Diplomatic Achievements in 2024: Foundations for Vietnam's New Era
	Revolutionary Breakthrough Orientations in New Era of National Development

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen The Ky.

- The entire country is paying close attention to the concept of the "era of nation's rise." What are your thoughts on this matter?

- I fully agree with the vision, the framing, and the explanation of the concepts of a "new era" and the "era of nation's rise" as articulated by the General Secretary. Our nation, through each historical period, has embarked on new journeys. In principle, we must never be complacent with what has already been achieved. If we settle for the status quo, we will see no renewal or breakthrough in any aspect of social life.

This principle rings true when reflecting on our nation's history. From the Ly, Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties, each marked phases of new development under the leadership of enlightened rulers. Then came the period when French colonialists invaded Vietnam, ushering the nation into a new stage. The August Revolution of 1945, which can be described as a "heaven-shaking and earth-shattering" event, was a turning point that propelled our nation into a new era—indeed, into the Ho Chi Minh era.

After 1975, Vietnam entered a new phase, having unified the country and moved toward socialism. However, due to historical conditions, we remained bound by centralized and bureaucratic economic models. In 1986, under the leadership of the Party, headed by Comrade Truong Chinh, the Sixth Party Congress launched the Doi Moi (renewal) campaign. While it did not solve every problem, it established a groundbreaking principle that we must not cling to outdated models, as what was once effective may no longer be suitable today.

In recent years, Vietnam has risen to become one of the top 40 economies in the world. The people's quality of life has improved, and Vietnam's international standing has been significantly elevated. However, as the world enters the era of Industry 4.0, other nations are making rapid advances in institutional reform and technological innovation. If Vietnam fails to adapt, the risk of falling behind is immense, potentially trapping the country in the "middle-income trap."

As General Secretary To Lam pointed out, the nation's greatest bottlenecks lie in institutions, legal policies, and administrative systems. He emphasized that the country must pursue renewal, even a revolutionary overhaul of its institutions.

I am aware that some have recently suggested Vietnam needs a second Doi Moi. While this proposal merits further discussion, one undeniable fact is that without a determined push for advancement, the country will fall behind and fail to realize President Ho Chi Minh's vision of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's great powers. Therefore, I believe this is the moment to critically reflect on the past, and work toward building a civilized nation fueled by the aspiration for national growth.

This aspiration must be realized through deliberate actions, steps, and a clear vision for the future. As a scientist and artist, I am confident that the renewal process will succeed if we maximize the spirit of national solidarity, grounded in democracy and scientific principles.

Hai Phong Port. (Illustrative photo)

- In your view, what is the core of the “new” in this “new era,” and how does it differ from the period of 1986?

- The “new,” as I see it, is that we need to build on the achievements and lessons of nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (renewal), while simultaneously creating more dynamic changes to keep pace with the world.

We cannot settle for what we have already achieved. Today, not only are Western nations like the U.S. and Europe advancing rapidly, but even Middle Eastern countries with abundant oil resources are not relying solely on their natural wealth—they have embraced Industry 4.0. For instance, they have developed agricultural fields in deserts. Israel, a once arid nation with severe water scarcity, has now pioneered seawater desalination technology for household use.

These examples highlight the necessity of accurately assessing our timing and priorities. If we fail to do so, catching up with other nations will be extremely challenging. This aligns with what General Secretary To Lam has shared.

- Where should we focus our efforts as we begin this “era of national awakening”?

- In several speeches, particularly in his concluding remarks at the 10th Central Committee Conference of the 13th Party Congress and during discussions with strategic leadership classes, General Secretary To Lam clearly outlined the essence of the nation’s awakening and the new era. He also emphasized theoretical systems tied to practical realities, presenting general directions and approaches. These overarching ideas must then be detailed and applied to daily life.

In my opinion, to advance in the era of Industry 4.0, the country needs to renew its mindset and eliminate policy, and legal barriers. We must develop a digital society, a digital economy, a green economy, and a circular economy. Therefore, major decisions for socio-economic development must be carefully considered.

Additionally, we should learn from the experiences of other countries. The modern world is interconnected, and despite differences in political systems, we can still adopt effective practices to drive national development. Our predecessors did the same, as seen in movements like Dong Du and Duy Tan, or institutions such as Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc. Today, we must continue to harness the intellectual achievements of humanity. However, the most critical factor is ensuring that all actions are conducted under the leadership of the Party, the governance of the State, and with the consensus and participation of all social strata.

- What major issues should we prioritize?

In terms of implementation, I believe that to concretize the General Secretary’s directives, we must, in addition to fostering the spirit of great national solidarity, fully mobilize the intellect of scientists and intellectuals. They should be actively involved in addressing key issues based on the Party's direction and the State's policies and laws. In a modern and democratic society, responsible, rational, and scientifically grounded critical voices are indispensable.

One additional point I would like to emphasize is my strong agreement with the General Secretary’s call for combating not only corruption and negativity but also wastefulness. The General Secretary pointed out that wastefulness can sometimes cause even greater harm than corruption. Therefore, we must address this issue decisively to prevent it from negatively affecting development.

In practice, wastefulness should be understood not only as the squandering of material resources but also as the underutilization of intellectual capacity. It is crucial to allocate and utilize intellectual talent effectively to maximize the contributions of our nation’s best minds. With an appropriate mechanism that enables everyone to contribute to national development, I believe we can achieve the goals we have set.

A reenactment parade depicting the troops marching into Hanoi on the historic moment of October 10, 1954, held on October 6, 2024, in Hanoi to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital. (Photo: Doan Tung)

- What challenges do you foresee in the near future?

First, as we prepare to enter a new era, one of the significant challenges is the persistence of outdated mindsets and methods among officials. The core issue here is the need to quickly overcome stagnation, and conservatism.

For example, outdated and unsuitable systems can hinder the development of businesses, individuals, and all aspects of life. Developed countries have spent hundreds of years building robust legal frameworks, and they continue to enhance them. In contrast, Vietnam’s administrative system remains cumbersome, overlapping, and still in the process of being refined, supplemented, and built anew.

If we continue to operate with old methods and mindsets, achieving efficiency will be difficult.

Second, the people driving the new era must be those who are thoroughly and systematically trained. We cannot rely solely on experiential methods, instead, every decision must be weighed on the scales of science. Imposing outdated thinking will prevent us from fully leveraging national resources, especially intellectual talent. While the principles of the Party’s and State’s leadership must remain firm, we need mechanisms to foster the roles, positions, and contributions of intellectuals both within and beyond Vietnam.

Currently, many outstanding Vietnamese students are studying and working abroad. These individuals represent a high-quality workforce that we need to utilize effectively. There are two main approaches to this. First, we create appropriate mechanisms and policies to encourage them to return and contribute to the country. For example, in 1946, when President Ho Chi Minh visited France, he met with many intellectuals such as Tran Dai Nghia, Tran Duc Thao, and Pham Ngoc Thach, successfully persuading them to return, and serve the nation.

Second, even if they remain abroad, we can still engage with them through embassies and Vietnamese community organizations. Contributions do not necessarily require physical presence, they can come in the form of ideas, innovations, and initiatives. In my view, the key is for these individuals to feel valued, and for their contributions to be acknowledged and applied.

- A new era for the Party and the people is emerging. What are your hopes for the country’s future?

- If we follow the principles outlined by General Secretary To Lam and effectively implement the resolutions of the upcoming 14th Party Congress, ensuring alignment in perspectives, direction, and vision, I believe the nation will undergo a significant transformation in this new era.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Son. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission: OVERCOME OURSELVES The new development context has many advantages and difficulties, the aspiration to develop the country is very great. Therefore, to achieve the set goals, we need to make "extraordinary" efforts, we need to "overcome ourselves". It is necessary to clearly define and unify the perception of the role, position and importance of managing and effectively using economic resources; considering this a task of the entire political system. On that basis, we need to thoroughly grasp and organize the implementation of the Party's resolutions and conclusions on managing and effectively using resources. Managing and effectively using economic resources will help improve labor productivity, combat waste, thereby helping to successfully implement the industrialization and modernization process associated with growth model innovation, economic restructuring; protect the environment, adapt to climate change, ensure national defense and security, improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs; avoid the risk of falling behind and falling into the middle-income trap; create momentum to bring our country into a new era of development, becoming a modern industrialized country with high income in the direction of socialism.

Dr. Pham Tat Thang. Dr. Pham Tat Thang, member of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and permanent vice-chairman of the PCC's Commission for Mass Mobilisation DIVERSIFY RESOURCES Continue to improve social security policies in line with the socio-economic development process; improve and supplement specific mechanisms and policies to ensure that vulnerable groups have full access to basic social services. Improve mechanisms, policies, planning, and invest in upgrading the social security system to ensure diversity, comprehensiveness, and suitability with socio-economic development conditions and the State's ability to mobilize and balance resources. Diversify resources, promote socialization, and implement transparency in the exploitation, management, and use of resources to implement social policies and develop the social security system. Continuously build and foster political awareness and capacity to implement human rights and practice socialist democracy. Create mechanisms and policies for businesses and people to improve their material and financial potential, adapt to market mechanisms and international integration, and improve the quality of human resources.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc. Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Phuc, Vice Chairman of the Scientific Council of Central Party Agencies, former Editor-in-Chief of Communist Magazine DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS THE KEY General Secretary To Lam affirmed that digital transformation must truly be a revolution that brings the country into a new era - the era of the nation’s rise. Our country is in a new era, which is both an opportunity and a challenge on the path of development. Under the leadership of the Party, with the consensus and joint efforts of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire political system, we will definitely successfully carry out the digital transformation revolution, creating a breakthrough in the development of productive forces and perfecting production relations, bringing our country and our people to a new era, an era of progress, civilization and modernity.

Vietnamese Peacekeeper Treasures the National Flag Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Lien recalled many times she and her engineering soldiers encountered danger in South Sudan. When introducing themselves as Vietnamese and showing ...

Place Trust in General Secretary To Lam to Persist in Guiding the Nation's Development and Fostering Int'l Solidarity Spirit These are the hopes and thoughts conveyed by international friends which are partners of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, as expressed in their ...