Speech by General Secretary To Lam at the 1st National Assembly Party Congress

On the morning of September 25, at the National Assembly House, the 1st National Assembly Party Congress, term 2025-2030, solemnly opened with the participation of 297 delegates, representing more than 2,800 party members in the entire Party Committee.

General Secretary To Lam attended and delivered a speech at the Congress.

Vietnam News Agency (VNA) respectfully introduces the General Secretary 's speech.

Dear Presidium of the Congress!

Dear leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front and distinguished guests!

Dear delegates, distinguished guests and delegates attending the Congress!

Today, I and other Party and State leaders are very pleased to attend the first National Assembly Party Congress, term 2025-2030.

This is a political event of special significance, marking a new development step of the Party Committee of the National Assembly, and affirming our determination to build the National Assembly into a truly the highest state power body of the country, the highest representative body of our people. The Congress is even more meaningful as we are preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first general election - a historical milestone in the birth of the Vietnamese National Assembly. The policies and decisions at the Congress will contribute to extending the source of democracy, affirming the nature and strength of our regime: "All state power belongs to the people."

On behalf of the Politburo, I would like to send my best wishes to the leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, distinguished delegates, and 297 official delegates of the Congress - outstanding party members, representing the intelligence, will, aspirations and determination of more than 2,800 party members in the entire Party Committee. Wishing the Congress great success!

Dear comrades!

In the process of preparing for this important Congress, the Politburo spent time discussing opinions, giving directions and, together with the Standing Committee of the National Assembly Party Committee, perfecting the draft documents and personnel plan to serve the organization of the Congress. It can be assessed that the National Assembly Party Committee is one of the typical Party Committees in leading and directing the completion of the organization of Party Congresses at all levels within the Party Committee, ensuring progress and quality in accordance with the spirit of Directive No. 45 of the Politburo. The preparation of the draft documents and personnel plan for this Congress was carried out carefully, seriously, meticulously, scientifically, ensuring compliance with the regulations and instructions of the Central Committee.

I expressed my high agreement with the basic contents of the Congress Documents and emphasized and suggested some additional contents for the Congress to study, discuss and implement as follows:

Evaluating the work of the past term, the Political Report and the opinions presented at the Congress affirmed the important results that the Party Committee and Party organizations in the National Assembly have achieved in various fields. I basically agree and suggest that the Congress continue to discuss, analyze, evaluate, emphasize and deepen the new changes in the thinking and activities of the National Assembly Party Committee in recent times. Many innovative and breakthrough contents have been implemented and brought about practical results.

General Secretary To Lam presents flowers to congratulate the Congress. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

The division of labor, decentralization, and division of authority between the National Assembly, the Government, and agencies have been clear, distinct, and appropriate to each agency's role with the highest goal of national development. The basic tasks of the National Assembly, from legislation, supreme supervision, to deciding on important national issues, have all had very positive changes. In particular, there has been a strong innovation in the thinking of law-making, solving a huge amount of legislative work, gradually removing bottlenecks and bottlenecks in institutions, mechanisms, and policies for development. Many new and unprecedented issues have been resolved quickly, but still ensuring the prescribed processes and procedures (such as amending the Constitution at one session; one law amending many laws; Resolutions on removing bottlenecks; implementing the legislative authorization mechanism, etc.).

The institutionalization of the Party's leadership policies was carried out quickly with the synchronous and close coordination of the National Assembly, the Government and agencies, thereby major decisions were immediately put into practice and implemented effectively with high consensus. There has also been much progress in Party building and building of National Assembly agencies; the apparatus of National Assembly agencies has been streamlined, operating effectively and efficiently; the working methods and styles of the National Assembly and its agencies have been improved, especially digital transformation and building a digital National Assembly, achieving clear results.

To achieve such results, I also share with the cadres, Party members of the National Assembly Party Committee and National Assembly deputies about the efforts and attempts to overcome difficulties and hardships in the work. It can be said that the work of the National Assembly is very heavy, the volume is extremely large (studying hundreds of draft laws, hundreds of thousands of pages of documents; listening to millions of voters' opinions...), requiring intelligence, dedication and silent sacrifice of each deputy.

The results of the past term have demonstrated the sense of responsibility, creativity and high political determination of the National Assembly Party Committee; at the same time, it has also initially affirmed the correctness and suitability of the new organizational model, promoting the Party's comprehensive leadership role, meeting the country's development requirements in the new situation.

On behalf of the Politburo, I warmly congratulate and commend the important results that the Party Committee of the National Assembly has achieved in the past term.

Dear comrades!

In addition to the very positive results, the Political Report presented to the Congress and the discussion opinions of the delegates also frankly pointed out the existing problems and limitations in the work of the Party Committee of the National Assembly. We need to seriously acknowledge: The quality of some laws is not high, there are still overlaps, lack of feasibility, slow to catch up with new requirements of practice; the process of examination and criticism is sometimes formal, not really promoting collective intelligence; the supervision work is sometimes not really drastic, not going deep into the responsibilities of organizations and individuals, not thoroughly overcoming the shortcomings pointed out; the role of National Assembly deputies has not been fully promoted, the skills, mettle and performance efficiency of a part of deputies have not fully met the increasingly high requirements in the context of integration and digital transformation...

I appreciate the serious spirit of self-criticism of comrades and suggest that the Congress continue to discuss, analyze thoroughly, clarify limitations, shortcomings and causes, especially subjective causes, to supplement and perfect lessons learned, propose effective solutions to overcome them, contributing to improving the effectiveness of the Party Committee of the National Assembly and the National Assembly in the coming time.

Dear comrades!

Our country is entering a new development phase with two very high 100-year goals, requiring us to make great efforts and have breakthrough policies and decisions to develop at a fast pace, GDP growth must continuously reach double digits, but must still ensure sustainability. Meanwhile, the world and regional situation is changing very quickly and complicatedly; opportunities and challenges are intertwined. Countries around the world are focusing on development goals, not waiting for us. This is a turning point, a historic opportunity for the country to rise up, if we are slow, we will fall behind.

General Secretary To Lam delivered a speech directing the first National Assembly Party Congress. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

The above situation poses great requirements and tasks for the work of the National Assembly, especially the task of perfecting institutions with the requirement of "Turning institutional reform into a competitive advantage and a driving force for development." Requiring Party committees at all levels, National Assembly deputies, cadres, party members, civil servants, public employees, and workers of the National Assembly to further enhance political determination, innovate thinking, and make efforts to contribute to the overall development of the country. I propose that the Congress continue to discuss and deepen the targets, breakthroughs, tasks, and main solutions of the National Assembly Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term. I emphasize and suggest 2 more requirements and 4 key work orientations for comrades to discuss, clarify, supplement, and further improve for unified implementation.

About 2 requests:

Firstly, to enhance the people's character in all activities of the National Assembly. This is an essential requirement of the National Assembly - the highest representative body of the people. The Vietnamese National Assembly must be closely connected with the people, truly "the National Assembly of the people, by the people, for the people" - not only in words, but in each law, each questioning session, each important decision, all must aim at the ultimate goal: happiness, prosperity, freedom of the people and prosperity of the country. Each law is not only a legal document, but also must be the crystallization of the wisdom, will and aspirations of the people.

A National Assembly delegate is not only a lawmaker, a supervisor or a decision-maker, but first and foremost a “voter representative” - a loyal representative of the voice, aspirations and legitimate interests of voters and of the entire nation; each delegate is a bridge of trust, bringing the breath of life into the parliament, and bringing the correct decisions of the National Assembly back to life, contributing to improving all aspects of life for the people.

Second, enhance the Party spirit in the activities of the National Assembly. This is a consistent requirement, ensuring that our National Assembly always adheres to the goal of national independence associated with socialism, putting the interests of the nation, the people, and the legitimate rights and interests of the People above all else. Party spirit does not diminish democracy, but on the contrary, it is an orientation for democracy to be implemented in the true nature of our regime. For National Assembly deputies who are Party members, they must fulfill their "dual responsibility" well, being a direct bridge between the Party and the National Assembly; between the will and aspirations of the People and the important decisions of the country.

About 4 key work orientations:

Firstly, continue to innovate thinking, focus on leading the National Assembly to perform well the three most important functions: legislation, supreme supervision, and deciding on important issues of the country.

Regarding legislation, this is considered a "breakthrough of breakthroughs" work, not only stopping at overcoming overlaps, contradictions, and bottlenecks, but also having to go ahead, pave the way, lead the country's development, encourage creativity, liberate all labor, and unleash all resources for development. It is necessary to continue perfecting the law on socialist-oriented market economic institutions, ensuring fair competition, improving integration capacity, and developing the private sector to become the most important driving force of the economy. In particular, focusing on new areas such as law on digital economy, digital assets, data, renewable energy, green growth, circular economy, environment, climate change, non-traditional defense and security, etc.

Continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the new thinking in law-making work as defined in Resolution 66-NQ/TW of the Politburo, strictly implement the legislative process, promote the role of social criticism, widely consult with experts, scientists, voters and the business community. At the same time, we must be vigilant and resolute in preventing the negative impacts of group interests, policy guidance by hostile forces or non-transparent advocacy, ensuring that all laws originate from national interests and the legitimate aspirations of the people.

Regarding supreme supervision, in the new period, supreme supervision must really go into depth, focusing on the most urgent issues such as land management, resources, environment, anti-corruption, waste prevention, protection of human rights, civil rights...

In supervision work, it is not only necessary to "listen to reports" but also to go to the field and have direct dialogue with the people and with those affected by the policy; more importantly, it is necessary to investigate the responsibilities of organizations and individuals, ensure that post-supervision recommendations are strictly implemented, with clear sanctions; combine traditional methods with digital technology tools to improve supervision effectiveness.

Regarding decisions on important issues, each resolution and decision of the National Assembly not only has an immediate impact on the socio-economy, national defense, security, and the lives of millions of people today, but also leaves a lasting mark on the future of the nation. Therefore, the National Assembly needs to clearly demonstrate its mettle, intelligence, objectivity, and impartiality when deciding on important issues such as socio-economic development strategies, national budget allocation, key infrastructure projects, social security policies, major policies on international integration, or issues related to independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, etc. Every decision of the National Assembly must truly put the interests of the nation and the people first, resolutely preventing and eliminating all domination by group interests and all negative impacts from outside.

Second, continue to research, improve and innovate the way the National Assembly and its agencies operate, ensuring efficiency, reducing formality and increasing substance. The focus is to continue to improve the building of meeting agendas, methods of discussion, debate, questioning and answering questions, the process of examination, contact with voters, supervision... Strengthen coordination between agencies of the National Assembly, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front in preparing contents and draft laws to be submitted to the National Assembly, ensuring strictness and efficiency. Continue to promote digital transformation, build a digital National Assembly, apply artificial intelligence, contributing to improving the efficiency of the National Assembly and each National Assembly deputy.

Third, focus on Party building, improve the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party Committee. Build a clean and strong Party organization in terms of ideology, politics, ethics, organization and cadres. Maintain high solidarity and unity within the Party Committee. Innovate Party cell activities in line with practice, promote democracy within the Party and in the agencies of the National Assembly. Lead and promote the role of Party Cells of the National Assembly Delegation both inside and outside the National Assembly session. Combine building a clean and strong Party organization with improving public service culture, preventing and combating corruption and negativity, and controlling power in law-making.

Fourth, focus on building a contingent of cadres, especially National Assembly deputies, to meet the requirements and tasks. Cadres and Party members in the National Assembly Party Committee must be exemplary in political courage, qualities, capacity and prestige, "both red and professional," have the desire to contribute, dare to think, dare to do, dare to innovate, dare to take responsibility, and put the common interest first. National Assembly deputies must truly be loyal representatives of the will and aspirations of the people; have steadfast political courage, pure ethics, deep expertise, and good parliamentary skills. Most importantly, deputies must maintain close and regular contact with voters, listen to their thoughts, honestly reflect them in the parliament, and at the same time be subject to the supervision of the people. The trust and confidence of voters is the highest measure of the prestige and responsibility of deputies.

The above tasks include contents under the direct responsibility of the Party Committee of the National Assembly, and contents that require coordination with agencies. I request that comrades discuss, agree and coordinate closely for implementation. At the same time, I propose that it is necessary to promote the spirit of the Congress to immediately start implementing four key and urgent tasks: Leading and directing the successful organization of the 10th Session - the last session of the 15th National Assembly, deciding on many important issues of the country. Solemnly and practically organizing activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first General Election to elect the Vietnamese National Assembly (January 6, 1946 - January 6, 2026). Leading the successful organization of the Election of Deputies to the 16th National Assembly and the election of People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term in accordance with the spirit of Directive No. 46-CT/TW of the Politburo. Continuing to actively and proactively contribute to the success of the 14th National Party Congress.

Dear comrades!

With the glorious tradition of 80 years of the Vietnamese National Assembly, with the spirit of innovation and high political responsibility, I firmly believe that the Party Committee of the National Assembly and all cadres, party members and National Assembly deputies will promote their intelligence, mettle, solidarity and creativity; excellently fulfill their historic responsibilities, make the Vietnamese National Assembly increasingly strong and develop, truly be the living embodiment of the will and aspirations of the people, contributing to making the country develop richly and prosperously in the new era.

Once again, I wish the Congress great success!

Thank you very much, comrades!