The article "Rising to New Heights in International Integration" by General Secretary To Lam

Tổng Bí thư Tô Lâm. (Ảnh: Thống Nhất/TTXVN) — General Secretary To Lam . (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

General Secretary To Lam recently published a noteworthy article titled "Rising High in International Integration." Gia Lai Online Newspaper would like to present the full text of this article to our readers:

"Looking back at the history of our country's revolution, the integration and development of the nation have always been closely linked to the changes of the times. From the very beginning of the nation's founding, in a letter to the United Nations, President Ho Chi Minh clearly stated the spirit that Vietnam wanted to be friends with all countries, expressing the desire to 'implement an open-door policy and cooperation in all fields.' This can be considered the first 'declaration' on the approach of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the international community."

The idea of "combining national strength with the strength of the times" has been creatively applied by our Party over the past 80 years, always linking our revolution with the progressive trends of the times and the common cause of humanity.

Entering the period of reform, our Party determined that for peace and development, we must open up to the outside world and cooperate with other countries, with international integration being the highest form and level of international cooperation. In other words, international integration means "placing the country in the mainstream of the times, beating in sync with and breathing the same air as the times," increasing our strength through connection with the world. The Party has put forward the policy of international integration, first economic integration, then comprehensive integration, to open up and expand relations with countries and international organizations, to take advantage of external resources for socio-economic development, and to enhance the role and position of the nation, bringing Vietnam into the world political arena, the international economy, and human civilization.

Our country is entering an era of striving for prosperity and strength, towards a "rich people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization," requiring a new mindset, position, and approach to international integration. The Politburo's Resolution 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025, on "International Integration in the New Situation" is a "breakthrough decision," marking a historic turning point in the country's integration process, positioning international integration as a crucial driving force for the nation to enter a new era. This involves a shift in international integration from receiving to contributing, from deep and broad integration to full integration, and from a lagging nation to a nation that is rising and pioneering in new fields.

The Party has identified international integration as a crucial strategy to consolidate political standing, promote economic development, ensure national security, and enhance the country's influence on the world map. International integration has gradually developed through various periods, from limited, selective, and ideologically-oriented integration to the current "deep, comprehensive international integration." The 9th Party Congress first put forward the principle of "international economic integration." The 11th Party Congress marked a shift in thinking from "international economic integration" to "international integration in all fields." Resolution No. 22-NQ/TW on international integration dated April 10, 2013, of the Politburo is a concretization of the international integration guideline with the principle of "proactive and positive international integration." Most recently, at the 13th National Congress of the Party, this strategic orientation was once again developed and refined into "proactive, positive, comprehensive, deep, and effective international integration."

Over the past 40 years of reform, Vietnam's international integration process has achieved significant and historically significant results. From a country once isolated and surrounded, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries worldwide, has Strategic Partnerships and Comprehensive Partnerships with 34 countries, including all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major powers; is an active member of over 70 regional and international organizations, and has developed deep and substantive political, defense, and security relations.

From a poor, backward, low-level economy, surrounded by embargoes and sanctions, Vietnam has become one of the 34 largest economies in the world, with its economic size increasing nearly 100 times compared to 1986, and per capita income rising from under $100 to nearly $5,000. Participation in multi-layered international economic cooperation and linkage agreements, especially 17 free trade agreements (FTAs), has connected Vietnam with over 60 key economies, allowing for deeper involvement in global production and supply chains. This has placed Vietnam among the top 20 countries with the largest trade volume in the world; it has also been among the top 20 economies attracting the most foreign investment globally since 2019, and is one of the top 10 countries with the largest remittances worldwide.

However , viewed comprehensively, seriously, and objectively, the results of implementing international integration policies still have some shortcomings, failing to achieve the set goals and meet development requirements. In particular, many existing limitations, barriers, and bottlenecks hinder development. International integration brings many opportunities, but also numerous challenges and negative aspects such as unfair competition, unsustainable growth, widening wealth gap, environmental pollution, the risk of "deviation," "cultural invasion," "self-evolution," "self-transformation," and "erosion of trust" within the country.

The world is facing fundamental, epochal changes, profoundly transforming in all aspects under the impact of major shifts in politics, economics, culture, society, and science and technology. The period from now until 2030 is the most crucial for shaping and establishing a new world order. These changes are creating a more multifaceted international environment, opening up great opportunities as well as many significant challenges for the country. During this transitional period between the old and the new, small and medium-sized countries are often placed in a passive position, unable to adapt quickly. In this transition, if we do not promptly keep pace with the world, identify and seize opportunities to position our country in the right direction of the times in the next 10 or 20 years, the risk of falling behind will be more real than ever.

The current era's strengths lie in global political, economic, and social trends such as peace, cooperation, and development; the democratization of international relations; sustainable development; and economic cooperation and integration. It is also the strength of a consensus-based international community in building and consolidating a multipolar, multicentered, democratic, just, and equal world based on international law, and especially the scientific and technological revolution that is opening up boundless opportunities for development based on human knowledge and potential.

Facing a historical moment, the nation needed historic decisions . Inheriting established values, Resolution 59 seized the flow of contemporary power and "elevated" international integration with revolutionary, groundbreaking, nationalistic, scientific, and contemporary perspectives.

First and foremost, along with national defense and security, "strengthening foreign relations and international integration" is a crucial and ongoing task. The key and ongoing principle in international integration is to leverage external resources and favorable conditions for the goal of protecting the homeland and developing the country from an early stage and from afar; ensuring the highest national interests and best interests of the people.

Secondly, in terms of understanding, international integration must be the undertaking of the entire people and the entire political system, under the leadership of the Party and the management of the State. The people and businesses are the center, the subjects, the driving force, the main force, and the beneficiaries of the benefits of international integration. Integration must be carried out while preserving national identity; integration and assimilation should not lead to assimilation.

Thirdly, international integration must be based on the decisive role of internal strength, increasing internal strength while simultaneously leveraging external resources. Internal strength is the main resource, the root of power, and therefore must always be promoted to ensure proactiveness, independence, and self-reliance. At the same time, it is necessary to maximize the utilization of all external resources to combine with and supplement internal strength. A seamless combination of national strength and the strength of the times will create the strength of Vietnam in this era of self-improvement.

Fourth, international integration is a process of both cooperation and struggle, "cooperation to struggle and struggle to cooperate. Emphasis should be placed on the partnership aspect, while limiting the adversary aspect." At the same time, it is essential to respect the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. In integration, the spirit of "active and responsible partnership" of the international community must be demonstrated, with a readiness to contribute to the common efforts of the region and the world.

Fifth, international integration must be "synchronous, comprehensive, and far-reaching," in which all sectors are closely linked and complement each other within an overall strategy, with a focus on key areas and a suitable roadmap and steps.

We are facing the need for a revolution with strong, comprehensive reforms for development. Along with the "spirit of innovation" regarding the reorganization of the political system's apparatus as outlined in Resolution No. 18; the "breakthrough thinking" on the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation as outlined in Resolution 57; and the orientation towards international integration as a "handbook for action" as outlined in Resolution 59, this will create a "strategic triad" centered on "Long-term stability - Sustainable development - Improved living standards" as outlined by the Party. In the current revolutionary phase, we need to implement these directions decisively and effectively:

Firstly, new thinking, awareness, and actions in international integration must be thoroughly understood and put into practice . Accordingly, the understanding of proactive, positive, comprehensive, deep, and effective international integration as a major strategic direction of the Party, and an important driving force for national development and defense, achieving progress and social justice, protecting the environment, preserving and promoting national cultural identity, needs to be unified from the central to local levels, to every organization, every citizen, and every enterprise. The Party and State's policies and guidelines on international integration, as well as the requirements, tasks, opportunities, rights, responsibilities, and obligations of Vietnam in international integration, need to be widely disseminated and thoroughly understood throughout the Party, the people, and the armed forces.

Secondly, economic integration is identified as the central focus, and integration in other fields must facilitate economic integration, with the top priority being restructuring the economy, innovating the growth model, and promoting digital transformation. Focus should be placed on sectors with advantages and potential, prioritizing the mobilization of resources for key areas and projects such as strategic infrastructure in transportation and energy (high-speed rail, expressways, seaports, airports), nuclear power plants, wind power, and solar power; reducing emissions and achieving carbon neutrality to avoid waste and maximize efficiency, especially in the context of digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is necessary to effectively utilize international economic commitments, agreements, and linkages, especially new-generation FTAs, to strengthen interwoven interests and avoid dependence on a few partners. Improving domestic institutions is crucial to enhance the capacity to implement international commitments and agreements. Develop appropriate and specific mechanisms and policies to promote the attraction of high-quality FDI, especially in emerging and important sectors that drive new labor productivity growth, such as information technology, telecommunications, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence. Implement suitable policies to encourage foreign investors to transfer technology, management expertise, and professional skills to Vietnamese businesses and workers. Encourage Vietnamese businesses to invest and operate effectively abroad, building national brands with international reach.

Thirdly, political, security, and defense integration must aim to enhance the country's potential and position, protecting the Fatherland early, from afar, and before the country is in danger. International integration must effectively utilize the established network of partnerships to increase political trust, secure resources for development, resolve existing issues peacefully, and strengthen cooperation based on respect for and adherence to international law. Strengthening coordination with partners is crucial to effectively respond to traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as the South China Sea issue, water security, food security; combating pollution, epidemics, cybercrime, and transnational crime... With this new strength and position, we can rise to play a core, leading, and mediating role in appropriate areas; and contribute more actively to international peacekeeping, search and rescue operations. Diversify defense and security cooperation, and develop a self-reliant, strong, modern, and dual-use defense and security industry.

Fourth, science, technology, and innovation must be identified as the top priority breakthroughs, the driving force for the rapid development of productive forces, and the improvement of production relations in the spirit of Resolution 57. Therefore, international integration in science, technology, and innovation must aim to bring domestic scientific and technological standards and regulations closer to advanced international standards and practices. Through this, national competitiveness will be rapidly enhanced, the country's development space will be expanded, international resources will be mobilized and leveraged, and domestic resources will be strongly promoted to develop priority and cutting-edge industries, emerging industries, and innovative fields.

Fifth, we must promote comprehensive integration in culture, society, tourism, environment, education and training, health, and other fields. Regarding culture, integration must be linked to the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of national culture; developing cultural industries, content industries, and cultural products and brands with global competitiveness. Regarding health, we must strengthen cooperation in research and the application of science in healthcare, developing several specialized medical centers of international standards to treat diseases according to the principle of "Eastern-Western medicine integration." Regarding education and training, we must promote standardization, innovation, and improvement of the quality of education at domestic training institutions to meet regional and international standards. Regarding tourism, we must expand and diversify markets, focusing on potential markets with large numbers of tourists, high spending levels, and long stays. Regarding labor, we need to implement mechanisms for developing high-quality human resources, enhancing lifelong learning skills, and improving the capacity and productivity of the Vietnamese workforce. And most importantly, we need to build a strategy for developing Vietnamese people into a "generation of resilience," so that by 2045, young men and women in their late teens and early twenties will be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their international peers, both intellectually and physically.

Sixth, overcome bottlenecks in the implementation of international commitments and agreements, and promote the improvement of institutions and policies. This includes accelerating the review and domestication of international law to fully, synchronously, and effectively fulfill our obligations and commitments. Organizations and associations must strengthen their monitoring of the implementation of policies, laws, and commitments on international integration. Ministries, sectors, and localities must intensify efforts to ensure the implementation of international commitments and agreements. Simultaneously, institutionalize and concretize international integration strategies by sector and field, especially by developing and perfecting laws related to the green economy, digital economy, circular economy, energy transition, digital transformation, carbon emission reduction, and outer space.

Seventh, upholding the spirit of Resolution 18 on international integration, we must streamline specialized agencies towards being lean, efficient, strong, modern, and professional. The goal is to make these mechanisms more effective, creating a transformation in the coordination of international integration implementation among all levels, sectors, localities, and individual citizens and businesses. We must consider personnel work as the "foundation," building a team of highly skilled and internationally-standardized personnel to work on international integration, capable of participating in mediation and dispute resolution. We must innovate and enhance the proactive and creative role of localities, citizens, and businesses in participating in international integration.

Ultimately, international integration is only successful when it becomes a conscious culture within all organizations, individuals, businesses, and localities; when it fosters the central role and active, proactive, and creative participation of the people, businesses, and localities in linking international and domestic integration, connecting regions and localities, connecting industries and sectors, and connecting research and development... in order to translate integration into concrete results.

Our President Ho Chi Minh creatively applied the idea of combining national strength with the strength of the times, finding the path to national salvation, leading Vietnam out of slavery, and regaining independence and freedom for the nation. In today's interdependent world, the development of each nation cannot be isolated, standing outside the impacts of the world and the times, of the current situation and its context. Following President Ho Chi Minh's example, we must keep pace with the world's movements, find a path that brings peace, stability, prosperity, development, and builds a higher and more solid position for the country in the new era.

The country is facing a great opportunity to rise, but the challenges are also immense. The achievements of integration to date have contributed to accumulating strength and momentum for the next breakthrough. Continuing in that spirit, Resolution 59 marks a significant shift in the Party's thinking and orientation towards international integration in the coming period, creating momentum to propel the country towards the glorious pinnacle of independence, freedom, happiness, prosperity, and longevity.

To Lam - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam

According to Vietnam+

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/bai-viet-vuon-minh-trong-hoi-nhap-quoc-te-cua-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-post317462.html