Continuing to perfect the theory of socialism in Vietnam

Continuing to research, clarify and perfect the content of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam is considered a core solution in the system of solutions to protect the Party's ideological foundation today.

The document of the 13th National Congress of our Party affirmed: “Over 35 years of carrying out the renovation process, 30 years of implementing the Platform for national construction in the transitional period to socialism, the theory of the renovation policy, socialism and the path to socialism in our country has been increasingly perfected and gradually realized. We have achieved great achievements of historical significance, developing more strongly and comprehensively than in the years before the renovation. With all modesty, we can still say that: Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today. Those achievements are the crystallization of creativity, the result of a process of persistent and continuous efforts through many terms of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army; continuing to affirm that our path to socialism is correct, in accordance with objective laws, with the reality of Vietnam and the development trend. development of the times; the Party's innovation line is correct and creative; the Party's leadership is the leading factor determining all victories of the Vietnamese revolution. The Party's political platform continues to be the ideological and theoretical flag that leads our nation to firmly continue to comprehensively and synchronously promote the innovation process; is the foundation for our Party to perfect the line of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland in the new period" (Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates, Volume I, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2021, pages 25 - 26). This is an affirmation of the innovation and perfection of theory in perception and unity in action on building socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam today.

In addition, the book " Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam " by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2022 aims to serve the work of theoretical research, summarizing practices, especially summarizing theories on the path of innovation and lessons learned, and issues of a regular nature from the practice of building and developing our country. At the same time, this is also a document to thoroughly grasp, propagate and raise awareness among cadres, party members and the general public about socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, creating ideological unity in the whole society, " unanimity from top to bottom, clarity from top to bottom ", promoting the strength of great national unity to implement the strategic goals set by the 13th National Party Congress.

To continue to perfect the theory of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, it is necessary to continue to affirm and clarify the following basic contents:

Firstly , Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought are the compass for the revolutionary path, for the perception and practical action of the Communist Party of Vietnam .

The vitality of Marxism has existed and will continue to exist, promoting its value of great practical significance to the development of mankind. Even in capitalist countries, Marxism is still spreading more and more widely and promoting its scientific and revolutionary spirit.

In terms of both theory and practice, it has been proven that, up to now, in the world, Marxism-Leninism is the only doctrine that discusses the overall goals, paths, forces, measures, and methods to completely eliminate oppression, exploitation, and injustice in society, aiming at the noble humanistic goal of liberating people, liberating classes, liberating the nation, liberating society; aiming at good values for people and for people. The theory of socialism and the path to socialism of Marxism-Leninism is a scientific truth, because that theory is not based on the subjective aspirations and imagination of an individual person but is built on the scientific and revolutionary foundation of historical materialism and the theory of surplus value.

As we know, the Marxist-Leninist viewpoint on class and class struggle remains valid. However, in the face of the sabotage of hostile forces, we are required to study thoroughly, not to absolutize the role of class struggle, but also not to be vague or erase class struggle. Mastering the theories of Marxism-Leninism helps us identify reactionary arguments, thereby having sharp bases and arguments to defeat the enemy's distortions, thereby protecting the achievements of the revolution, maintaining the path that our country has chosen.

Second, moving towards socialism is the only correct choice of the Party, reflecting the goals and aspirations of the Vietnamese people and in line with the development trend of human history.

Moving towards socialism is an inevitable, objective, scientific choice and completely in line with the laws and development trends of our country. That is a fact that has become a truth that no one can deny. This has been vividly and convincingly proven through the past 93 years of practice.

From that objective, revolutionary and scientific necessity, the flag of national independence associated with socialism has the power to spread, is the bell calling the masses to rise up to make revolution, creating brilliant historical milestones, bringing the Vietnamese nation to independence, freedom and gradually building a prosperous and happy life like today.

In particular, that correct choice has once again been confirmed by the great successes of historical significance over nearly 40 years of carrying out the renovation process, more than 30 years of implementing the Platform for national construction in the transitional period to socialism in Vietnam. The theory of socialism and the path to socialism in our country has been increasingly perfected and gradually realized.

As affirmed by the Party in the XIII Congress Document: “Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as it does today. Those achievements are the crystallization of creativity, the result of a process of continuous, persistent efforts over many terms of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army; continuing to affirm that our path to socialism is correct, in accordance with objective laws, with the reality of Vietnam and the development trend of the times; our Party's renovation policy is correct and creative; the Party's leadership is the leading factor determining all victories of the Vietnamese revolution”. Only those who are deceitful, heartless, deliberately turning a blind eye and covering their ears to deny historical truth can fabricate and criticize that correct path.

Third, developing a socialist-oriented market economy is a theoretical breakthrough of the Party, which has been verified by practice as completely correct.

Marxism has shown that the market economy is not a product of capitalism alone, but a common achievement of human development, an inevitable step in the development of society, so it will still exist in different modes of production.

If in capitalism, the market economy is considered the goal, therefore, capitalists can use any means and methods to take full advantage of the advantages of the market economy to appropriate as much surplus value as possible, then in Vietnam, throughout the congresses, our Party clearly identified that the market economy is only a means and a way to create and build the material foundation for socialism, taking people as the center, for the people and by the people, fully promoting the role of the people as masters, implementing social progress and justice in every step and every development policy, absolutely not for the purpose of gaining maximum profit at all costs like capitalism.

In 2019, amid the gloomy picture of the world economy due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam emerged as a rare bright spot, assessed by the IMF and WTO as one of the 20 economies with the largest contribution to global economic growth and in the top 20 largest commodity trading economies in the world. In 2020, Vietnam's GDP ranked 44th in the world, 4th in Southeast Asia and GDP per capita ranked 6th in the region. "Vietnam National Brand" is the fastest growing brand in the world, increasing by 29% compared to 2019 to 319 billion USD; from 42nd to 33rd in the list of 100 national brands of Brand Finance.

Both in theory and practice, it has been proven that the choice of a socialist-oriented market economy in our country is absolutely not a combination of " Wu's head and Chu's body " as hostile and reactionary forces have accused, but is a faithful and creative development of Marxism-Leninism in the specific conditions of Vietnam.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has repeatedly affirmed: Choosing the socialist-oriented market economy model is not a subjective combination of market economy and socialism, but rather a grasp and application of the objective trend of the market economy in today's era. Therefore, "putting forward the concept of developing a socialist-oriented market economy is a very fundamental and creative theoretical breakthrough of our Party, an important theoretical achievement of nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation policy, originating from Vietnam's reality and selectively absorbing the world's experience".

This proves that the socialist-oriented market economy in Vietnam is not unique but has integrated into the world economic flow and international practices, increasingly integrating and perfecting.

Therefore, market economy and socialist orientation are not only not contradictory to each other, but on the contrary, Vietnam's choice of market economy model and "socialist orientation" goal also has a positive impact in limiting the negative side of market economy, solving social problems much better than capitalist countries with the same level of economic development, and is recognized and highly appreciated by the people and the international community.

Fourth, culture is the spiritual foundation of society, the endogenous strength, the driving force for national development and national defense; determining cultural development in sync and harmony with economic growth and progress, social justice, and the development of Vietnamese people in the new era.

In the socialist regime, people are the subject and the center of development. We define the culture we build as an advanced culture, imbued with national identity, a culture unified in diversity, based on progressive and humanistic values; Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought play a leading role in the spiritual life of society, inheriting and promoting the fine traditional values of all ethnic groups in the country, absorbing the achievements and quintessence of human culture, striving to build a civilized and healthy society for the true interests and dignity of human beings.

People hold a central position in the development strategy; cultural development and human development are both the goal and the driving force of innovation; education and training development and science and technology are the top national policies; environmental protection is one of the vital issues and is the criterion for sustainable development; building happy and progressive families as healthy and solid cells of society, and achieving gender equality are the criteria for progress and civilization.

On the basis of the Party's profound and comprehensive theoretical thinking, we need to pay special attention to theoretical and practical issues on the model of Vietnamese socialism and the content and solutions to gradually build socialism in Vietnam in a clear, concise, simple and easy-to-understand manner. The above-mentioned contents are an important basis for continuing to summarize the theory of our Party's innovation policy on socialism and the path to socialism, creating social consensus to arouse and promote the strength of great national unity to successfully achieve the goal: Rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization, so that by the middle of the 21st century, our country will become a developed, high-income country, following the socialist orientation as set out in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

Colonel, Master PHUNG QUANG HOC, Deputy Head of Planning Department, Department of Training and Education, National Defense Academy

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