General Secretary: New driving force for economic development

Updated date: 11/05/2025 18:26:06

Dong Thap Newspaper respectfully introduces an article by General Secretary To Lam titled "New driving force for economic development".

1. Persistently pursuing the goal of national independence associated with socialism is the wise and correct choice of our Party right from its inception and throughout the process of leading the revolution, and is the root cause leading to all victories in the struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past as well as in building and defending the Fatherland at present.

General Secretary To Lam (Photo: VNA)

In which, the socialism that we build, as President Ho Chi Minh once emphasized, "is to make the people rich and the country strong" [1]; with the characteristics of "Rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, civilization; owned by the people; having a highly developed economy based on modern productive forces and appropriate progressive production relations; having an advanced culture, imbued with national identity; people having a prosperous, free, happy life, having conditions for comprehensive development; ethnic groups in the Vietnamese community being equal, united, respecting and helping each other to develop together; having a socialist rule of law state of the people, by the people, for the people led by the Communist Party; having friendly and cooperative relations with countries in the world" [2].

The theory of socio-economic morphology of Marxism-Leninism has demonstrated that human material production activities are the basis, origin, and most decisive cause of social change; production is the fundamental activity that gives rise to and develops human social relations, brings about cooperation, and competitive factors that promote production to new heights, and is also the basis of the formation, transformation, and development of human society.

According to Marx's concept, social change is essentially and first of all the change of material production and the change of material production is the most important central change that determines social change. In the process of social change, change in economic structure leads to change in social structure and change in the system of values ​​and social norms.

Starting from "the obvious truth,... first of all, people need to eat, drink, live and wear clothes, that is, they must work, before they can fight for domination, before they can engage in political, religious, philosophical activities,..." [3], Marxism pointed out that in order for people to live, exist and develop, it is necessary for people to produce material wealth for society. At the same time, "Different economic eras are not in what they produce, but in how they produce, with what means of labor" [4].

Besides, according to VI Lenin, high labor productivity reflects the superior nature of socialism compared to capitalism; it is the most important and essential criterion for the victory of socialism. "In the end, labor productivity is the most important and essential factor for the victory of the new regime. Capitalism has created a labor productivity never seen before under serfdom. Capitalism can be completely defeated and will be completely defeated because socialism creates a new, much higher labor productivity" [5].

Thus, to successfully build socialism with the characteristics that the Party's Platform for National Construction in the Transitional Period to Socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011) has determined, human material production activities are of the most decisive significance, with high labor productivity being the key factor.

Through material production activities to build the material and technical foundations of socialism, create positive social changes, thoroughly overcome limitations and shortcomings, build new socialist people with a prosperous, free, happy life, and conditions for comprehensive development; thereby, completing the transitional period to socialism, moving to the high stage of the communist socio-economic form as Marx predicted in his work Critique of the Gotha Program "When, along with the comprehensive development of individuals, their productive forces also increase and all sources of social wealth flow abundantly - only then can people completely go beyond the narrow limits of bourgeois law and society can inscribe on its flag: work according to one's ability, enjoy according to one's needs" [6].

2. The practice of economic development, especially the private economy in China and Russia, as well as 40 years of innovation in Vietnam, has left extremely valuable lessons.

For Russia, the New Economic Policy of developing economic sectors, including the private economy of V. Lenin from 1923 to 1991, helped the Russian economy develop remarkably, turning Russia, along with many other underdeveloped countries in the Soviet Union, into a powerful country reaching a high level in many fields such as energy, industry, and space.

For China, starting from the "Reform and Opening Up" policy in 1978, amending the constitution in 1988 to strengthen the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of private enterprises, recognizing the private economy as an important part of the socialist market economy at the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1997, committing to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the individual economy and the private economy, China's private economy has had explosive development, with the emergence of many large corporations that not only dominate the domestic market but also reach out to the international market, playing an important role in the fields of technology, telecommunications and e-commerce. A series of private enterprises account for the majority of industries such as manufacturing, services, especially high technology, contributing more than 60% of GDP, creating 80% of urban jobs and more than 70% of inventions and innovations in the Chinese economy.

In Vietnam, with the multi-sector economy officially recognized in the documents of the 6th Party Congress; affirming the encouragement and creation of conditions for the development of the private economy at the 7th Congress and continuing to emphasize it at the 8th Congress; having a step forward at the 9th Congress when our Party affirmed that the private capitalist economy is an economic sector with a long-term important position in the socialist-oriented market economy, for the first time issuing a specialized Resolution "On continuing to innovate mechanisms and policies, encouraging and creating conditions for the development of the private economy"; emphasizing the important role as one of the driving forces of the economy and specifically regulating the issue of party members doing private economy at the 10th Congress; strongly and decisively affirming the role of the private economy as an important driving force of the economy at the 12th and 13th Congresses, the private economy has had positive steps of development.

From a "gasping" and "moderate" existence in a centralized bureaucratic subsidy mechanism, discriminated against not only in social awareness but also in state mechanisms and policies, the private economy has risen strongly in the period of innovation, contributing more and more to the state budget, creating jobs for society, promoting available potentials and advantages in each locality as well as in the whole country, making an important contribution to socio-economic development, strengthening national defense and security, affirming its important role and driving force in international integration.

It can be seen that, with the right vision and policies, in a socialist-oriented market economy, private economic development is a vital choice to promote material production, create social change, "rebound" in terms of technological level, vocational training, increase the ability to absorb capital, promote labor productivity, and build a technical and material foundation for socialism.

To develop the private economy, the most important and core issue is to continue to perfect the socialist-oriented market economic institution, with turning-point changes in thinking, perception, and action, forming the basic characteristics of a socialist-oriented market economy with State management under the leadership of the Party compared to the previous socialist-oriented market economy with State management.

3. On May 4, 2025, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private economic development, with unprecedented goals, viewpoints, tasks, and breakthrough solutions; shaping the Party's new viewpoint on private economic development in a socialist-oriented market economy with State management under the Party's leadership; promoting the strong development of the private economy - a new driving force for economic development in the coming time.

To successfully implement Resolution No. 68, it is necessary to focus on implementing a number of urgent tasks as follows:

Firstly , resolutely and effectively implement the work to soon put the Party's Resolution into practice. Right in the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the National Assembly will discuss and issue a Resolution on private economic development with specific, feasible and effective incentive mechanisms and policies.

Establish a National Steering Committee to implement Resolution 68, chaired by the Prime Minister, to periodically review and urge the implementation of the Resolution by ministries, branches and localities on a monthly basis. Absolutely do not allow confusion or implementation in a separate way, causing the Central policy to become ineffective.

Regularly publicize the results of implementation, using this as one of the criteria for evaluating the capacity and performance of duties and responsibilities, especially for leaders. Promote and create strong innovation in administrative thinking from control to companionship, considering enterprises as "service" objects instead of "management" objects, ensuring the principle of "saying goes hand in hand with doing" is consistent throughout the political system.

The Government shall soon issue a Directive requiring ministries, branches and localities to transfer all administrative procedures to post-audit, except for some specific areas (security, national defense, etc.); provide specific guidance on the public responsibilities of heads of Party committees and authorities at all levels in supporting enterprises, in conjunction with emulation and reward work; standardize the entire investment licensing process according to the electronic model, shortening the time to announce results.

Second , urgently institutionalize the Party's viewpoints into laws and ensure strict implementation throughout the political system, businesses, and people. Research and develop the Law on Private Economic Development and amend and supplement relevant legal provisions, ensuring full institutionalization of the policies stated in Resolution No. 68.

In particular, establishing a fair competition system, clearly defining a list of behaviors that negatively impact market access and discriminate in market competition for the private economy. Creating a mechanism to promote investment and financial support, requiring financial institutions to establish a credit assessment system suitable for the private economy and financial support. Encouraging the development of science and technology, private enterprises taking the lead in major, key national projects and establishing national innovation research infrastructure.

Establish a system to protect the rights and interests of market participants, clearly distinguish between economic disputes and criminal offenses, and strictly prohibit acts of law abuse in market management. Introduce measures to support procedural and policy services for the private economy, and standardize administrative procedures and policies. Amend the Penal Code, clearly separate fraudulent and profiteering acts from common administrative errors.

Third , pay special attention to supporting small and micro enterprises, promoting social development with entrepreneurial thinking and aspirations for mastery, especially in the field of innovation. Immediately deploy a preferential credit package specifically for small and medium enterprises, through the state credit guarantee fund.

Reserve 5-10% of priority land in high-tech industrial parks for startups to lease at preferential prices. Expand the legal sandbox model nationwide, allowing practical testing with fintech, AI, and digital agriculture within a clear legal protection time frame. Build free or subsidized legal advice centers for small and medium-sized enterprises in localities.

Fourth , build a team of entrepreneurs who truly become "soldiers" on the economic front, participating substantially in policy making. Protect, support, encourage, and honor the team of entrepreneurs who are patriotic, have national spirit, are aware of law compliance, have the desire to enrich themselves and contribute to enriching the country, have knowledge and capacity for business management in a market economy, and are responsible to workers and the community.

Create favorable conditions for business people to participate in policy criticism and contribute to the planning and implementation of development strategies. When drafting laws and decrees, ministries and sectors need to listen carefully to the opinions of the people and businesses, especially those of practical business people.

Provide budget and professional support to build strong, independent industry associations with the capacity to criticize policies. Encourage the establishment of a National Private Business Council to directly advise the Government on long-term economic and industrial strategies.

We have a tradition of indomitability, ardent patriotism, a solid and comprehensive theoretical, practical, political and legal foundation; with the aspiration, will, unity, and high determination of the entire political system, enterprises, businessmen, and the entire people in realizing the goal of "stability, high-quality development, and improving all aspects of people's lives", we will definitely successfully implement the Resolution, soon bring the private economy to a worthy development, truly becoming the most important driving force, the pillar ensuring the strong development of the national economy, realizing the aspiration of building a socialist Vietnam with a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization.

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[1] Ho Chi Minh, complete works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, vol.9, p.446

[2] Documents of the Party Congress in the renovation period, part II, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2019, p.502

[3] Marx and F. Engels, complete works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2002, vol. 19, p. 166

[4] Marx and F. Engels, Complete Works, op. cit., vol. 23, p. 269

[5] VI Lenin, complete works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005, vol.39, p.25

[6] Marx and F. Engels, Complete Works, op. cit., vol. 19, p. 36

General Secretary To Lam

According to VTC News

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/chinh-tri/tong-bi-thu-dong-luc-moi-cho-phat-trien-kinh-te-131376.aspx