To make patriotic emulation a driving force for development

Photo caption — President Ho Chi Minh speaks at the Congress of Heroes and Emulation Fighters fighting against the US to save the country (the 4th Congress of Heroes and Emulation Fighters), December 1966, in Hanoi . Photo: VNA documents

Vietnam has undergone more than four decades of innovation with undeniable results: the national GDP has increased rapidly, and its international position has been raised. Vietnam's economic scale has grown nearly 106 times, from 4.5 billion USD in 1986 to 476.3 billion USD in 2024. It is expected that in 2025, Vietnam's GDP will exceed 500 billion USD, ranking 32nd in the world and 4th in the ASEAN region. However, large scale is not enough, growth quality is the real measure when aiming to build a modern economy, advanced industry and services, not returning to the advantage of cheap labor. The decisive factor to turn the development aspiration into reality is internal strength and here, the patriotic emulation movement can play a decisive role.

First of all, patriotic emulation is to promote the spirit of self-reliance, self-strengthening, national pride and civic responsibility - values that are very necessary in the period of strong national transformation. If the process of innovation, industrialization and modernization poses many challenges in improving labor productivity, improving the quality of human resources, creating breakthroughs in innovation and effective management, then patriotic emulation can become a catalyst for each organization, each enterprise and each individual to be more aware of their role, and proactively strive, create and innovate.

This is not only symbolic but has been clearly demonstrated through emulation movements in the 2020 - 2025 period nationwide. Emulation is closely linked to political tasks, with the effective implementation of the campaign "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style"; the movement "The whole country competes to build a learning society, promoting lifelong learning in the 2023-2030 period" and the organization and implementation of the emulation movement "The whole country competes in innovation and digital transformation" and the movement "Digital literacy for all"... These movements and campaigns are not formal but clearly set the requirement to achieve substantive results, that is, to bring about specific works and products, and improve work efficiency.

In addition, in the context of globalization and deep international integration, Vietnam needs to improve its comprehensive competitiveness, from productivity, technology, management, skilled labor to innovation to participate more deeply in global value chains, avoiding being stuck in the low-skilled labor-intensive assembly stage. Recent studies show that Vietnam still has many limitations in connecting domestic enterprises with global value chains, and the rate of enterprises with high skills and technology is still low.

In that context, a patriotic emulation movement that is well-organized and widespread, not only within the scope of State agencies, but also spreading to businesses, communities and workers... will promote innovation in awareness, from accessing new technology, applying science, improving capacity, to innovating management methods, working methods, improving production efficiency and productivity.

In addition, patriotic emulation also has the meaning of a thermometer of social and civic responsibility. When the whole nation is determined to successfully achieve the goal of becoming a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030; and becoming a developed country with high income by 2045, each organization, each enterprise as well as each individual needs to clearly define their role and responsibility. Patriotic emulation, if expanded and actively transformed into a mass movement, will not only be emulated in work, production, and business, but will also spread into learning, creativity, environmental protection, administrative innovation, building fairness and transparency, forming a common will: to build a strong country, develop sustainably, and people have a better life.

Not to mention, patriotic emulation is also a tool to discover, honor and spread advanced models - models of innovation, creativity, dedication, spirit of overcoming difficulties, and aspirations to rise up. Those models, from units, organizations, businesses to civil servants, teachers... and ordinary workers, when recognized, honored and spread, will create a widespread effect, inspire and create strong social motivation.

In reality, replicating advanced models is one of the important elements that helps the patriotic emulation movement not stop at words but go into action, into practice, into concrete results. Within the framework of the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, there will be activities such as a photo exhibition about Uncle Ho with the patriotic emulation movement and emulation congresses; an exhibition introducing the country's economic and social achievements after 40 years of national renovation; exchanges with advanced models... That is a way to honor those who dare to think, dare to do, dare to innovate, and at the same time spread that spirit to all parts of the country, all fields, all classes.

However, we also need to face the limitations such as half-hearted emulation, formality, indifference, lack of real motivation, which, if not adjusted and changed, can easily turn into a false reputation and lose its effectiveness. The 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress is an opportunity to objectively and comprehensively evaluate the emulation movement in the period of 2020 - 2025, clearly see the weaknesses and shortcomings; thereby determining the direction, tasks and solutions for the period of 2026 - 2030 so that patriotic emulation can truly go into depth, becoming a strong driving force for development.

With the goal of becoming a high-income, modern, industrial and service-developed country by 2045, Vietnam no longer has much room to "staggle". The 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress with the theme "Emulating innovation, creativity, accelerating breakthroughs to bring the country into an era of strong, civilized and prosperous development" is the drumbeat of the times for all people and the entire political system to join in.

To realize that aspiration, it is necessary to transform patriotic emulation from slogans and good traditions into specific action programs and development strategies, closely linked to socio-economic goals, sustainable development goals, and innovation goals. Each emulation movement needs to be accompanied by clear criteria: labor productivity, work quality, management efficiency, innovation, environmental protection, promoting high-quality human resources, etc. Put emulation into the KPI of organizations and enterprises, and link rewards to values and effectiveness created in reality to encourage real motivation, not just formalities.

The most important thing is that patriotic emulation must go hand in hand with the spirit of reform, innovation, promoting domestic enterprise development, improving the quality of human resources, developing science and technology so that Vietnam not only develops "fastly", but also develops "sustainably, modernly, with high quality". The patriotic emulation movement therefore cannot be a "small flame", but needs to develop into a revolutionary flame that burns long-lasting, spreads widely, inspires, creates strong motivation, brings the country forward, and creates a prosperous, civilized, and powerful future.

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