province of Quang Nam–Da Nang. The late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet said that the country had over half a million civil servants, and with provinces separated out, the total number of civil servants should not exceed a million, or it would not be possible to pay them. Yet, nearly 11 million people are now paid from the state budget, and 70% of regular spending goes to this workforce. This is too heavy; no budget can support such a bureaucracy.
Recognizing this, our Party led by General Secretary To Lam has determined to “strengthen the organizational structure of the political system for streamlining and for effective and efficient operations, and to overcome unwieldiness and overlap.” This is the right path, and it is the path of our times, as artificial intelligence (AI) has been developing rapidly. However, I am concerned that, while the Party’s resolution and determination are correct, per-sector and local implementation must be precise and accurate, and that it is necessary to streamline the apparatus and retain talent. Good organization combined with the anti-corruption drive and policies to support cadre can remove incompetent people.
Breakthrough in improving Party leadership and fighting strength
General Secretary To Lam’s task number six with Resolution nr. 57 on science & technology, the driving force for the country’s development, will transform the country. In response to the General Secretary’s standpoint, DTU is preparing the necessary technology and AI to organize a grassroots Party congress in March. All procedures, from voting to introducing personnel, will utilize AI. Our Party’s recent standpoint and major policies on science & technology development are truly liberating and facilitate universities’ expansion of research, technology transfer, and real-life applications.
Recently, the Ministry of Education & Training started to thoroughly implement Politburo Resolution nr. 57-NQ/TW of December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation with the participation of many major universities across the country. The development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation is clearly defined as a determining factor in national development, and a prerequisite and the best opportunity for our country to become developed and strong in the new era - an era of national growth. Resolution nr. 57 paves the way and is considered a guiding principle for policies and regulations on science & technology development. It is only through international cooperation with major universities around the world that we realized that, if we do not innovate and strongly develop science & technology, we will continue falling behind. In his article, the General Secretary also emphasizes that the application of the achievements of science & technology to the development of the Party is not only vital but also a breakthrough to improving Party leadership and fighting strength in the new times.
To implement the Party’s major standpoints in real life, our system of policies and laws must be synchronized. The National Assembly plays an important role in issuing legal regulations and promptly adjusting policies.
(Media Center)