The face-to-face and online conference on researching, learning, mastering and propagating the content of the book "Resolutely and persistently fighting curruption and negative phenomena, contributing to building more transparent and stronger Party and State" by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the bridge point of the Party Committee of the central agencies bloc_ Photo: IT

1. Affirming the role and significance of the Party development and rectification mission, considering this a key task as well as the Party’s rule of existence and development, a decisive factor for all victories of the Vietnamese Revolution

This subject has been covered by the General Secretary in many articles and speeches since the 6th Party Congress. In his article “Improving the Party’s leadership and fighting capacity” (posted in Communist Review, No. 8-1986, under the pseudonym Phan Chinh), Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong stated: “The historical experience of our country’s revolution and the international communist movement has affirmed that the leadership of the Communist Party is the decisive factor in the victory of the revolution; the strengthening of the leadership role of the Party is the development law of socialist society”(1). He affirmed that “Improving the Party’s leadership capacity and fighting strength in the current period means making the Party more structurally mature, developing and concretizing the guidelines, setting forth appropriate solutions to achieve our set goals, improving the practical competence and organizational capacity of the Party’s entities, as well as the management and administration capacity of the state apparatus”(2). Based on practical summaries, the 6th Congress (December 1986) of the Party affirmed that the more the Party carries out the renovation, the more it shall attach special importance to the mission of developing the Party, improving the Party’s role and leadership capacity. The Congress pointed out: “We shall develop our Party as it is a political task of a ruling party that leads the people to carry out the socialist revolution”(3). Also in this article, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong stated the important and urgent requirements and tasks for the  Party development mission, including: Renovating our cadres, consolidating our executive and management authorities; Renovating the working movement, upholding our principles of organization and activities in the Party; Improving the revolutionary qualities of our cadres and party members, fighting against misconduct in the Party; Enhancing the fighting capacity of the Party’s grassroots institutions; Strengthening the ideological and theoretical work; Enhancing unity and consensus within the Party.

Regarding the importance of the Party development and rectification mission, in the article “The model of Party development: how to perform appropriate assessments” (Posted in Communist Review, No. 2-1996), Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong addressed that: “The more we go into the development of the commodity economy in which many participants operate under the market mechanism, the more it is necessary to renovate and strengthen the leadership of the Party. The leadership of the Communist Party is the factor that ensures the socialist orientation of the economy and all other social activities. Without the leadership of the Communist Party, socialism cannot be developed”(4), “Taking care of the development of the Party as well as regularly consolidating and enhancing the Party’s strength is a fundamental guarantee that determines the right path for our nation”(5).

In the article “Building a pure and strong Party - The precondition to ensure maintainance and strengthening of the leadership role of the Party (published in Communist Review No. 3, February 2000), Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed “In order to have the capacity and conditions to properly and effectively lead the revolution, the Party shall regularly renovate itself, performing self-rectification, enhancing its leadership capacity and strength itself in all aspects, considering building Party as a key task for the entire revolutionary cause”(6).

In the speech on guidance at the National Conference of Cadres to thoroughly grasp and implement the Resolution of the 4th Party Central Committee, 11th term, “Some urgent issues on our Party development in the current period” (February 27th, 2012), The General Secretary stated four theoretical and practical bases for strengthening the mission of Party development and rectification in the new context: Firstly, stemming from the Party’s leadership role and the importance of the Party development mission over our country’s revolutionary cause; Secondly, stemming from our country’s political requirements and tasks which are increasingly heavier and more significant, requiring the Party to develop its leadership capacity even further, enhancing its fighting strength even more; Thirdly, stemming from the current situation of the Party’s limitations and weaknesses; Fourthly, stemming from the fierce resistance of hostile and reactionary forces. Therefore, he concluded, “We shall pay special attention to the Party development mission, considering it to be a key and vital task for our Party and regime”(7).

In his concluding speech at this Conference, the General Secretary also stated, analyzed, and clarified some topics that officials and party members were concerned about. For example, how to organize and implement the resolution? Whether it can be done? Expanding on our review, self-criticism, and criticism; some topics set forth in staffing missions; analyzing and clarifying some concepts and terms of Party developments, etc.

In the article “The Party’s leadership is the leading factor in determining all the victories of our country’s revolution (presented at the National Conference of cadres to thoroughly grasp and implement the conclusions and regulations of the Party’s Central Committee on the mission of Party development and rectification on December 1st, 2021), the General Secretary emphasized “We all know that the leadership of the Party is the leading factor in determining all victories of our country’s revolution; and the Party development mission is always a key task for the Party, having extremely important significance for our country’s revolutionary cause”(8). Also in this article, the General Secretary quantified the views of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s Thought on the role and importance of Party development and the rectification mission. At the same time, the General Secretary affirmed, in the history of our Party, the Party development mission was mentioned by the Central Committee in most, if not in all conferences. Since the Renovation started in 1986, our Party has issued many resolutions on Party development and rectification(9). In the last 10 years only, from the very beginning of each term, the 4th Conferences of the Central Executive Committee discussed and issued crucial resolutions, conclusions, and regulations on the Party’s development and rectification mission; The content of these documents has been increasingly deepened, clearer, more comprehensive, and specific.

Along with sharing the outstanding results, the General Secretary also pointed out the limitations and profound lessons learned by the Party through the development and rectification process. On the basis of thoroughly grasping the viewpoints, tasks and solutions on Party building and rectification of the 13th National Congress, the domestic, international and regional situation, advantages and difficulties, challenges, objectives and tasks regarding the mission of national construction and defense in the new context, the General Secretary emphasized the general requirements and tasks of Party building and rectification in the coming time, which are “Our Party must continue to improve its bravery and wisdom, really live up to “being moral, being civilized”; we must make more efforts in the work of building and rectifying the Party, building our Party and the political system of our country to be more and more clean, strong, on par with the task, enough to lead the construction and development of the Party, to develop the country faster and more sustainably”(10).

In this speech, the General Secretary analyzed and clarified in depth the requirements and tasks of building and rectifying the Party in accordance with the spirit of Conclusion No. 21-KL/TW of the 4th Central Committee of the 13th Party Congress with many new points. Firstly, the content and scope of the task of building and rectifying the Party were discussed in more depth, with a more proactive and resolute leadership spirit. Secondly, the goal of Party building and rectification was identified to be higher and more closely aligned. Thirdly, some tasks and measures for the coming period were supplemented, clarified, and made more cohesive and sharper. Fourthly, more comprehensive systems and structures for building and rectifying the Party and the political system and for fighting against corruption and negativity were added and improved.

It can be affirmed that, throughout the articles in the General Secretary’s book, his concern and special attention to the mission of Party development and rectification, training cadres and party members, making the Party and State apparatus cleaner, enhancing the people’s confidence in the Party’s leadership role and the cause of developing the country in the path to socialism is shown. The General Secretary has always been consistent in his opinion on the steadfastness of the Party’s leadership and ruling role and the importance of Party development and rectification, considering Party development as a key task and a decisive factor that determines the success or failure of the revolutionary cause. The Party shall regularly renovate itself, self-rectify itself, fighting against individualism as well as regression and corruption in the Party.

2. Affirm the remarkable achievements and historical imprints in building and rectifying the Party in the renewal process

This subject was featured prominently, with its historical imprints on Party development that were compressively covered by the General Secretary in his book, including the article “Party building work: How to evaluate appropriately” (Published in the Communist Review, No. 2-1996) and the article “The Party’s leadership role in the national renovation process”, included in the book: “Party development and rectification - Some theoretical and practical issues”, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012. The General Secretary affirmed: “All achievements and shortcomings of the renovation process are associated with the Party’s responsibility for leadership and activities. The Party’s leadership and activities are decisive factors in reaching the achievements of the renovation process, etc. The maturity and improvement of the Party are also important achievements of the renovation process, it has even been said to be the most important achievement of the renovation”(11). Through the above-mentioned articles, the General Secretary clearly stated the important achievements of the Party development and rectification mission achieved during the renovation process:

Firstly, the most outstanding and important achievement is that the Party has set out and gradually supplemented and completed the renovation path in a proper and creative way, forming more and more clearly the path to socialism for our country. Our Party has acquired a system of perspectives by which to guide the renovation process, which, although not yet complete, is fundamental and extremely important for our country’s revolution.

Secondly, our Party has affirmed that Ho Chi Minh Thought, along with Marxism-Leninism, is the ideological foundation and guideline for its actions. At the turning points of the revolution, facing highly complicated happenings on the international stage, the Party has promptly worked out the right orientations for its political ideology, corrected distorted perceptions, and fought against hostile arguments, creating the basis for ideological unity among the whole Party and the people.

Thirdly, the Party upholds its principles of democratic centralism, collective leadership, and individual responsibility. There has been progress in implementing democracy in the Party, leading the implementation of democracy in society, promoting the collective wisdom and synergy of the great national unity bloc.

Fourthly, step-by-step renovating, arranging, and perfecting the political system of the Party and state agencies, ensuring smooth and comprehensive leadership in all fields; strengthening the Party’s grassroots institutions; renovating the cadre work, improving the quality of party members; becoming more and more aware of and further improving the Party’s leadership methodology during the new conditions.

Not only does General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pay attention and contribute significantly to the building and rectification of the Party in general, but he also has important contributions in theory and practice summarization of the ruling Communist Party’s building process. In the speech at the theoretical seminar between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China in February 2004, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong raised 9 theoretical and practical issues about the building process of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam, in which he affirmed that “During the process of conducting the renewal campaign, it is necessary to always adhere to the leadership role, the position of power of the Party; at the same time, do a good job in building the Party, constantly renewing and rectifying the Party. This is a principle issue, which is a factor that guarantees the success of the renewal campaign, the development of the country in the direction of socialism. The more it moves towards renovation, towards market economy, towards opening up, the more it must maintain, strengthen, and renew the leadership of the Party, firmly grasp the role of the Party in power. Absolutely no ambiguity or wavering on this issue”(12). Some other issues emphasized in the building of the ruling Party include: promoting good traditions, maintaining the revolutionary and scientific nature of the Party; improving the intellectual level and quality of the Party’s theoretical work; regularly valuing the organization and consolidation of the Party, ensuring internal unity and high fighting spirit; the Party must regularly take care of the work of officials for the entire political system, in all fields; closely connects with the people; strongly innovates the leadership methods of the Party, first and foremost in the leadership of the State.

Along with theoretical achievements, one of the achievements that has left an outstanding historical imprint on Party development and rectification reflected in the General Secretary’s book is our achievements in fighting against and preventing corruption, deterioration in political ideology, morality, lifestyle among cadres and Party members, and the political system, expressed through specific numbers.

In his concluding speech at the National Conference on summarizing 10 years of anti-corruption and prevention works in the 2012-2022 period, the General Secretary pointed out that, in the last 10 years, with the establishment of the Central Steering Committee for preventing and fighting against corruption and waste (under the Politburo), up to today, the fight against corruption has been drastically and methodically led and directed by the Central Committee, increasingly being deepened, making great progress, achieving many specific, very important and comprehensive results, leaving a good impression, creating positive effects, spreading strongly throughout society, and really “becoming a movement, an irreversible trend”. This trend is approved, supported and appreciated by all the cadres, party members and people, recognized by international friends, and is reflected in the following 5 highlights:

(1) Detecting and dealing with corruption has been directed and implemented in a methodical, synchronous, drastic, and effective manner, creating a breakthrough in anti-corruption works, affirming the absolute determination of our Party, State, and people in the fight against corruption with the spirit of “no forbidden zones, no exceptions, no matter who that person is and not misdirected by any pressure from any individual”.

The inspection and supervision of the Party as well as the inspection and audit of the State have been strengthened, detecting, and strictly handling violations; tightening discipline and compliance within the Party and State apparatus, effectively contributing to improving the effectiveness of anti-corruption works.

The Party committees and inspection committees at all levels have been proactive in strengthening guidance, focusing on inspection, handling Party organizations and members when there are signs of violation; handling both current and retired officials, both high-ranking officials and officials in the armed forces; enforcing discipline strictly from top to bottom, with emphasis and priority; Party discipline goes ahead, laying the foundation, opening the way for administrative discipline and for the work of inspection, investigation, and criminal prosecution according to the law.

The Central Inspection Commission has clearly demonstrated its resolute mentality and spirit, expanding the scope and subjects of inspection to both district and grassroots Party committees; thoroughly handling many complicated that span many terms, involving many levels, branches, and localities.

During the 2012 - 2022 period, Party committees and inspection committees at all levels disciplined 2,740 party organizations, more than 167,700 officials and party members, of which 7,390 party members were disciplined for corruption acts; disciplined 190 cadres who are managed by central management authorities, including 04 members and former members of the Politburo; 36 members and former members of the Central Committee; 50 generals in the armed forces. Particularly, since the 13th Congress term, 50 cadres who are managed by Central management authorities have been disciplined (four times higher than the figure of the XI term and nearly half of the number of senior officials handled during the 12th Central Government term), including 08 members and former members of the Central Committee and 20 generals. This is a breakthrough in the inspection and discipline works of the Party. The inspectorate and audit departments have made great efforts, with honesty and objectivity, to clarify wrongdoing; they have handled and recommended strict punishment for relevant organizations and individuals and recovering many assets for the State(13).

The investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption and economic cases are carried out in a patient and resolute manner without compromising and leniency, preventing wrongful convictions; avoiding criminals being overlooked; being strict, but also very humane, benevolent, reasonable, and affectionate; most of the subjects who have been accused were fully aware of their violation and expressed their respects, remorse, repentance, and apology to the Party, State, and people; exerting a great effect of warning, deterrence, education and prevention which is highly agreed upon, supported and appreciated by the public and the people; it creates a breakthrough in the work of detecting and dealing with corruption.

Over the past 10 years, the procedural agencies throughout the country have taken up proceedings, investigated, prosecuted, and lower courts tried nearly 16,000 cases of corruption, position abuse, and economic crimes with more than 30,300 defendants. Particularly, the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption has put nearly 1,000 corruption cases at three levels under supervision and guidance; among them directly monitored and guided 313 serious, complex corruption and economic cases that received high public attention, leading to the trial of 120 cases by lower courts with 1,083 defendants, including 37 centrally-managed officials who were prosecuted (1 Politburo member, 10 Central Committee members and former members, 6 ministers and former ministers, 13 general-level officers in the armed forces, etc.). The procedural agencies throughout the country took proceedings and investigated 2,657 cases with 5,841 defendants, prosecuted 2,628 cases and 6,199 defendants and performed lower-court trials of 2,439 cases with 5,647 accused of corruption. Since the 13th National Party Congress, 4,200 cases and 7,572 accused have been prosecuted and investigated for crimes of corruption, position abuse, and economic issues. Along with the focus on strict handling of wrongdoings, the asset recovery work in corruption cases has also seen positive progress, with a high rate of property seizure in many serious economic and corruption cases. The rate of asset recovery in criminal cases of corruption and economic crimes has increased significantly (if in 2013, the asset recovery rate during the enforcement of judgments was only below 10%, then in the period 2012-2022, the average rate reached 34.7%)(14).

(2) Along with the focus on directing the work on detecting and handling corruption is the effort to improve and complete the mechanisms and institutions for managing the economy, society, and anti-corruption measures to prevent, disincentivize and eradicate corruption. The Central Executive Committee, Politburo, Secretary-General, National Assembly, Government, ministries, central agencies, and advisory bodies have issued many strong and resolute new policies, solutions, and regulations to strengthen and streamline the Party and political system, perfect socio-economic institutions, and combat corruption and negative practices. Many regulations and resolutions have been thoroughly and seriously implemented, entered into daily life, and have effectively addressed the weaknesses and shortcomings that have led to negative practices and corruption in the past. Thus far, the Party’s directives and regulations, as well as legal documents on anti-corruption and negative practices, have been quite comprehensive.

(3) Focusing on the cadre-work and administrative reform ensuring openness and transparency; clearly defining accountability in the activities of agencies, organizations, and units, and solutions to prevent corruption and misconduct have also achieved drastic positive results. The cadre work has undergone significant innovations towards increasing democracy, transparency, objectivity, and openness, following the principles and processes to ensure tight Party leadership. The Government, ministries, branches, and localities have actively implemented their tasks for administrative reform, enhancing openness and transparency, improving the investment and business environment, promoting our national competitiveness as well as preventing corruption and misconduct.

(4) The work of information, communication, and education on anti-corruption has been strengthened and has many innovations; the supervision of the elected bodies, the role of the Fatherland Front, the people, the press, and the media in preventing and fighting against corruption and misconduct are further emphasized. Information, communication, and education activities on anti-corruption are promoted; the awareness and responsibilities of Party committees, Party organizations, officials, party members at all levels, and people for the prevention and fight against corruption and misconduct have been increased. The publicization of inspection results, examinations, audits, and the handling of corruption and economic cases; proactively providing information on sensitive issues which are of public interest, has contributed to facilitating a proper orientation of public opinion and demonstrated our openness and transparency in dealing with corruption. The news agencies and press have actively participated in this process, standing side by side with the Party, the State and functional agencies in preventing and fighting against corruption. At the same time they perform communication campaigns and actively fight against the distorting claims made by hostile forces about our prevention and fight against corruption and misconduct.

(5) Attaching special importance to promoting organizational perfection, improving the quality and efficiency of operations, and the coordination among functional agencies and units in anti-corruption works. The functions, tasks, and Regulations of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption have been amended and supplemented in many innovative ways, in both content and operational methods. The central, provincial, and city Internal Affairs Committees which were re-established have made initial great efforts towards improving the effectiveness of their consultations on anti-corruption works. The Central Commission for Internal Affairs has been proactive, in-depth, resolute, persistent, and brave in performing its task of advising, proposing, and supporting the Steering Committee to develop and organize the effective implementation of the programs and action plans, removing difficulties and obstacles; handling many particularly serious and complicated corruption cases and events which are particularly of public interest. The coordination of the relationship between functional agencies and units in the fight against corruption has been closely, promptly, and effectively focused and strengthened, particularly the coordination between the inspection, supervision, and internal affairs agencies of the Party and the inspection, audit, and investigation authorities; between the inspection and audit agencies and the investigation authorities; between central and local proceedings-conducting agencies and ministries and branches. Our international cooperation in anti-corruption has also been strengthened. Anti-corruption activities have also been gradually expanded to the non-state sector.

It can be affirmed that the fight against corruption and misconduct has never been carried out so strongly, synchronously, drastically, methodically, and effectively as in recent times; making a prominent mark, leading to a strong consensus in society, consolidating and strengthening the trust of cadres, party members and the people in the Party and State.

3. Pointing out many profound lessons learned on developing and rectifying the Party, fighting against corruption and misconduct

It can be affirmed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s book is a profound and comprehensive “handbook” which contains many important theoretical and practical issues regarding Party development and rectification and fighting against corruption and misconduct.

In the article, some lessons on the Party development during the renovation period (published in the Communist Review, December 1996 under the pen name Phan Dang Phu), Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong wrote: Based on the diversified and active practical activities of our Party and people over the past 10 years, the successes, achievements, limitations, and shortcomings, we can draw the following key lessons:

(1) During the renovation process, the Party has always firmly grasped the leadership role, at the same time actively and effectively renovated and rectified itself. Practice shows that, in order to carry out successful renovation, first of all, the Party’s leadership must be steadfast, considering this as a matter of principle. This is  because the leadership of the Party the leadership of the Party is the factor that guarantees the development of the country according to the socialist orientation. Without the leadership of the Party, the solid national independence, the mastery of the people, the State of the people, by the people and for the people, and even socialism cannot be realized. In order to have the capacity and conditions to lead the revolution properly and effectively, the Party shall regularly perform renovation and self-rectification, improving its leadership capacity and strengthening itself in all aspects. Regularly performing renovation and self-rectification is the Party’s law of existence and development.

(2) Maintaining the Party’s working-class and vanguard nature. These issues of principle are not only fundamental for all genuine Marxist-Leninist Parties, but also stem from the specific material circumstances of our Party - a Party born and grown in a backward, rural country where the working class is still small, and the percentage of party members who are workers is still low. In the current context, the issue of always maintaining its nature of the working class, is crucial and decisive in the process of preventing our Party from falling into a state of degeneration,. As the leader, as the class’s fighting commander agency and as the political leader of the whole nation, above all, the Party shall be highly intellectual and pioneering.

(3) Upholding the principle of democratic centralism, taking care of building a unified bloc within the Party. Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out, “Nowadays, more than ever, it is necessary to protect, develop and enrich the ideas and methods for implementing the principle of democratic centralism. We shall properly understand and have a consistent understanding of the subject and nature of democratic centralism, the dialectical relationship between the two sides of centralization and democracy; at the same time, concretizing and institutionalizing these subjects into specific institutions, regulations, and procedures, particularly in our democratic discussion on resolutions and in cadre works. Democracy is the basis of centralization and needs to be strongly promoted within the Party; at the same time, the democracy shall have leadership, democracy shall go hand in hand with discipline and compliance”(15). Solidarity and unity are both precious traditions of our Party and a contributing factor in developing the unshakeable strength of our country’s revolution. Reality shows that, before the turning point of the revolution, in difficult and dangerous times, the unity and consistency in the Party, especially at the most powerful levels of Party authority, were very significant in determining the success or failure of the revolution.

(4) Regularly taking care of developing a contingent of qualified and capable cadres to cover the revolutionary tasks. Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out that this practice has proven the deep truth that cadres play a decisive role in the revolution. As a Party in power, under the conditions of the market economy, the Party shall particularly take care of cadre work and the cadres for the whole political system, for the whole society, and in all fields. The Party shall attach great importance to developing and consolidating a contingent of cadres at the strategic and grassroots levels. Renovating thinking and methods of conducting cadre work in the direction of democracy combined with unified focus, according to a strict process.

(5) The Party is closely associated with the people, protecting the practical interests and mastery of the people. Our practical experience shows that, where and when, party organizations, cadres, and party members regularly take care of the people’s interests, there the Party and people have a good relationship. Tthe people believe, respect, and follow the cadres and Party members and vice versa. In the article Priceless history lesson, published in Communist Review, No. 2-1987, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong wrote: “We all know that believing in the people, taking care of the people, taking the people as the root is a great lesson learned from the in-sight of history”, “Close contact with the people is a great tradition and an invincible source of strength of our Party(16), the Communist Party’s rule of existence and operation”. “Caring for the interests and happiness of the working people is the sacred goal and noble ideal of the Party”(17).

(6) Renovating the Party’s leadership and operation methods and considering it an important aspect of Party development work. Renovating the Party’s leadership method is performed to ensure that the Party implements its proper leadership function, strongly promoting the role of government agencies, economic organizations, and mass organizations. The leadership role of the Party is reflected in in determining the direction, objectives, path, and solutions to the country’s development and the prosperity of the people. From there, the Party leads the entire political system and social machinery, first of all the State, to organize the implementation of the set goals and tasks. The Party institutionalizes and legalizes its resolutions; desigs the organizational apparatus, trains, arranges, manages, and improves cadres training. The Party monitors the implementation; summarizing and developing our theory, supplementing and perfecting our guidelines and policies. All of these implementations are aimed at ensuring the right political orientation on the path of our country to move forward and the development of the nation.

Along with the lessons learned in Party development and rectification, the General Secretary also points out many valuable lessons in the fight against corruption and misconduct:

Firstly, we shall fully and deeply understand the special position, meaning, and significance of the fight against corruption and misconduct, so that we have a high level of political determination, proper methods, and take decisive actions following the direct, centralized, and unified leadership and direction of the Party which is, in most cases, directly made by the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption and anti-misconduct under the Politburo.

Secondly, we shall regularly, continuously, and uninterruptedly perform these works at all levels, branches, and fields; synchronously implementing political, ideological, organizational, administrative, economic, and criminal measures, taking firm, positive, proactive, and focused steps. The important issue is to build a strict prevention mechanism to make it “impossible” to have corruption and negativity; a strict warning and punishment mechanism to make it “not dare” to have corruption and negativity; building an honest culture to make it “not want” to have corruption and negativity; and an assurance mechanism to make it “unnecessary” to have corruption and negativity.

Thirdly, we shall pay special attention to the work of our cadre, particularly to evaluate, select and assign the right cadres, first of all leaders and managers; strengthening the management, education, prevention, and control against degradation in political ideology, morality, lifestyle, “self-evolution”, “self-transformation” internally. All cadres and party members shall regularly self-examine, self-correct and maintain their moral qualities.

Fourthly, we shall closely and synchronously combine active prevention with proactive detection and prompt handling of corruption and misconduct; in which, the prevention shall be the key factor for long term success; the detection and handling are important, creating breakthroughs. The motto of performing prompt prevention and detection, handling the case from as soon as possible, preventing small violations from accumulating into big ones shall be thoroughly grasped and implemented.

Fifthly, we shall control the exercise of state power. All power must be strictly controlled by the mechanism; all power shall be constrained by responsibility; the scope of power shall determine that of responsibility, the higher the power, the greater the responsibility. Anyone who abuses or takes advantage of power for personal gain shall be held accountable and punished for his/her violations. On the other hand, it is necessary to build a civil service culture for each branch, agency, or unit. The civil service culture shall ensure professionalism, responsibility, transparency, and efficiency in performing tasks.

Sixthly, we shall focus on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, promoting the core role and close, synchronous, prompt, and effective coordination of agencies with anti-corruption and anti-misconduct functions. The contingent of cadres engaging in anti-corruption and anti-misconduct work shall have a strong mentality and the courage to fight; they shall be honest, have integrity, be “just and impartial”, becoming the sharp “sword” of the Party and State in the fight against corruption and misconduct.

Seventhly, the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity must be closely associated with building and reforming the Party and political system, promoting honesty and integrity, learning, and following the ideology, morals, and style of Ho Chi Minh. It is necessary to mobilize the comprehensive strength of the entire political system and society in the fight against corruption and negativity.

Eighthly, we shall draw out solutions to prevent and fight against corruption and misconduct which are suitable to the context and requirements of developing a socialist-oriented market economy in Vietnam and the cultural traditions of the nation; selectively absorbing foreign experiences; inheriting the experience of the previous term. We shall prevent and fight against corruption and misconduct both in the state and non-state sectors; regularly summarizing, drawing experience, addressing new issues, finding proper and creative methods which contribute to improvement of our work efficiency; continuously renovating our thinking, perfecting our theory on prevention and the fight against corruption and misconduct.

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Received: March 05, 2023; Revised: March 8 ,2023; Approved for publication: March 22, 2023.

Endnotes:

(1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11), (12), (15), (16), (17) Nguyen Phu Trong: Being determined and persistent in preventing and fighting against corruption and misconduct, contributing to developing a clean and strong Party and State, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2023, p.209, 210, 248, 249, 267, 305, 444, 449, 240, 370-371, 257, 225, 228.

(3) CPV: Complete Party Documents, p.47, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006, p.364-365.

(9) The 3rd Conference of the Party Central Committee (7th term) in 1992 on some tasks of reforming and rectifying the Party; The 6th Central Conference (second meeting) (8th term) in 1999 “Some basic and urgent issues about the current Party development mission”, etc.

(13) Since 2012, through inspection and audit works, more than VND 975 trillion and nearly 76 thousand hectares of land have been processed and recovered; bringing into account nearly 44,700 collectives and individuals; transferring to the investigation authorities nearly 1,200 cases with signs of crime; proposing to amend, supplement, annul and replace more than 2,000 legal documents, many of which are no longer appropriate.

(14) Civil judgment enforcement agencies at all levels have recovered VND 61,000 billion; In the cases under the supervision and direction of the Central Steering Committee nearly VND 50,000 billion has been recovered, including many cases with thousands of billions recovered such as Pham Cong Danh case with over VND 6,000 billion recovered; Hua Thi Phan case with more than VND 10,000 billion recovered; AVG case VND 8,500 billion recovered, etc.