Present general secretary of uno

1. Former Party General Secretary Do Muoi (birth name Nguyen Duy Cong) was born on February 2, 1917, in Dong My commune, Thanh Tri district, Hanoi. His life spanned more than 80 years, during which he joined the revolutionary activities associated with many important events of the country, demonstrating that he firmly held the virtues of a communist and dedicated all of his efforts to the nation and the people.

At the age of 19, he joined the Popular Front movement. He became a member of the Indochinese Communist Party in 1939. In 1941, he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in jail. He served his sentence at the Ha Dong and Hoa Lo Prisons in Hanoi. In March 1945, Japan staged a coup d’état and he escaped from the prison and continued his revolutionary activities.

During the war against the French colonialists, he held many leading positions in the Party and the administration, including Secretary of the Party Committee of Ha Dong province and Secretary of the Party Committee of Ha Nam province. In late 1946, he became Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Administration and Resistance Committee of Nam Dinh province, a member of the regional Party Committee of the Joint Zone III, as well as serving as Secretary of the Party Committee of Ninh Binh province, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hoa Binh province, Deputy Secretary of the regional Party Committee of the Joint Zone, Vice Chairman of the Administration and Resistance Committee, and Political Commissar and Commander of the Joint Zone III. From 1951 to 1954, he worked as Secretary of the regional Party Committee, Chairman of the Administration and Resistance Committee, and Political Commissar of the High Command of the Red River’s Left Bank Region.

Later, in 1955, he became Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Administration and Resistance Committee of Hai Phong city. In March 1955, he was elected as an alternate member of the Party Central Committee. In 1956, he was Deputy Minister of Trade. In 1958, he became Minister of Domestic Trade. At the 3rd National Party Congress in September 1960, he was elected as a member of the Party Central Committee, serving as Minister of Domestic Trade. From 1967 to 1968, he worked as Chairman of the State Pricing Committee and Head of the Government’s inspection delegation. From 1969 to 1973, he became Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the State Committee for Basic Construction. In 1973, he worked as Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Construction and vice chairman of the central council for front support and the anti-blockage of Hai Phong port. At the 4th National Party Congress in December 1976, comrade Do Muoi was re-elected as a member of the Party Central Committee, and became an alternate member of the Political Bureau, in addition to working as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of basic construction, industry and materials, industrial and commercial reform, and distribution. At the 5th National Party Congress in March 1982, he was re-elected as a member of the Party Central Committee, elected as a member of the Political Bureau, and served as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of basic construction, industry and materials. At the 6th National Party Congress in December 1986, he was re-elected as a member of the Party Central Committee and the Political Bureau and assigned to work as a permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat. In June 1988, the National Assembly elected Comrade Do Muoi as Chairman of the Council of Ministers (now Prime Minister).

As the leader of the main economic sectors of the country for many decades, especially as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Comrade Do Muoi mobilised team strength to promptly present solutions for the urgent problems posed in each period. Particularly, he made significant contributions to key national economic projects, especially thermal, hydropower, mechanical and irrigation works such as the Hoa Binh, Yaly, Uong Bi, Pha Lai, Diezel Song Cong, Apatite Lao Cai, Dau Tieng irrigation works.

At the 7th National Party Congress in June 1991, he was re-elected as a member of the Party Central Committee and the Political Bureau, and held the position of General Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee. At the 8th National Party Congress in June 1996, he was re-elected as a member of the Party Central Committee and the Political Bureau, and held the position of General Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Military Party Committee. Particularly, under his leadership and under the management of the Party Central Committee and Politburo, the country firmly believed in the renewal process and international integration and created breakthroughs in diplomacy when Vietnam normalised its relations with China and the US, as well as joining ASEAN. Furthermore, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union was signed, the first negotiations on the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) were initiated and cooperation channels with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB), and Asian Development Bank (ADB) were opened.

In December 1997, at the 4th meeting of the 8th Party Central Committee, he resigned from the position as a member of the Party Central Committee and General Secretary of the Party Central Committee. Comrade Do Muoi then acted as Adviser of the Party Central Committee until 2000.

Throughout a working career spanning over 70 years, Comrade Do Muoi was assigned to take charge of various fields and sectors both in wartime and peacetime. Trained and tested in reality, Comrade Do Muoi matured into a cadre with firm stuff, sharp wit, decisive actions and a close bond with the people.

Even upon retiring, Comrade Do Muoi continued to contribute his opinions to the national construction cause, while respecting and supporting the younger generations. He was a respectable person, a revolutionary veteran and a bright example of Vietnam’s revolution

2. As a son of the capital, during his revolutionary life, former Party General Secretary Do Muoi left many deep memories, always paying special attention and contributing to the development of the capital city of Hanoi.

In 1945, after escaping from the prison he continued his revolutionary activities. He participated in the provincial Ha Dong Party Committee’s Uprising Board, overseeing the revolutionary campaigns in Ung Hoa and My Duc districts and leading the uprising to seize power in the province. After the August Revolution in 1945, he became Secretary of the Party Committee of Ha Dong Province. With the new position, he affirmed his excellent revolutionary leadership, helping to develop the revolutionary movement in the province.

Later, during the two resistance wars against the French colonialism and American imperialism Comrade Do Muoi was often attached to his homeland, the land and the people of Hanoi. His interest in Hanoi was very clear, especially during the renovation years, when he was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee. Building grassroots democracy regulations and promoting grassroots democracy was the initiative of the former leader and Hanoi was the first place to implement grassroots democracy regulations.

Comrade Do Muoi was also always interested in Hanoi’s development, especially in the development of economics and urban areas. He regularly directed, orientated and encouraged Hanoi to expand and develop the economy. In particular, he advised the city leaders on urban planning, construction and the development of housing for the people.

After retiring, Comrade Do Muoi continued to contribute his opinions to Hanoi’s construction cause while respecting and supporting the younger generations. In particular, in Dong My commune, a study encouragement fund named after former Party General Secretary Do Muoi was launched to encourage his homeland’s youth. On August 29, 2003, the People’s Committee of Hai Ba Trung District held the inauguration ceremony of the Den Lu secondary school, which was a meaningful gift donated by former Party General Secretary Do Muoi.

In recognition of his great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, he was presented with a Gold Star Order, an insignia of 80-year Party membership, and many other noble orders and medals from Vietnam and other countries.

3. Thang Long – Hanoi, the birthplace of excellent people, is also the homeland of Comrade Do Muoi. With his revolutionary life, he brightened the tradition and history of heroism and became the pride of Hanoi’s Party Committee and people.

At the age of 101, he has left us to join Karl Marx, Lenin and President Ho Chi Minh. His passing away is a great loss to the Party, State and people of Vietnam in general and Hanoi’s Party Committee and people in particular.

Seeing him off at his final resting place, we expressed our deep gratitude for his contributions to the nation’s revolutionary cause and to the people’s happiness. Following the example of the Comrade, the Party, authorities and people of Hanoi will continue to strive further in the cause of building and developing the capital, contributing to the common development and building a beautiful, prosperous and civilised homeland.

Party and State leaders congratulated Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng (second from left) on his State President tenure as he was relieved from the post on Friday after National Assembly cast secret votes on his dismissal. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly on Friday voted to pass a resolution officially relieving Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng from the State Presidency.

A total of 438 legislators out of the 440 present at the 11th plenary session of the 14th-tenure parliament voted in favour of the resolution or 91.25 per cent. One voted against the resolution and one abstained.

The candidate nominated to replace Trọng is Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, who was also relieved from his Prime Minister post earlier in the morning.

NA legislators discussed in groups on Friday afternoon the nomination and will conduct a vote on the new State President on Monday when the session resumes after the weekend break.

Addressing legislators, NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ said that over the last two years, Party General Secretary Trọng also carried out the duties of the State Presidency since the death of the previous President Trần Đại Quang in September 2018.

This is equal parts an honour and onerous responsibility before the Party and the people, but the General Secretary dedicated all his efforts for the development of the country and outstandingly fulfilled his role, he said.

“On behalf of the National Assembly, we would like to thank and wish the General Secretary to be always healthy, and to accompany Politburo, the Party Secretariat, the Party Central Committee, Party leaders, State and the people on the path of making the country grow rapidly and sustainably”, NA Chairman Huệ said.

Nguyễn Phú Trọng , born in 1944 in Đông Anh District, Hà Nội, and majored in philology, became the Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Review, the theoretical journal of the Party, in 1991 after working there since 1968.

In January 1994, he was elected as a member of the Party Central Committee.

Trọng has been elected as Party leader for three consecutive five-year terms since 2011, member of the Politburo for six consecutive terms since 1996, and an NA deputy for four consecutive terms since 2002.

His most important legacy at the helm of the Communist Party of Việt Nam is a well-received anti-corruption drive that has seen various senior Party members and officials trialled and jailed in high-profile economic mismanagement cases, along with the commitment to Party building to restore the Party’s integrity and discipline. — VNS

In his work “Better Fewer, But Better” published on March 2, 1923, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin raised the matter of combining a Party institution with a Government institution. He asked “How can a Party institution be amalgamated with a Soviet institution?” and “Is not this flexible amalgamation of a Soviet institution with a Party institution a source of great strength in our politics?”

Lenin required serious research in order to reorganise the leadership institutions in a way that was fewer but better. He stated that “… only by thoroughly purging our government machine, by reducing it to the utmost everything that is not absolutely essential in it, shall we be certain of being able to keep going.”

The aforementioned guidelines by Lenin are significant to the science of leadership, management and organisation.

In fact, in Russia and the former Soviet Union, the highest leaders of the Party also held the highest positions of the State. Lenin was the supreme leader of the Party and concurrently Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1924.

During the 1924-1953 period, Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and concurrently Chairman of the Council of Ministers. During the years 1953 to 1991, the CPSU General Secretaries all held the posts of Chairman of the Council of Ministers or Chairman of the Supreme Soviet.

In China, the General Secretary of the Communist Party is also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. In Cuba, the First Secretary of the Party Central Committee also serves as the President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers. In Laos, the General Secretary is also the President and the Secretary of a province is also its Governor.

In other countries, the leader of a ruling Party directly holds the state apparatus. The Secretary-General of the ruling Party in Singapore is naturally the country’s Prime Minister. The President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Japan heads the country’s cabinet. The President of the Cambodian People’s Party is concurrently the Prime Minister.

Many countries in Europe and other regions of the world also share a similar organisational structure. The amalgamation of the ruling Party post with the State post is clearly common around the world, which both strengthens the position of the ruling Party and enhances the management responsibility of the State.

In Vietnam, with the victory of the August Revolution (in 1945), the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born. President Ho Chi Minh, the supreme leader of the Party and Chairman of the Party Central Committee from February 1951, was also President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam until his passing on September 2, 1969.

During the Doi Moi (renovation) period, the Party and State incessantly built the Party and the State and refined the political system. With the building of the socialist-oriented market, the law-governed socialist State of the people, by the people and for the people, and with increasingly deeper integration, the matter of combining the posts of General Secretary and President have been put forward several times but the necessary conditions were inadequate.

Now the conditions on the role and responsibility of the ruling Party and the construction and operation of a law-governed socialist State are mature, and with the consensus within the Party, especially the Party Central Committee and the highest leaders of the Party and State, the combination of the top Party and State positions can be afforded.

First, that the General Secretary is also the President will enhance the Party’s leadership over the State and properly implements Article 4 of the 2013 Constitution. Since 1945, the Communist Party has been the ruling Party, leading the State. Such a leadership role has been affirmed in practice and is closely connected with the development and victory of the Vietnamese revolution and the development of the State. Article 4 of the Constitutions of 1980, 1992 and 2013 all affirm that the Communist Party of Vietnam is the force leading the State and society. The Party’s leadership role is enshrined in the Constitution.

One of the characteristics of the Vietnamese socialist model is building a law-governed socialist State led by the Communist Party. That leadership is a principle and has been continually solidified and strengthened in line with the Party platform and the Constitution promulgated by the State. The Party leads the State, decides on domestic and external issues, as well as the structural organisation of the State apparatus; inspects and supervises the State’s operations; leads the process in which the State realises the platform and guidelines of the Party, and mobilises and organises the people to take part in State building and management.

Second, that the General Secretary is also the President will enhance the position of the State leader in exercising the duties and rights enshrined in the Constitution. The President is the head of State, representing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in domestic and external affairs.

Provisions in Articles 86 to 93 of the 2013 Constitution on the role, duty and rights of the President will be implemented better when the President is also the General Secretary, directly implementing the Party’s leadership, and thoroughly grasping the platform, guidelines and viewpoints of the Party.

The person who holds both the posts of General Secretary and President is required to have the necessary quality, qualifications, capacity and reputation in order to successfully assume the two roles of Party leadership and State power exercise. This affirms and increases the responsibility of the leader and requires the refinement of the organisational apparatus of the Party and State at all levels, as well as the political system that was outlined in the Resolution of the 12th Central Committee’s 6th Plenum and is currently being implemented.

Third, attention should be paid to refining the mechanisms and methods to inspect, supervise and control power so as to guarantee the utmost efficiency of the leadership and management. Some have expressed concern regarding power control when one person holds the top positions of the Party and State.

In most countries, there are regulations on and bodies in charge of controlling power in order to prevent the abuse of power. In Vietnam, the Resolution of the 12th Central Committee’s 4th Plenum also puts an emphasis on control of power. It must come from the platform, charter and regulations of the Party, including those on the responsibility to set examples of officials, Party members, especially Politburo members, the Secretariat and the Central Committee.

Power is controlled by the Constitution and laws, inspection and supervisory bodies, all officials, Party members and the people. Control is also exercised within the state apparatus, the legislative, the executive and the judicial bodies. This will prevent the corruption of power. The most important aspect is that the entire Party, State apparatus, political system and people are able to choose a competent, virtuous, responsible and esteemed leader who is truly devoted to the country and people.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng during phone talks on Monday with Yoshihide Suga, Japanese Prime Minister and President of Liberal Democratic Party. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam consistently considers Japan to be a long-term, highly reliable and leading strategic partner, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng said during a phone talk on Monday with Yoshihide Suga, Japanese Prime Minister and President of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Trọng reiterated that the 13th National Party Congress set out orientations and development targets for the next five years with a vision towards 2045. One of the key orientations that Việt Nam is keen on is to pursue the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, co-operation and development, diversification and multilateralisation of foreign relations; proactively and actively integrating into the world’s affairs while being a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Trọng proposed the two sides promote exchanges at all levels and wanted to receive continuous support of Japan in Việt Nam’s realisation of socio-economic development strategy and plan set out at the 13th National Party Congress.

On this occasion, Japanese PM Suga congratulated Việt Nam on the great success of the 13th National Party Congress and congratulated Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng for being re-elected as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the 13th tenure.

Suga expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam led by the General Secretary and President Trọng, Việt Nam will gain a number of new and great achievements in the renovation cause.

Suga, who is also LDP President, affirmed that the Việt Nam-Japan deepened and strategic partnership was important and contributed to the further development of the bilateral relationship.

In the context of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Japan will continue to co-operate with Việt Nam in prevention measures, he said.

Suga expressed his wish to closely co-ordinate with Việt Nam to foster the bilateral relationship in a comprehensive, substantive and effective manner, towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2023. — VNS

“Dear comrades,

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Military Central Hospital 108 (April 1, 1951-2021), I cordially send my dearest regards, greetings and best wishes to the Board of Directors, professors, doctors and the whole officers, soldiers, professional soldiers, defence workers, civil servants and employees as well as the families and relatives of fallen, wounded and sick soldiers who have been working at the Military Central Hospital 108.

Over the past 70 years of formation and development, under the leadership and direction of the Party and State, directly the Central Military Commission and Ministry of Defence as well as the enthusiastic care and support from the Party committees and authorities at all levels and people, and the close coordination of the agencies and units inside and outside the Army, Military Central Hospital 108 has upheld the good nature and glorious tradition of the heroic Vietnam People’s Army. The hospital has been always united, proactive, creative, self-reliant and resilient as well as made great efforts and overcame all difficulties to successfully fulfilled its assigned tasks. The hospital has actively studied, trained and applied modern scientific and technological achievements to improve the quality of medical examination, treatment and care for leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and the Army; fallen and wounded soldiers; officials, soldiers and people.

The Military Central Hospital 108’s exceptional achievements have significantly contributed to the cause of national liberation, construction and defence, being appreciated by the Party, State and the Army. It has been awarded many noble orders, medals, and titles.

On the occasion, I warmly hailed, praised and congratulated the exceptional achievements of the Military Central Hospital 108 over the period, while hoping the comrades will continue to uphold the hospital’s glorious tradition and the heroic Vietnam People’s Army to study and practice political and moral qualities, and to be absolutely loyal to the Party’s revolutionary cause; constantly improve professional qualifications and boost scientific research, training and creative innovation; promote the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and style; strengthen the victory emulation movement and the campaign to promote tradition and dedication of talents, worthy of the title of ‘Uncle Ho’s soldiers’. The hospital will continue to build its pure and strong Party committee associated with the construction of an exemplary, outstanding and strong hospital, to successfully fulfil all assigned tasks, worthy of being the leading medical centre of the Army and the country and on par with the region and the world.

With affection and trust, I wish the comrades and your families good health, happiness and success.

Cordially,

NGUYEN PHU TRONG

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam

State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Secretary of the Central Military Commission”

Party and State leaders cast their votes to relieve key cabinet members on Wednesday, setting the stage for the new members to be nominated and confirmed. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — Newly elected Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Wednesday presented to the National Assembly a list of nominees for 14 positions, including two deputy prime ministers and 11 ministers, for his new cabinet.

Lê Minh Khái, former head of the Government Inspectorate and Lê Văn Thành, Secretary of the Hải Phòng City Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, were nominated for the deputy PM posts.

Khái, born in 1964 in the Mekong Delta province of Bạc Liêu, holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and a master’s degree in economics. Since March 2007, he has served as Vice Government Inspector General, Vice Secretary of Bạc Liêu Party Committee, Chairman of Bạc Liêu People’s Committee, Secretary of Bạc Liêu Party Committee, and eventually Government Inspector General.

Thành, born in 1962 in the northern province of Hải Phòng, holds a masters in economic management. Thành served as the Vice Chairman of Hải Phòng People’s Committee, then Secretary of Hải Phòng Party Committee, and eventually Chairman of Hải Phòng People’s Council since June 2016.

Trịnh Đình Dũng was also relieved of his duty as Deputy Prime Minister on Wednesday. Dũng along with Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình did not remain in the 200-plus-member Central Party Committee after the 13th National Party Congress held earlier this year.

PM Chính also presented nominations for 11 ministerial posts and the successor to Khái in the Government Inspector General position.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn, 58, is set to replace Phạm Bình Minh as the next Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Minh will continue in his other role as deputy prime minister, as will Vũ Đức Đam and Trương Hòa Bình, meaning the new cabinet will have a total of five deputy PMs.

Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel General Phan Văn Giang, 60, is nominated as Minister of Defence, replacing General Ngô Xuân Lịch, 66.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà, 57, is nominated to be the new Minister of Home Affairs.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng, 57, is nominated as Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, replacing Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, 62.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan, 60, is set to replace Nguyễn Xuân Cường, 61, as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Nguyễn Hồng Diên, 56, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Popularisation, is set to replace Trần Tuấn Anh, 51, as Minister of Industry and Trade.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyễn Thanh Nghị, 44, is set to replace Phạm Hồng Hà, 63, as Minister of Construction.

Former State Auditor General Hồ Đức Phớc is set to replace Đinh Tiến Dũng, 59, as Minister of Finance.

Deputy Chairman of the Government Office Trần Văn Sơn, 50, is nominated to replace Mai Tiến Dũng, 62, as Minister, Chairman of the Government Office.

President of Việt Nam National University Nguyễn Kim Sơn, 54, is set to replace Phùng Xuân Nhạ, 57, as Minister of Education and Training.

Vice-Chairman and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Hầu A Lềnh, 47, is set to replace Đỗ Văn Chiến, 58, as Minister, Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs.

Secretary of Nam Định Province Party Committee Đoàn Hồng Phong, 58, is set to replace Khải as the Government Inspector General.

The predecessors in these 12 posts were officially relieved of their duties by the National Assembly in a vote on Wednesday.

This leaves the nine posts of the Minister of Health, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Minister of Information and Technology, Minister of Justice, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Investment and Planning, Minister of Transport, and Minister of Public Security unchanged.

The parliament spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the nominations and is expected to vote on the issue on Thursday morning. — VNS