Speech by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the opening of the Central Committee meeting.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong presided over and delivered the opening speech at the Conference. Below is the full text of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's speech: “Objectively and comprehensively assessing the situation regarding the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party and the leadership and guidance of the Politburo and the Secretariat from the beginning of the term to the present”:

" Dear Central Committee,

Dear comrades attending the Conference,

In accordance with the Central Committee's work program for the entire term, starting today, the 13th Central Committee is holding its seventh meeting (mid-term meeting) to discuss the following: a mid-term review report on the leadership and guidance of the Politburo and the Secretariat, and some key tasks until the end of the 13th Party Congress term; a vote of confidence by the Central Committee for the members of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the 13th Party Congress; and several other important issues. This meeting is of great significance for the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress; it is an opportunity for us to collectively review and objectively and comprehensively assess the results and achievements attained from the beginning of the term to date, identify existing limitations and weaknesses, their causes, and lessons learned; and forecast the new context with its intertwined opportunities, advantages, difficulties, and challenges. From there, we can formulate major policies and decisions that require focused leadership and guidance for implementation in the latter half of the 13th Party Congress term.

First of all, on behalf of the Politburo and the Secretariat, I would like to warmly welcome the members of the Central Committee and delegates attending this Conference; I send you my warmest greetings, sincere regards, and best wishes!

Comrades,

According to the Rules of Procedure, the Central Party Office, together with relevant agencies, has actively prepared and promptly sent the Conference documents for your prior study. Following this, I would like to offer some suggestions and raise some issues, hoping for your attention during the research, discussion, and decision-making process.

1. Regarding the Report on the mid-term review of the leadership and direction of the Politburo and the Secretariat, and some key tasks until the end of the 13th Party Congress term.

As you all know, in preparation for this Conference, the Politburo has closely directed the Central Party Office to take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to urgently and seriously prepare the draft Report on the mid-term review of the leadership and guidance of the Politburo and the Secretariat, and to propose some key tasks until the end of the 13th Party Congress term. The draft has been sent to the Politburo and Secretariat members for their direct feedback to finalize the document. On May 8th, the Politburo and the Secretariat met, continued to thoroughly discuss, and provided many relevant directives to finalize the Report to be presented to the Central Committee today. The content of the Report objectively and comprehensively addresses the context of the world and domestic situation from the 13th Party Congress to the present, with rapid, unusual developments and more difficulties and complexities than anticipated, as well as compared to the same period in previous terms; The report clearly identifies the outstanding advantages, main limitations and shortcomings, and analyzes the causes, drawing some lessons learned in leadership and guidance regarding Party building and rectification; socio-economic development; ensuring national defense, security, foreign affairs and international integration; building and perfecting the law and the socialist rule of law in Vietnam; internal affairs, anti-corruption and anti-negative practices; mass mobilization, ethnic and religious affairs; and especially the renewal of leadership methods, style, and working practices. At the same time, it analyzes and forecasts the global and domestic situation from now until the end of the term and proposes some key tasks that need to be focused on and implemented in the second half of the 13th Party Congress term.

We respectfully request that the Central Committee uphold a high sense of responsibility, promote democracy, and engage in frank and objective discussions and provide feedback on the contents and issues raised in the Report; clearly express their own opinions, agreeing or disagreeing with the comments and assessments of the Politburo and the Secretariat, and offer specific proposals and recommendations regarding any contents and issues that need to be supplemented, clarified, or adjusted/amended (if any). Attention should be paid to linking the review of the leadership and guidance of the Politburo and the Secretariat with the assessment of the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party in the context of new and more complex and challenging domestic and international situations. Focus on analyzing, clarifying, and achieving high consensus on the advantages, results, and achievements attained; at the same time, frankly point out the limitations and weaknesses that still exist; analyze the causes and draw lessons learned from the 13th National Congress to the present. To scientifically analyze and forecast the new context, situation, trends, and major issues that may occur in the world and domestically; and from there propose major policies, key tasks, and main solutions that need to be decisively led and directed in the second half of the 13th Party Congress term, contributing to the successful implementation of the Party's 13th National Congress Resolution.

From there, the report was voted on and adopted, serving as the basis for the Politburo and the Secretariat to continue to build upon the strengths and successful lessons learned in the first half of the 13th Party Congress term, and to promptly and seriously overcome existing limitations and shortcomings in order to better fulfill their responsibilities in the second half of this term, contributing together with the entire Party, people, and army to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress. On this occasion, I would like to reiterate and emphasize a few points that I think are necessary. In some previous speeches, I have boldly affirmed: With all humility, we can still say that: "Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today." The results and achievements attained in the past are the product of the creativity of a continuous and persistent effort over many terms by the entire Party, people, and army. However, in my closing remarks at the 13th National Congress of the Party, I reminded and emphasized that: "The results and success of the Congress are very important, but they are only the beginning. Whether we can actually implement the Resolutions in the future, whether we can create material wealth and bring prosperity and happiness to the people, that is the true success of the Congress." I hope you all will pay close attention to this.

2. Regarding the vote of confidence by the Central Committee for the members of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the 13th Party Congress.

This is one of the very important innovations in the Party's personnel work, which has been implemented since the 11th Party Congress. The purpose is to better and more effectively implement the Party Central Committee's guidelines, resolutions, and conclusions on building and rectifying the Party and the political system to be clean, strong, and comprehensive; to build a team of high-ranking Party officials with sufficient qualities and capabilities to meet the demands of their tasks; to help those who have been subjected to confidence votes to "self-reflect" and "self-correct," to continue striving, cultivating, and improving their moral character and lifestyle, and to constantly enhance their exemplary responsibility, professional skills, and work capacity, meeting the requirements of national construction and defense in the new situation, contributing to consolidating and strengthening the trust of cadres, Party members, and the people in the Party.

Based on the summary of the confidence vote conducted according to the regulations of the Politburo of the 11th and 12th terms, on February 2, 2023, the Politburo of the 13th term issued Regulation No. 96-QĐ/TW, and on April 6, 2023, issued Plan No. 16-KH/TW "On conducting a confidence vote by the Central Committee for the members of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the 13th term".

In accordance with the above Regulations and Plans, the members of the Politburo and the Secretariat have seriously and meticulously prepared and submitted to the Central Committee their individual self-assessment reports, in which they self-evaluate their political qualities, ethics, lifestyle, and sense of organizational discipline; the results of fulfilling their assigned responsibilities and tasks; identify limitations and propose solutions to overcome them; and provide explanations on issues requested by competent authorities or those who cast ballots.

Given the significance, importance, and sensitive nature of the issue, it is requested that Central Committee members carefully study the individual self-criticism reports of each Politburo and Secretariat member, and based on practical experience in their work, clearly express their opinions on the level of confidence in each Politburo and Secretariat member in accordance with Regulation No. 96-QĐ/TW and Plan No. 16-KH/TW of the Politburo. In particular: Ensure the leadership of the Politburo and the Central Committee; strictly adhere to the principles of democratic centralism, self-criticism, and criticism; uphold the responsibility and constructive spirit of Central Committee members in considering and expressing their confidence; respect the right of the Politburo and Secretariat members of the 13th term to report and explain their performance. Accurately assess the qualities, capabilities, concrete results of fulfilling assigned responsibilities, and prestige of the individuals being evaluated. Ensure democracy, objectivity, impartiality, openness, and transparency in the process of conducting confidence votes and using the results. Resolutely prevent any violations or misuse of confidence votes to sow division or undermine internal unity.

Comrades,

This Central Committee meeting is a mid-term meeting, and it will consider and decide on many issues of great significance for fulfilling the political tasks of the 13th Central Committee from now until the end of its term, in the context of the rapidly changing, complex, and unpredictable global and domestic situations; and greater difficulties and challenges than anticipated and compared to recent terms.

I propose that the Central Committee and all comrades attending the Conference utilize their intellect, uphold a high sense of responsibility, and focus on thoroughly studying and discussing the report on the mid-term review of the leadership and guidance of the Politburo and the Secretariat, as well as some key tasks until the end of the 13th Party Congress term. At the same time, they should express their opinions on the level of confidence in each member of the Politburo and the Secretariat, contributing to further enhancing the Party's leadership and governance capacity, making our Party increasingly clean and strong, and meeting the increasingly high demands of the new development era.

With that spirit, I hereby declare the opening of the Mid-term Conference of the Central Committee of the 13th Party Congress.

Wishing our conference great success!

Thank you very much, comrades !

According to VNA

*Title provided by the People's Army Newspaper.

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