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Development mechanism, trust, aspiration and innovation for prosperity, happiness in the Draft Documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress

(PTOJ) - The core and cross-cutting ideology of the draft Documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress is as follows: On the basis of implementing three strategic breakthroughs (mechanism, human resources, infrastructure), first and foremost, it is necessary to synchronously complete the development mechanism to build trust; thereby arousing the aspiration for national development in order to nurture and promote innovation need and capacity for the independence, freedom, happiness and prosperity of the Vietnamese nation and people.

Illustration photo. Source:vhttcs.org.vn

1. Synchronously completing fast - sustainable development institutions in order to build faith, aspiration of the people

Aspiration and innovation, no matter how liberal they might be, are performed based on certain political, economic and cultural mechanisms. Therefore, most importantly, it is necessary to complete development mechanisms capable of nurturing, promoting aspirations and innovation for the happiness of the Vietnamese people. In practice, building and completing mechanisms of a socialist-oriented market economy and socialist law-ruled State has been thoroughly and consistently summarized and presented in the draft documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress.

Three strategic breakthroughs (mechanism, human resources and infrastructure) were first mentioned at the 11th National Party Congress (2011). In the draft documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, their connotations have been developed in comparison with the content of documents of the 11th and 12th National Party Congress. For example, in the previous Congresses, one strategic breakthrough was defined as development mechanism for the socialist-oriented market economy, however, in the draft Documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, it is defined as “synchronously completing development mechanism”, that is the development mechanism for all fields of economy, politics, culture and society. Similarly, the previous Congresses only defined human resources in general, whereas, this draft document specifies human resources for management leadership and key areas. Likewise, for the strategic breakthrough in infrastructure, it specifically identifies priority for development of some key national projects in such fields as transport, climate change adaption, in which important attention is attached to developing the information and telecommunications infrastructure, establishing foundations for national digital transformation, and gradually developing digital economy and society.

The draft documents have made clearer the connotation of fast and sustainable development mechanism in the “new normal” at present and in the coming time. The “new normal” situation means the country lives and operates in a state characterized by the manner of operation, living, active social communication, COVID-19 pandemic control and support of technology 4.0. It is more “virtual”, “indirect”, but still keeps the most vivid and realistic social and natural attributes of human and society under the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the process of establishing and developing a digital society (society 5.0) on the basis of technology 4.0 and the Internet.

In the short term, it is impossible for the Government to immediately build a comprehensively new development mechanism with a completely different approach regardless of the conditions in Vietnam and in the world. The reality of recent years shows that fully, synchronously and modernly promoting administrative reform, improving quality of the socialist-oriented market economy mechanism, enhancing integration with globalization and effective enforcement of law are prerequisites for promoting national development. On that basis, it is possible to better settle the relationship among the State, the market and society in order to build a socialist law-ruled State which can ensure the fast and sustainable development and trust of the people. Therefore, it is subject to keep expanding democracy both indirectly and directly, first and foremost, in the market economy mechanism; and be associated with preserving discipline, and rules in order to continue building a democratic, fair and civilized society in accordance with the socialist law-ruled State mechanism.

2. Trust of and aspiration for prosperity and happiness

The theme of trust of and aspirations for prosperity, happiness for independence, freedom and happiness of the whole country and of each Vietnamese person was not satisfactorily specified in the previous National Party Congresses. In the draft documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, its theme, major goals and tasks strongly affirm: “Aspirations should be aroused for national development”. The goals are specifically clarified: By 2025, striving to develop ours into a developing country with modernity-oriented industry, surpassing low middle income level by 2025; by 2030, striving to be a developing country with basically modern industry with high average income; and by 2045, striving to become a developed, high-income country(1).

When Vietnam has got out of underdevelopment and in the process of building an industrialized country, many Vietnamese people now really can “Feel the wind of tomorrow; feel the spirit of the era flying high” as being predicted by poet To Huu 60 years ago. Aspiration is not an illusion stemming from momentary improvisation, subjectivity, and voluntarism. It is built up from a firm trust in the mechanism for developing a prosperous and happy nation, as well as in the skill, spirit and experience gathered by the Party and Vietnamese people during national reform and development, especially in the new development step, position, and prestige that the country has achieved after 35 years of reform. At present, the aspiration, also an urgent need of the Party, State and all Vietnamese people is to adopt innovation to promote fast and sustainable national development. We missed opportunities of the 2nd and 3rd Industrial Revolutions. For the time being, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 is creating opportunities for all of mankind. Therefore, it is time for Vietnam to take initiative and actively seize this chance.

Aspiration derives from the heart and mind of every person and of the entire Vietnamese nation. This is a spiritual state of “the wind of tomorrow” imbued with the “spirit of the era” with a strong impetus from the trust in the mechanism for developing a prosperous and happy country. That is naturally a state of patriotism when Vietnam develops toward prosperity and happiness. It is expressed in the individual creativity and solidarity of the Vietnamese communities at home and abroad. Aspiration imbued with the era’s spirit is valued as a material force that keeps up “national morale”. Such “national morale” is only formed and developed when each person and the entire nation believe in the mechanism for modernity-oriented national development, and in national solidarity to realize this mechanism in order to “stand shoulder to shoulder with powers in the five continents” in the 21st century, as President Ho Chi Minh once wished(2).

On the basis of people’s trust, it is important to turn aspiration, self-reliance determination into decisive internal strength for fast and sustainable development of the country in the development strategy for the next 10 years and toward 2045. In the short term, it is possible to actively respond to the new normal to turn the risks caused by COVID-19 pandemic into opportunities to expedite the development of Vietnam in the current context of regional and global competition. “Aspiration” should embrace “ambition”, while being alert to anticipate new challenges in the coming time. Once the people’s trust becomes “the national morale”, combined with national prosperity and happiness, the people will have oneness of mind and find “nothing difficult” (as President Ho Chi Minh said) to overcome all challenges in realizing the development goals toward 2030 and 2045.

3. Innovation to realize aspiration so as to promote development of a prosperous and happy country

Aspiration for nurturing and promoting innovation is also one of the mottos identified in the draft documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress. In the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, innovation is required if fast and sustainable development is to be maintained. Since the renewal in 1986, renewal associated with creativity, and innovation with development has been an attribute and a result of our creative application of Ho Chi Minh Thought about “the world is changing with every passing day, the people are becoming more and more progressive”(3), thus, “the mindset for action is also developed as well”(4).

Innovation is the mode of development suitable with the law of our renewal, given the permanent impact of the market economy, international integration and Industrial Revolution 4.0, especially in the condition of “new normal” as Vietnam is performing a dual task: economic development and effective control of COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, innovation reflects common thinking and development methods of humans in the current context of globalization under the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and Industrial Revolution 4.0. In Vietnam, innovation must be conducted synchronously and comprehensively under the motto: innovation in thinking, first of all in economic thinking and innovation in performing three strategic breakthroughs (mechanism, human resources, and infrastructure), in the organization and personnel work, in the mode of working and activity, and in all fields of social life. Priority should be given to promoting innovation in developing digital technology and start-up entrepreneurship.

First of all, innovation in digital technology development aims to make a strong digital transformation in the fields of economy, society, and administration, with a focus on quality, not only on quantity, in order to set up a digital economy, digital government, and digital society, aiming at creating new values and breakthrough development, targeting at modern and advanced technology in the world. To do this, the focus is on developing a national innovation system under the slogan (marketing slogan) “Make in Vietnam” proposed by the Ministry of Information and Communications. In comparison with “Made in Vietnam”, “Make in Vietnam” aims at emphasizing initiative in creativity and design of high-tech products of Vietnamese people in order to promote the domestic ICT industry. While “Made in Vietnam” refers only to the origin, the level of localization, tariffs, imports and exports, “Make in Vietnam” aims to convey the message of a strategy, an appeal for shifting the development direction of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises. The connotation “Made in Vietnam” does not imply whether the technology is imported, and whether the production is just assembled or being researched and manufactured. The ultimate goal of “Made in Vietnam” is that all values are generated in Vietnam as much as possible. Meanwhile, with “Make in Vietnam”, innovation has a strong shift from assembly and processing to proactive creativity and design in order to manufacture Vietnamese digital products. Under “Make in Vietnam”, the country will improve the quality of growth, build a self-reliant economy and participate more deeply in the global value chain. With such an innovative approach, Vietnam will soon realize its goal of becoming a modernity-oriented industrial country. In other words, innovation under the “Made in Vietnam” can help the country realize its goals of a developing country, while “Make in Vietnam” innovation can make us become a developed nation. This is an ambition but feasible for our country at present, given the context of developing our own domestic 5G network.

Next, innovation in the national startup ecosystem. National startup should not be viewed as a hot trend but should be carefully considered under the slogan “Make in Vietnam”, in order to re-create a genuine startup ecosystem on par with the level of development and in compliance with requirements, aiming at completely changing the entrepreneurship, from traditional style to the 4.0 technology style. On that basis, combining national thinking in operation and global thinking in action to ensure national sovereignty, growth quality and deeper participation in the global value chain. National startup under “Make in Vietnam” slogan will require entrepreneurs to carry out research and to create more instead of just trading around, outsourcing, and assembling under “Made in Vietnam”, consequently, adding more values to Vietnam’s products.

Developing and improving the operational efficiency of the national innovation system, the startup ecosystem will foster Vietnamese talents network, and attract the participation and contribution of Vietnamese scholars abroad. Promoting innovation is the shortest, most sustainable and only way to improve the efficiency of socio-economic development, and increase labor productivity, and make the country quickly and sustainably develop and become closer to the criteria of developed countries. The basic factor promoting innovation is the mechanism capable of empowering, ensuring rights, promoting democracy in economic and social life, building a culture of criticism, and encouraging expression of personal opinions and viewpoints. Innovation is the reflection and performance of the people’s trust, aspiration, and the national morale, also the cause of the entire Party and people. Here each cadre, party member, especially those at high-ranking level should be an example of the dare-to-think, dare-to-do, dare-to-make-breakthrough for a common cause. In addition, the role of the contingent of intellectuals and entrepreneurs is also pivotal in the innovation course.

4. All for independence, freedom, happiness and prosperity of each person and the Vietnamese nation

President Ho Chi Minh and the Party set a goal of building an independent, free and happy country for each and every Vietnamese person. This human-oriented ideology is inherited in the draft documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, by identifying synchronously the completion of the national development mechanism in order to build the trust, aspiration, and innovation for the independence, freedom, happiness and prosperity of each person and for the entire nation of Vietnam. In fact, one province has recently included the criteria of people’s happiness in its Provincial Party Congress’ report, in which happiness is measured by such criteria as people’s satisfaction in life, environment, welfare policy, social welfare, public services, and so on. Furthermore, in the process of building new rural model, many local governments pay attention to the criteria of people’s satisfaction when assessing the results of new rural model building.

To implement the aforesaid thinking, the Draft Documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress has developed the motto “People know, people discuss, people do, and people check” into the motto: “People know, people discuss, people do, people check, people monitor, and people benefit”(5).

The key guideline for implementation is “Creating a fundamental shift in the economy to a growth model based on the efficient use of resources, scientific and technological advances and innovation, etc. Building and promoting cultural values and strength of Vietnamese people; completing and establishing the national value system, cultural value system and human standards associated with promoting the will, development aspiration and strength of Vietnamese people in the new period”(6). This guideline shall only be consistently implemented in reality if it is subject to integrating the human rights-based approach into the political-legal approach in the Draft Documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, first of all in the 10-year socio-economic development strategy of 2021-2030, in such a way consistent with the socialist law-ruled State institution. From that approach, it is necessary to implement effective socio-economic development management and planning solutions so as to harmonize social relations for stability (in a dynamic way) and fast and sustainable development, while controlling and handling risks, ensuring that all the people enjoy equal opportunities and conditions for comprehensive development. To implement social justice should combine economic policy with social policy, economic development with improvement of the material and spiritual life for the people, in order to ensure that the people enjoy better achievements of the reform, for example, the right of vulnerable people to access basic services (health care, education, employment, income, and such).

As a result, it is possible to establish relations between the human-centered approach, the human rights-ensured approach, and the comprehensive human development. The reason is that the goal of comprehensive human development shall naturally derive from people and the “human-centered” approach. However, without proactive participation of the people as the owner-master, it is impossible to “rely on the people” to achieve such a goal. In other words, it is essential to focus on the “human-centered” approach. Additionally, if the people are not empowered with fundamental rights, and obligations of citizenship, it is impossible to “take the people as the root” and promote the people’s strength and make people get a comprehensive development. Therefore, ensuring human rights is a necessary and indispensable factor between the human-centered and comprehensive human development approaches. To do so, a breakthrough solution is to diversify forms, contents, methods of mainstreaming education of human rights in the national education system, to implement the learner-centered motto to promote education and create comprehensive human development from school to society.

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Endnotes:

(1) See: Aspiration of national development and innovation - the highlight of the 13th National Party Congress: http://hdll.vn/vi/nghien-cuu-trao-doi/khat-vong-phat-trien-dat-nuoc-va-doi-moi-sang-tao-diem-nhan-cua-dai-hoi-dang-lan-thu-xiii.html.

(2) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.4, Truth - National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, page. 35.

(3), (4) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.8, Truth - National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, pages.377, 55.

(5) CPV: Draft Documents submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, April-2020, page.57.

(6) Nguyen Phu Trong: Good preparation for the Party Congress to drive the country into new development period, Communist Review, volume 949 (9-2020).

ASSOC. PROF., DR. NGUYEN THANH TUAN

Institute of Human Rights,

Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

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