Prioritize national interests in the fight against corruption.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the fight against corruption, waste, and negative practices must prioritize the national interest, the interests of the people, and the country above all else.

On December 11th, at the Party Central Headquarters, the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, Waste, and Negative Phenomena held a conference to summarize the work on anti-corruption, waste, and negative phenomena during the term of the 13th Party Congress. General Secretary To Lam , Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, Waste, and Negative Phenomena, chaired the conference.

General Secretary To Lam, Head of the Central Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption, waste, and negative phenomena, delivered a speech at the conference. Photo: VGP.

The conference was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation, across more than 4,000 locations including central ministries, departments, and agencies; military regions, branches of the armed forces; and provinces, cities, communes, wards, and special zones nationwide, with a total of over 190,000 delegates.

The fight against corruption and waste is becoming increasingly thorough.

In his address at the conference, General Secretary To Lam stated that it can be affirmed that the fight against corruption, waste, and negative phenomena is becoming increasingly mature and in-depth, with the involvement of the entire political system, the unanimous support of the people, and the unity, cooperation, and close coordination of functional agencies.

"We have stopped the risks of corruption, waste, and negative practices. We have not only fought against and prevented them, but also served socio-economic development, improving social governance and economic management capacity. We have clearly demonstrated that fighting corruption and negative practices does not hinder but promotes socio-economic development; dealing with errant officials does not weaken the Party but makes it stronger," the General Secretary affirmed.

Party and State leaders attending the Conference. Photo: VGP.

According to the General Secretary, the work of detection and handling is a highlight. Internal affairs agencies, inspection, auditing, investigation, prosecution, trial, and enforcement agencies have made great efforts, demonstrated high determination, coordinated closely and smoothly, proactively identified, detected, and strictly and comprehensively handled many serious and complex cases of corruption, waste, and negative practices, disciplinary action within the Party, administrative action, and criminal action, in accordance with the principle of "no forbidden zones, no exceptions," with each case serving as a warning to the entire region and sector.

Through these cases, the names of corrupt individuals have been exposed, the self-serving nature of corruption has been proven, and many sophisticated corruption schemes in various fields have been brought to light, especially the collusion and formation of interest groups for personal gain. This has resulted in the maximum recovery of assets for the State, with many cases recovering 100% of the lost or misappropriated assets.

During the past term, we also disciplined 174 officials under central management, including some former key leaders of the Party and State. Of these, 66 officials were prosecuted criminally, both current and retired. This shows that "no forbidden zones, no exceptions" is not just a slogan or empty words, but has become a vibrant reality, a political imperative recognized and highly appreciated by the people.

The General Secretary also assessed that preventive measures have been implemented more comprehensively and effectively, creating many noticeable changes. We have perfected the institutional framework according to new thinking, promoting development while simultaneously closing loopholes that lead to corruption, waste, and negative practices. The revolution in streamlining the organizational structure and political system, and implementing the two-tiered local government model, has saved enormous resources and eliminated many causes and conditions for the emergence of corruption, waste, and negative practices. Digital transformation, transparency, and administrative procedure reform have boosted and reduced direct contact, narrowing the ground for petty corruption and harassment that inconveniences the people.

Conference summarizing the work on preventing and combating corruption, waste, and negative phenomena during the 13th Party Congress term. Photo: VGP.

Personnel management has also seen significant innovations. For the first time, 100% of provincial Party Secretaries, Chairmen of People's Committees, and some other positions have been filled by non-local individuals, effectively preventing vested interests. Along with building a culture of integrity and gradually reforming salary policies, we have also created a foundation where officials "don't want, don't need" to engage in corruption, waste, or negative practices.

The people's trust in the Party, the State, and the regime has been enhanced and is the most important measure of the fight against corruption, waste, and negative phenomena. The people's solidarity and support have grown stronger, becoming an invaluable source of strength for the Party and the State to persevere in the struggle against internal enemies. The people's trust and the achievements are the most powerful and convincing rebuttal to the distorted propaganda of hostile forces and evil elements opposing our Party and State.

Drawing from the vivid practical experience of the fight against corruption, waste, and negative phenomena during the 13th Party Congress term, which has yielded many valuable lessons, General Secretary To Lam agreed with the seven lessons drawn from the summary report and summarized them in ten words: "Perseverance - Determination - Consensus - Comprehensiveness - Breakthrough".

Put the interests of the nation and people above all else.

Agreeing with the tasks and solutions outlined in the report, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the fight against corruption, waste, and negative phenomena must prioritize national interests, the interests of the people, and contribute to building a clean, strong, efficient, effective, and truly honest Party and political system that serves the people and promotes national development.

The fight against corruption, waste, and negative practices must be resolute, persistent, regular, and continuous, with strict yet humane handling, without any forbidden areas or exceptions. At the same time, we must protect officials who are innovative, creative, and dare to think and act for the common good; we must not let fear of making mistakes or fear of responsibility hinder development.

We must shift strongly towards prevention, prioritizing prevention as the main focus, and promoting the role and fighting spirit of grassroots Party organizations and the supervision of the people. We must emphasize the exemplary responsibility of leaders; proactively identify, predict, and warn of violations early, from afar, and at the grassroots level, at the Party branch level, preventing small violations from accumulating into major ones, and preventing the recurrence of past violations.

Regarding key tasks, the General Secretary requested the simultaneous implementation of preventive measures from the outset, from the root, to eliminate corruption, waste, and negative practices. Prevention must become a mandatory requirement in all programs, plans, and tasks related to Party building and the political system, as well as socio-economic development, in every agency, organization, unit, locality, and in every Party branch.

Continue to improve the mechanisms for controlling power in all areas. The higher the power, the stricter the supervision must be. Thoroughly eliminate the "request-and-grant" mechanism, close loopholes, and prevent "group interests" from infiltrating and manipulating mechanisms, policies, plans, and legal documents. Implement effectively and improve the effectiveness of measures for transparency, accountability, and control of assets and income.

General Secretary To Lam presents the First, Second, and Third Class Independence Orders; and the Second and Third Class Military Merit Orders to Party and State leaders and former members of the Central Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption, waste, and negative phenomena. Photo: VGP.

Strongly innovate inspection, supervision, auditing, and oversight work towards proactive prevention. Regular monitoring should begin from the issuance of policies and guidelines. Self-inspection and supervision should be strengthened at the grassroots level, starting from the Party branches. Where violations are not self-detected and are discovered by relevant authorities, the head and leadership team must be held accountable and will face severe penalties. Simultaneously, regulations on preventing waste must be tightened, and the "economic accounting" mindset in the use of state resources must be thoroughly implemented.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/dat-loi-ich-quoc-gia-len-tren-het-trong-cong-tac-phong-chong-tham-nhung-d788870.html