General Secretary To Lam: Policies issued must be measured by impact, creating convenience, not creating additional procedures.

On the afternoon of November 4, continuing the 10th Session, at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly, General Secretary To Lam spoke, discussed and informed about a number of new points and important orientations in the draft Documents submitted to the 14th National Congress of the Party before the National Assembly held a group discussion session on this important content.

Báo Đại biểu Nhân dân•04/11/2025

An important milestone on the development path of our nation

Speaking at the opening session of the National Assembly, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man affirmed that drafting the Party Congress Documents is an extremely important task. The Draft Documents of the 14th National Congress have been revised, refined and supplemented many times by the Documents Subcommittee. The Central Committee has discussed them since the 11th, 12th and 13th Central Conferences and the Party Congresses at all levels. Delegates have also discussed the Documents and have now sent them to the public for comments.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivers the opening speech at the National Assembly session. Photo: Pham Thang

The National Assembly Chairman stated that the 14th Party Congress will be an important milestone on the development path of our nation, with the significance of orienting the future, strongly arousing the tradition of patriotism, national pride, confidence, self-reliance, and self-strengthening, encouraging, motivating, and motivating the entire Party, people, and army to continue to firmly follow the path to socialism; affirming that this is the correct and creative choice, in line with Vietnam's reality and the development trend of the times; strongly promoting position and strength, continuing to comprehensively and synchronously promote the innovation process, and firmly protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man announced the National Assembly's Resolution No. 5760(1).jpg — National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivers the opening speech at the National Assembly session. Photo: Quang Khanh

With a truly democratic and disciplined spirit, considering many aspects, being open-minded, listening, and mobilizing the intelligence of the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army, intellectuals, experts, researchers, and managers, including the participation of National Assembly deputies, the National Assembly Chairman stated that the Political Report of this National Party Congress will truly be a scientific work, crystallizing the theoretical level, intellectual height, and aspirations of the nation, bringing the country into a new era of rapid, solid, prosperous, civilized, and happy development.

Towards a legal system that is easy to remember, easy to understand, easy to implement

Speaking at the session, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the voices of National Assembly deputies are not just personal opinions, they are the voices of voters that the deputies represent, the voices of the realities of economic and social life, national defense and security, and the voices of lawmakers.

General Secretary To Lam speaks at the meeting. Photo: Ho Long

Delegates have contributed ideas from the Party cell level, grassroots Party committees, Party committees of ministries, branches, provinces and cities. Today, as National Assembly deputies, the highest State power agency, the law-making body, the delegates continue to contribute ideas at a higher level with deeper experience and greater responsibility. The General Secretary hopes that all contributions will go straight to the most fundamental issues of the institutions and methods of organizing the implementation of State power.

The General Secretary suggested 7 groups of contents for the National Assembly deputies to discuss in more depth. Specifically:

Firstly , comments on institutions and laws. The General Secretary pointed out that we have enacted laws to manage society by law, to build a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people, for the people, but in practice, there is still a situation where "the law is correct but implementation is difficult, in the parliament it is clear but at the grassroots level it is difficult".

tong-bi-thu-to-lam-phat-bieuvqk_5769(1).jpg — General Secretary To Lam speaks at the meeting. Photo: Quang Khanh

The General Secretary requested that the National Assembly deputies focus on clearly stating why there are laws, decrees, and circulars that are issued very elaborately and densely, but grassroots officials do not dare to implement them, businesses struggle to find a way around them, and people are confused and bewildered? Where are there overlaps, where are there different understandings among ministries and branches, and where is the authority delegated but people are forced to take responsibility beyond their control?

“We must aim for a legal system that is easy to remember, easy to understand, and easy to implement. The words in the law must be concise, clear, not confusing, and not leave any room for abuse or evasion. The promulgated policies must be measurable in terms of impact, control risks, and especially create convenience, not create additional procedures. A good law is not a well-written law, but a law that is implemented in life,” the General Secretary emphasized.

Besides, the delegates also need to clarify, in order for the law to truly come into life, what orientations need to be supplemented and adjusted in the 14th Congress Document? We must speak frankly to correct and overcome.

tong-bi-thu-to-lam-phat-bieuvqk_5767(1).jpg — General Secretary To Lam speaks at the meeting. Photo: Quang Khanh

Second , on building and perfecting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's rule of law state. The rule of law state not only has a complete legal system, but the rule of law state is first and foremost to uphold the constitution and the law, to control power, to be public, transparent, and accountable to the people.

The General Secretary hopes that the opinions of the National Assembly deputies will focus on the question of whether we have done enough to ensure that every power is bound within the legal framework, operated with the right authority, purpose, and interests of the people? Are there any gaps that make people feel that they can get what they want and not what they don't want, or are there any situations where people have to "beg" for things they should be entitled to? If there is no complete answer, that is where the rule of law State is still incomplete.

According to the General Secretary, building our rule-of-law State means building a State that is strong but does not abuse power, has discipline but is not far from the people, acts decisively but must be humane, convincing, and has dialogue. Such orientations need to be made clear in the documents of the 14th Congress.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the meeting. Photo: Pham Thang

Third , regarding decentralization, delegation of power and organization of the apparatus, the General Secretary stated that we have discussed the issue of decentralization and delegation of power for many years; there have been many resolutions and many projects to streamline the apparatus, rearrange focal points, and innovate the local government model. Now we need to answer two questions, the first question is what to decentralize, to whom, and under what conditions? The second question is what will be the mechanism responsible for inspection and supervision?

The General Secretary suggested that the National Assembly deputies give direct comments on this issue. If subordinates can resolve the issue more quickly and more closely to the people, they must boldly delegate authority. However, delegating authority does not mean pushing down work or risks. Delegating authority must come with resources, human resources, tools, and a legal safety zone so that officials dare to do and take responsibility for the common good, not unjustly and difficultly taking personal responsibility.

Regarding the 2-level local government model, the General Secretary stated that we are gradually reorganizing, moving towards a streamlined, effective and efficient apparatus. This is a very new, very important and sensitive content, directly related to the lives of the people and of the cadres at the grassroots level. Therefore, he hopes that the National Assembly deputies will give specific opinions on how the 2-level model should be designed so that the people are not far from the government, and public services are not interrupted, "do not let the announcement of a streamlined apparatus create more layers of asking and giving in reality".

Member of the Congress Document Editorial Board. Photo: Pham Thang

What is more important, according to the General Secretary, is what rights the grassroots government must have, what resources it must have to carry out the task of creating development at the grassroots level, and what additional legal corridors are needed to carry out these tasks. Along with that, is the relationship between the three levels of central government - province, city - grassroots. The three levels must be a smoothly operating entity, sharing responsibilities and supporting each other, absolutely not allowing the three layers to transfer responsibilities to each other so that the people have to run around in circles. "The National Assembly deputies go to the grassroots level a lot, so they also need to give careful comments on these contents," the General Secretary requested.

People are not only beneficiaries but also subjects participating in monitoring, criticizing and accompanying.

Fourth , on the organic relationship between the Party, the State, the Fatherland Front, organizations and the People. According to the General Secretary, we affirm that the Party's leadership role is the decisive factor in all victories of the Vietnamese revolution, but how to lead, lead by guidelines, by setting a clean example, by organizing effective implementation, by building trust in the People or by administrative orders? The answer must be clear, transparent, and convincing to the People.

The General Secretary hopes that the National Assembly deputies will contribute more ideas: what mechanism for the Party to lead absolutely and comprehensively but not do it for him, not make excuses, not be lax; the Government to manage and operate according to the law, dare to take personal responsibility; the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to truly become a trustworthy bridge between the Party, the State and the People. The people are not only beneficiaries but also subjects participating in supervision, criticism and companionship. If we talk about putting people at the center, we must design a mechanism for people to have a real voice, have real supervision rights, and have the opportunity to participate in real issues.

Delegates attending the meeting. Photo: Lam Hien

Fifth , on the Party's leadership role in the legal system and in practical management. The General Secretary stated that our Party is the ruling party, which means it must take responsibility before the people for the development of the country and for the daily lives of the people. The ruling party not only sets out policies but also organizes implementation, checks implementation and is responsible for the results.

Therefore, the documents submitted to the 14th Congress cannot only talk about strengthening the Party's leadership in a general way, but must clarify that the Party's leadership is to ensure that all policies and laws must truly serve the people, develop the country, maintain independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, maintain socio-political stability, and preserve the great national unity bloc. The Party leads to fight against sectoral and local thinking, group interests, negativity, corruption, and waste. The Party leads to protect those who dare to think, dare to do, and dare to take responsibility for the common good.

The General Secretary hopes that the National Assembly deputies' comments on the Document have included these elements or not, and have they touched on the weaknesses that still exist in practical operation?

Sixth , regarding the spirit of innovation in thinking, innovation in working methods, innovation in national governance according to the motto of creation and for the people, the General Secretary stated that the world changes very quickly, domestic practice also changes very quickly, if our thinking is slower than practice, the document will become outdated immediately, even as soon as it is passed.

Therefore, the General Secretary suggested that the National Assembly Deputies read the Document with the spirit: is there any point that still has the old mindset, the old way of speaking, the old way of doing things, is there any point that still maintains the habit of management in the style of asking and giving, while the State should play a constructive role in serving the people and businesses?

In addition, it is also necessary to more clearly affirm the national governance model in the coming period, governance based on law, transparency, reliable data, modern digital infrastructure, streamlined apparatus, honest and disciplined officials combined with service. Such governance is development-creating governance, not governance by asking and giving.

The General Secretary suggested that National Assembly deputies contribute specific examples from the sectors, localities, and fields they are responsible for. Wherever there are still cumbersome procedures that discourage businesses, wherever people are frustrated because they have to go back and forth many times without getting things resolved, wherever there are still mechanisms to deal with, they should be pointed out frankly, without evasion, "only by looking directly can we fix those shortcomings and limitations".

Seventh , regarding new points and breakthroughs, the General Secretary said that the Document Subcommittee has raised 18 new points, orientations considered to be breakthroughs demonstrating the spirit of daring to innovate, daring to change the development model, daring to reorganize the apparatus and operating methods.

Thereby, I would like to ask the National Assembly Deputies to help answer two very important questions. The first question is, are the 18 new points sufficient? Are there any points that are still at the policy and orientation level that will be studied while society is still demanding specific answers, a clear roadmap and clear responsibility.

Second question, according to the delegates - those who are close to the people, understand real life, understand the voters' thoughts, what issues have not been properly named in the Document; what knots are there that if not resolved now, in the next 5 years we will have to pay a higher price?

The Congress documents are original documents, we must clarify them now so that the process of institutionalization, law-making, and implementation will be smoother, more unified, and less confusing. On the contrary, if the documents are general and incomplete, when put into law, there will be different understandings, different ways of doing things, and even individual applications. Thus, the people who suffer the most are the people.

The General Secretary hopes that today's discussion and the following rounds of comments will be truly frank, responsible, and constructive. What the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the People desire has a common denominator, very specific, very close, very simple, which is a country with sustainable development; an orderly, disciplined, warm, and humane society; people are protected and given the opportunity to rise up through their own labor. Those who do the right thing by law will be protected, those who do wrong will be dealt with fairly, with no forbidden zones and no exceptions.

" Speak up about what you really see, what you worry about, what you dare to take responsibility for"

The General Secretary also suggested that each National Assembly deputy contribute as a representative of the people, and at the same time, as a party member, a cadre, a person responsible for the country and society, with profound practical experience, speaking up about what they really see, what they are concerned about, and what they dare to take responsibility for.

The General Secretary also emphasized five specific requirements. First , we must contribute to the feasibility of institutions and laws.

Second , contribute ideas to the organization of State power, the mechanism of power control, and the mechanism of personal responsibility.

Third , contribute ideas to decentralization, delegation of power, 2-level local government model, and relationship between 3 levels of government.

Fourth , contribute to the relationship between the Party, the State, the Front, socio-political organizations and the people so that it is truly close and unanimous.

Fifth , contribute to the role of the government in governance and national development.

Sixth , comments clarify and deepen the breakthrough points not only stopping at the motto but also going into the operating mechanism.

The General Secretary believes that with their working experience, close ties with voters, and mettle, the National Assembly deputies will do very well in this responsibility, so that their voices can be included in documents and in people's lives.

Immediately after General Secretary To Lam's speech, the National Assembly discussed in groups the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Congress of the Party.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-chinh-sach-ban-hanh-phai-do-duoc-bang-tac-dong-tao-ra-thuan-loi-chu-khong-tao-them-thu-tuc-10394336.html