Historical context and the process of supplementing and developing the Party's awareness of Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy over nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process
Since the early 1980s, the centrally planned economic model in socialist countries has become unsuitable and has become the fundamental cause of declining growth, pushing most socialist countries into stagnation and serious economic and social crisis. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, the collapse of Soviet-style realism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe has created an urgent need to choose a new, suitable economic model to replace the centrally planned economic model.
In the country, after the country's reunification, the negative side of the centralized planning mechanism became increasingly evident, becoming the main cause of the country's socio-economic difficulties, causing serious consequences, reducing the people's trust in the Party's leadership and the administration of state agencies, requiring the Party to look straight at the truth, creatively apply Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought to correctly assess the situation, choose the path of innovation, first of all economic innovation, and develop the country. After the first 10 years of implementing the innovation process with the gradual application of the market mechanism, despite being under siege and embargo, the country has emerged from the socio-economic crisis, basically creating the necessary initial conditions for industrialization and modernization. The expansion of the controlled use of market mechanisms in the following years has basically created conditions to overcome difficulties and challenges, stabilize the country's situation; production has developed, the economy has grown rapidly, people's lives have improved; politics and society have been stable; international economic integration has been gradually promoted, the country's international role and position have been raised, creating new conditions for development and perfecting awareness of the socialist-oriented market economy.
The 6th Party Congress (1986) chose the path of innovation. On the theoretical foundation of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, thoroughly grasping the spirit of "looking straight at the truth, correctly assessing the truth, and clearly stating the truth" (2) , our Party frankly admitted shortcomings and mistakes in the perception of socialism, the path to socialism, especially mistakes in the perception of economic theory and planning and implementation of economic policies, thereby resolutely renewing economic development thinking to stabilize all aspects of the socio-economic situation, continuing to build the necessary premise for promoting socialist industrialization in the next stage.
Realizing that “an economy with a multi-sector structure is a characteristic of the transitional period” (3) , Our Party affirms the elimination of bureaucratic centralization and subsidies, and the construction of a new mechanism in accordance with objective laws and the level of economic development. Forming an initial awareness of the content of the new economic mechanism, in which the commodity-money relationship must be fully and correctly used in the planning of the national economy, according to which the State does not deeply intervene in the production and business activities of enterprises but performs the role of controlling and regulating enterprises and production and business units of all economic sectors through laws, policies, and the application of technical advances. The use of the commodity-money relationship must be directed towards properly resolving the relationships of interests; In which, the interests of producers and traders are the direct driving force for economic activities and create the basis for meeting other interests, while building a reasonable economic structure, first of all the economic sector structure, in accordance with the laws of development of material production sectors, in accordance with the country's capacity and in accordance with the division of labor and international cooperation... The above new thinking about the objective necessity of using commodity-money relations in the economic mechanism has laid the foundation for our Party's fundamental theoretical breakthrough on the socialist-oriented market economic model in the renovation period.
From the practice of restoring the multi-sector economy and using commodity-money relations in the economic mechanism in the period of 1986 - 1990 with positive results, The 7th Party Congress (1991) came to the realization that “developing a multi-sector commodity economy is a long-term strategic policy in the transition period to socialism” (4) , “State-owned economy and collective economy are increasingly becoming the foundation of the national economy”, “implementing many forms of distribution, taking distribution based on labor results and economic efficiency as the main” (5) . The operating mechanism of a multi-sector commodity economy with socialist orientation is a market mechanism with State management through laws, plans, policies and other tools. In order to promote the role of the market mechanism in the reproduction process, our Party has clearly recognized the requirement to gradually form and synchronously expand various types of consumer goods markets, means of production, services, capital and currency markets, foreign exchange markets, labor markets, etc., develop forms of capital attraction and ensure rapid capital circulation. Piloting the stock market when conditions permit, maintaining independence and autonomy while expanding international cooperation, building an open economy both domestically and internationally, multilateralizing and diversifying relations with foreign countries; combining economics with national defense and security, linking economic growth with social progress and equity, cultural development, and environmental protection.
On the basis of Summary of 10 years of implementing the renovation process with the use of market mechanisms, The 8th Party Congress (1996) clearly realize: "Commodity production is not opposed to socialism, but is an achievement of human civilization development, objectively existing, necessary for the construction of socialism and even when socialism has been built" (6) ; from there, it is necessary to continue to create conditions for the market mechanism with State management in a socialist orientation to operate, through the synchronous creation of market elements and types of markets. Along with the assessment that the results of 10 years of implementing the renovation policy have prepared the necessary premise for industrialization, our Party clearly recognizes the need to continue using the market mechanism with State management in a socialist orientation to promote industrialization and modernization of the country, aiming to build our country into an industrialized country with modern material and technical facilities, a reasonable economic structure, advanced production relations, suitable to the development level of the productive forces, high material and spiritual life, strong national defense and security, rich people, strong country, fair and civilized society. At the same time, build an open economy, integrate with the region and the world, strongly oriented towards export, and at the same time replace imports with effectively produced domestic products.
The results of 15 years of innovation have created a practical basis. convince give The new breakthrough perception of the 9th Party Congress (2001) on the nature of the transitional development to socialism bypassing the capitalist regime (7) , at the same time, officially determined the general economic model of Vietnam in the transitional period to socialism as a socialist-oriented market economy, clearly stating the purpose, economic regime, operating mechanism, distribution regime of the socialist-oriented market economy, and at the same time affirming the focus on building and perfecting the institutions of ownership, economic sectors, market system, foreign economy and performing the role of the State.
New step in thinking of the Party at the 10th Congress (2006) is to unify the perception: "Market economy is a product of human civilization", affirm the use of market economy as a means of building socialism (8) , continue to supplement and concretize the content of perfecting the socialist-oriented market economic institution, continue to emphasize that to advance to socialism, we must develop a socialist-oriented market economy; promote industrialization and modernization, at the same time must firmly grasp the socialist orientation in perfecting the socialist-oriented market economic institution, thereby needing to enhance the role and effectiveness of State management; synchronously develop and effectively manage the operation of basic types of markets according to the mechanism of healthy competition; strongly develop economic sectors, types of production and business organizations .
The development of the Party's awareness of The socialist-oriented market economy at the 11th Congress (2011) was reflected through the assessment in the Platform for National Construction in the Transitional Period to Socialism (Supplemented and Developed in 2011): “The socialist-oriented market economy in our country is a multi-sector commodity economy operating according to the market mechanism with State management under the leadership of the Communist Party. This is a form of market economy that both follows the laws of the market economy and is based on and guided and governed by the principles and nature of socialism” (9) . The 11th Congress approved the Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2011 - 2020, in which the socialist-oriented market economy institution is identified as one of the three strategic breakthroughs that need to be focused on.
The 12th National Congress of the Party (2016) continued to supplement and develop the awareness of the Vietnamese socialist-oriented market economy as "an economy that operates fully and synchronously according to the laws of the market economy, while ensuring a socialist orientation suitable to each stage of the country's development. It is a modern and internationally integrated market economy; managed by the socialist rule-of-law State, led by the Communist Party of Vietnam, aiming at the goal of "a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization" (10) . At the same time, it sets out the task of continuing to perfect the ownership institution, develop economic sectors and types of enterprises; synchronously develop market factors and types of markets; promote and improve the effectiveness of international economic integration; improve the leadership capacity of the Party, the effectiveness and efficiency of the State's management of the socio-economy and promote the role of the people as masters in economic development - society. Developing and concretizing the spirit of the 12th Party Congress, the Resolution of the 5th Central Conference of the 12th tenure on perfecting the socialist-oriented market economic institution, continuing to affirm that building and perfecting the socialist-oriented market economic institution is a strategic task, an important breakthrough, creating momentum for rapid and sustainable development, while clearly recognizing that it is a continuous development process; selectively inheriting achievements in developing the market economy of mankind and experience summarized from the practice of innovation in our country. During the term of the 12th Party Congress, a new awareness was formed about the requirement to resolve the relationship between complying with market rules and ensuring socialist orientation in each stage; and the relationship between the State, the market and society. The awareness of the relationship between the State, the market and society, the relationship between the State, enterprises and people has made important progress. At the same time, the 12th Congress affirmed that it is necessary to continue to promote the implementation of three strategic breakthroughs, especially is a breakthrough in the socialist-oriented market economic institution, aiming to strongly liberate production capacity, mobilize, allocate and effectively use resources.
13th National Party Congress (2021) continue affirms that the general economic model of our country in the transition period to socialism is a socialist-oriented market economy, as a “modern, internationally integrated market economy, fully and synchronously operating according to the laws of the market economy, under the management of the socialist rule-of-law state, led by the Communist Party of Vietnam; ensuring socialist orientation for the goal of “rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization” in accordance with each stage of the country’s development” (11) . Continuing to affirm that it is an economy with many forms of ownership and many economic sectors, in which the state economy plays a leading role; the collective economy and cooperative economy are constantly consolidated and developed; the private economy is an important driving force; the economy with foreign investment capital is encouraged to develop in accordance with the strategy, planning and socio-economic development plan. One of the main tasks and solutions identified by the 13th Congress is to focus on comprehensively and synchronously perfecting the institutions for developing a socialist-oriented market economy, creating a favorable environment for mobilizing, allocating and effectively using resources, promoting investment, production and business. Ensuring macroeconomic stability, strongly innovating the growth model, restructuring the economy, promoting industrialization and modernization of the country; focusing on building infrastructure and urban development; developing the rural economy in association with building new rural areas; prioritizing resources for developing rural infrastructure in mountainous areas and ethnic minority areas; promoting national digital transformation; developing the digital economy on the basis of science - technology, innovation; harmoniously and effectively linking domestic and international markets; improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy.
Thus, our Party's perception of the socialist-oriented market economy has been formed, perfected and continuously developed over 40 years of carrying out the renovation process. The socialist-oriented market economy is the general economic model of Vietnam in the transition period to socialism. It is a modern market economy, internationally integrated, operating fully and synchronously according to the laws of the market economy, under the management of the socialist rule of law state, led by the Communist Party of Vietnam; ensuring socialist orientation for the goal of "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization" suitable for each stage of development of the country.
Some characteristics of Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy
Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy "is a new type of market economy in the history of market economy development; a type of economic organization that both follows the laws of the market economy and is based on and guided and governed by the principles and nature of socialism, expressed in all three aspects: ownership, management organization and distribution. This is not a capitalist market economy and is not yet a full socialist market economy" (12) , therefore it has both common characteristics, consistent with the universal values of the market economy, and specific characteristics:
Firstly , Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy is an objectively inevitable model, both the goal and the driving force of development. The process of building and developing Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy is a purposeful and oriented movement under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Second , it is an economy for people, taking people as the center of development, realizing the goal of "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization". The socialist orientation in the market economy in Vietnam is shown in the following points: 1- In the development goal: Realizing the goal of "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization", achieving a highly developed economy based on modern productive forces and progressive, appropriate production relations; strongly liberating and constantly developing productive forces, improving people's lives; 2- In the development method: Developing an economy with many forms of ownership and many economic sectors, in which the state economy is the main one, the state economy and the collective economy are increasingly becoming the solid foundation of the national economy; the private economy becomes one of the important driving forces of development; 3- In income distribution: Implement social progress and equity in every step and every development policy; economic growth goes hand in hand with cultural development, health care, education, environmental protection... well solving social issues for the purpose of human development, perfecting the distribution regime mainly based on labor results, economic efficiency, and at the same time according to the level of capital contribution and other resources and through social welfare: 4- In management: Promote the role of the people as masters; ensure the role of management and regulation of the economy of the socialist rule of law state under the leadership of the Party.
Third , it is a modern and internationally integrated market economy, in line with universal values of the market economy. The process of international integration in breadth and depth has made the Vietnamese economy an organic, inseparable part of the global market economy, a subject in the global playground and complying with global rules.
Fourth , in the socialist-oriented market economy of Vietnam, there is a close and complementary relationship between the State, the market and society in the operation of the economy. Reasonable resolution of that relationship is an important condition to ensure economic efficiency, progress, social equity and environmental sustainability. The State plays the role of a macro-regulatory entity, serving and managing development to promote development as well as overcome “market failures”, especially failures in pursuing the goal of sustainable development, ensuring progress and social equity.
The role of the State focuses on “building and perfecting institutions, protecting property rights, business rights, maintaining macroeconomic stability, major balances of the economy; creating a favorable, public, transparent environment for enterprises, social organizations and markets to operate; regulating, orienting, promoting economic development, linking economic development with cultural and social development, ensuring social security, people's lives, protecting the environment, ensuring national defense and security. The State manages the economy by laws, mechanisms, policies, strategies, planning, plans, standards, norms and state economic forces in accordance with the requirements and rules of the market economy” (13) . The decisive role of the market is demonstrated in determining prices of goods and services; creating motivation to mobilize and allocate resources effectively; regulating production and circulation; regulating business operations, and purging weak businesses. The role of social organizations focuses on creating and developing connections, coordinating activities, and solving problems arising between members; representing and protecting the interests of members in relations with other entities and partners; providing support services to members; reflecting the aspirations and interests of all classes of people to the State and participating in criticizing the laws, mechanisms, and policies of the State, supervising agencies and staff, and civil servants in law enforcement.
During nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process, developing the socialist-oriented market economy in Vietnam has brought about encouraging results. From a backward country with frequent hunger, we have risen from being a poor, underdeveloped country to becoming a developing country with an average income. People's material and spiritual lives have improved significantly. Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as it does today. However, there are still many limitations that need to be overcome in both institutionalization and development of the socialist-oriented market economy due to many objective and subjective reasons, especially due to limited research capacity, orientation and strategic vision; the work of summarizing practices and theoretical research has not met the requirements of rapidly evolving and complex realities; awareness of some issues on the socialist-oriented market economy is still slow, not profound and unified; The thinking in building and organizing the implementation of institutions suitable to the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is slow to be renewed, and inertia is still great. A number of cadres, civil servants, and party members have degraded ethics, lifestyle, and violated public service ethics...
Orientation and solutions for developing Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy in the new context
The international context in the coming time is forecast to continue to fluctuate in a complex manner, creating both opportunities as well as difficulties and challenges. The formation of a multipolar, multi-centered world with the strong rise of a number of economies; strategic competition between major countries, the trend of geopolitical and geo-economic fragmentation, global trade and investment shifts... are posing requirements for the country to strengthen its strategic autonomy, effectively implement an independent and autonomous foreign policy, promote economic diplomacy to limit risks, and at the same time seize opportunities from the shift in global supply chains. Changes in globalization and international integration; the development of science and technology, innovation; global issues, non-traditional security... will bring both favorable and difficult factors for the rapid and sustainable development of our country in the coming time.
Domestically, after 40 years of implementing the renovation process, the country's position and strength have grown stronger; the investment and business environment and national competitiveness have improved; the productive forces have developed; politics and society have been stable, the national position has been raised, the economy has maintained a fairly good growth rate, Vietnam's international reputation has been increasingly enhanced, creating an important premise for the country's development in the next period. However, the economy continues to face many difficulties and challenges, creating great pressure in the process of developing a socialist-oriented market economy, especially the inherent difficulties and weaknesses of the economy, such as the quality of infrastructure, human resources, especially high-quality human resources, low level of science and technology... To continue developing Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy in the coming time, it is necessary to synchronously implement the following solutions:
First , continue to enhance unity in awareness of developing Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy. At all levels and sectors, from the central to local levels, enterprises and people, especially awareness of the creativity and theoretical breakthrough of our Party on the socialist-oriented market economy. It is necessary to deeply understand the universal characteristics of the market economy in general and the specific characteristics of the socialist-oriented market economy of Vietnam in particular in order to propose appropriate policies and strategies as well as organize their implementation.
Second , promote the synchronous completion of institutions and policies, focusing on removing bottlenecks and important issues that are hindering the development of our country's market economy; continue to improve the quality and effectiveness of national governance, building and implementing laws, strategies, planning and plans. Complete institutions to promote synchronous and effective development, promote the role of the state, private, collective and foreign investment economic sectors... Continue to improve the investment and business environment towards openness, transparency and stability; promote the reduction of conditions and procedures for investment, production and business, especially in accessing and promoting resources, business opportunities and markets. Build institutions to promote the process of cooperation and production and business linkage between economic sectors, create sustainable production, business and value chains; participate deeply in the global supply chain.
Third , continue to perfect institutions, fully and synchronously develop market factors and types of markets to liberate and unleash development resources; consistently implement market prices, clearly distinguish welfare, incentives and production and business efficiency; promote the development of the market of production factors so that the market plays a decisive role in mobilizing, allocating and using resources; develop the market of goods and services according to the method of organizing civilized and modern transactions, e-commerce; develop the market of science and technology, synchronously develop the financial market, currency, stock market, insurance market... on the digital technology platform with modern technological infrastructure and transaction methods. Develop and strictly manage the real estate market; land use market. Develop the labor market, reform wage and social insurance policies. Promote the role of social organizations and socio-professional organizations in forming and regulating market economic relations. Effectively handle the shortcomings of the market mechanism, ensure social welfare and security, national defense, security and protect the ecological environment.
Fourth , build institutions to ensure the independence and autonomy of the economy, and improve the effectiveness of international economic integration. Proactively form institutions and policies to encourage the diversification of import and export markets; proactively select and improve the quality of attracting and managing foreign investment capital to best meet the country's development requirements; strictly manage and effectively use loans from abroad and international organizations; reasonably use appropriate technical barriers to protect the domestic market; actively and responsibly participate in building regional and global economic, trade and investment institutions; prepare plans to prevent and minimize negative impacts from the outside on the country's economy./.
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(1) Nguyen Phu Trong: Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2022, p. 25
(2), (3) Documents of the 6th National Congress of Delegates , Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1987, pp. 11, 56
(4) Documents of the 7th National Congress of Delegates , Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1991, p. 21
(5) Complete Party Documents , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2018, volume 51, p. 135
(6) Documents of the 8th National Congress of Delegates , National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1996, p. 97
(7) Ignoring the establishment of the dominant position of production relations and capitalist superstructure, but absorbing and inheriting the achievements that humanity has attained under capitalism, especially in science and technology, to rapidly develop productive forces and build a modern economy.
(8) Complete Party Documents , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, vol. 67, p. 118
(9) Documents of the 11th National Congress of Delegates , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2011, p. 34
(10) Documents of the 12th National Congress of Delegates , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2016, p. 102
(11) Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2021, vol. I, p. 128
(12) Nguyen Phu Trong: Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2022, p. 26
(13) Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates , National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, vol. I, pp. 130 - 131
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