Party Central Committee's 14 plenum highlights renewed leadership

The meeting concentrated on issues related to the 14th Party Congress and Party and political system building. It also outlined specific requirements and important directions for further strengthening and innovating the Party's leadership methods in the future.

Immediately after the 13th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat promptly directed the study, dissemination, and implementation of the Congress’s resolution through innovative, systematic, scientific, and effective approaches, while swiftly addressing long-standing and complex issues to unlock resources for national development, particularly socio-economic growth.

The Party Central Committee has directed national defence, security, and foreign affairs while also focusing on the building and rectification of the Party and political systems.

Looking back on the 13th Party Congress’s tenure, the Party has maintained strategic direction; persistently built and rectified the Party; promoted institutional reforms; ensured macroeconomic stability; advanced digital and green transformation; strengthened national defence and security; and expanded foreign relations and deep integration. Many major policies have been institutionalised, while bottlenecks have been removed, and breakthrough decisions implemented.

A notable highlight in the tenure is the Party’s renewed leadership approach, clearly reflected in two major areas, streamlining organisational structures and improving the quality and standards of leaders.

The Party Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat have vigorously implemented the Party’s resolutions, notably Resolution 18 on streamlining the political apparatus, completing it five years ahead of schedule, creating a “boost” and a “turning point” in implementing the Party’s resolutions in the new circumstances, while addressing institutional obstacles, improving policies and legal frameworks, and effectively resolving long-standing limitations and weaknesses.

Three strategic breakthroughs have been effectively implemented, significantly improving people’s lives; safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; and protecting the country’s interests. These helped create a stable environment for development in the region and the world. As a result, the Party’s and the nation’s prestige and position have been increasingly enhanced in the international arena, earning the trust and high appreciation of officials, Party members, and the people.

To enhance effectiveness and efficiency, Party General Secretary To Lam ordered a focus on key priorities, including strengthening and optimising the two-tier local government model; clearly delineating authority across the three administrative levels for each sector to eliminate overlaps and avoid gaps; increasing accountability of leaders; developing shared data systems connecting citizens, land, social welfare, and businesses; among other tasks.

The Party’s coordinated directions - reflecting renewed mindset, long-term vision, and strong political determination - are further demonstrated by the Politburo’s issuance of seven resolutions since late 2024. These resolutions hold strategic significance across key national sectors and provide a foundation for the country’s robust and prosperous development in the new era.

The resolutions consistently emphasise “shifting quickly from policy issuance to implementation management,” placing the people and businesses at the centre, and using practical effectiveness as the benchmark. Each agency, organisation, and individual is responsible for turning the resolutions into daily tasks and concrete action plans, with allocated resources, timelines, measurable indicators, and mechanisms for monitoring and accountability.

Additionally, the Party’s leadership is reflected in its personnel work, particularly in selecting senior officials. The 14th meeting of the 13th Party Central Committee engaged in thorough and democratic discussions, reaching consensus on the number and candidates for the Politburo and Secretariat in the 14th tenure, underlining high standards of integrity and leadership capacity.

In addition to general criteria, the selection of personnel for the Politburo and the Secretariat for the 14th tenure must particularly consider five criteria national strategic vision and the ability to maintain the country’s autonomy; leadership and command capacity at the national level; political credibility and integrity as a model for others; ability to implement resolutions into measurable results; and sufficient resilience to withstand the pressure and workload of the 14th term and possibly following terms.