Unify thinking and actions to achieve double-digit growth

Redefining growth

Regarding the "double-digit" economic growth target, this is an objective requirement from the country's development requirements in the new period and the aspirations of the whole nation to rise up. We do not accept low growth. We must persistently implement the goal of high, sustainable, and substantial economic growth," General Secretary To Lam (now General Secretary and President To Lam) concluded at the 2nd Plenum of the 14th Central Committee on March 25, 2026.

The General Secretary emphasized that the principle of growth must be substantive. That is, not trading quality and sustainability for a simple growth rate. Economic growth rate must go hand in hand with growth quality based on increasing the productivity of aggregate factors, improving product quality, national competitiveness and substantive added value. Each percentage of GDP growth must contain a higher content of knowledge and added value.

Along with the principle of "substantial growth", the core principles for double-digit growth emphasized by General Secretary To Lam include: Persistently achieving the principle of macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major balances; Effectively utilizing all available resources, focusing on prioritizing key projects and promoting public-private partnerships, to increase investment efficiency and enhance national competitiveness; High economic growth must ensure serving the interests, improving the material and spiritual life of the people and social justice.

General Secretary To Lam's speech shows a shift in development thinking. Growth is not only expressed in simple speed, but it is a problem of national governance. Where the goal of double-digit growth must be placed in parallel with sustainable and substantive requirements, ensuring growth achievements serve the interests of the people, associated with social justice.

Analyzing the growth principles of the General Secretary and President, Dr. Nguyen Si Dung - former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Office, said that for many years, we have often discussed the "driver of growth", but rarely asked deep enough questions about the "foundation of growth". This speech suggests a different perspective: Politics - ideology, institutions and governance are not outside of growth, but are conditions for growth to take place sustainably and with quality. To go fast without getting lost, first of all, there must be a solid enough support.

Also according to Dr. Nguyen Si Dung, the principles of growth can be seen as a redefinition or expansion of the concept of high and sustainable growth.

Preventing achievement disease, "equalizing" subjective will

Analyzing in more depth the requirement "To persistently implement the goal of high, sustainable, and substantive economic growth" of General Secretary To Lam, Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien - Deputy Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee emphasized two important groups of messages that the General Secretary wants to convey.

The first is to persistently grow at a high level, not accepting low growth. This stems from Vietnam's determination to aim to become a high-income developed country by 2045.

With the current average GDP per capita of more than 5,000 USD to reach the 2045 standard from income from 21,000 - 22,000 USD, it is clear that it is necessary to set an average growth target of 8% in the period 2026 - 2045. Or the period 2026 - 2030 must grow by over 10%, the period 2031 - 2045 will grow by about 7.5%. Thus, we are forced to set the challenge of a high growth target," Mr. Hien analyzed.

The second message is that growth must be substantive, sustainable and not trade off future consequences. Substantive growth must be growth originating from the actual capacity and efficiency of the economy, based on productivity, competition, and added value, not based on short-term factors. Avoid growth leaving macroeconomic instability as well as chasing short-term growth to leave future consequences.

Growth must be done in such a way as to build growth foundations in the long term, rather than eliminate growth in the long term. This means using and exploiting resources reasonably as well as mobilizing reasonable resources to maintain growth in the long term," said the Deputy Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee.

The requirement "to persistently implement the goal of high, sustainable, and substantial economic growth" also helps avoid growth chasing achievements. Because if you chase achievements, it can lead to growth at all costs as well as spreading investment for short-term benefits to promote and beautify growth figures without paying attention to growth quality. This can lead to many consequences such as distortions in mobilization and allocation of resources, focusing too much on growth momentum from expanding credit supply.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien said that the General Secretary's direction at the 2nd Plenum of the 14th Central Committee will bring changes in economic policy planning thinking. In which, the thinking will shift not only to identify growth figures but also to pay attention to growth quality. Here, high growth, quality growth and substantial growth.

This change in thinking will lead to the identification of orientations and strategies for mobilizing and using resources in economic development. Components in the economy must ensure harmony between high growth goals but improved growth quality, must be sustainable," Mr. Hien said. The next change in thinking related to public investment is how to invest so as not to spread out, ensuring economic accounting in the overall balance of the allocation and use of resources in the economy. If public investment only cares about short-term goals, it will forget about the goal of truly quality growth in the long term.

Finally, there is a change in thinking about governance implementation. To achieve substantial growth targets at a continuous but sustainable high level, governance implementation must be synchronized in all sectors and levels. The determination of targets and growth targets cannot be "uniform" and subjective in all sectors and levels at 10%, but must be based on capacity assessment as well as requirements set in the coming time.

Gdp growth target above 10%/year is a development imperative

In his inaugural speech, Politburo Member, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized that the goal of average GDP growth of over 10%/year in the period 2026-2031 is a development order to realize the country's strategic goals.

The Government identifies the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation as the top important breakthrough, the main driving force for rapidly developing modern production forces, improving productivity, competitiveness, strategic autonomy, creating new growth momentum; developing synchronous and modern infrastructure; promoting green transformation and proactively adapting to climate change.

Promoting the State economy to play a leading role; the private economy to become the most important driving force; ensuring that all localities, businesses and people have the opportunity to contribute, contribute and enjoy fair benefits from development.

The Government determines that investing in people is investing in the most sustainable future; allocating appropriate resources to fundamentally innovate education and training, develop high-quality human resources and value talents. At the same time, improving the capacity of the public health system, taking care of people's health right from the grassroots level, ensuring that all people have access to quality health services.

Effectively implement social security policies, care for people with meritorious services and vulnerable groups, ensuring that no one is left behind. Build and develop culture to truly become a solid foundation, the internal strength of the nation; affirm the identity and new position of Vietnamese culture worthy of a developed country with a long-standing cultural tradition. Strengthen national defense and security; build a solid all-people national defense posture associated with people's security. Consistently implement an independent and self-reliant foreign policy; promote economic diplomacy, technology diplomacy, affirm the identity and new position of Vietnam in the international arena.

2026 is the first year of implementing the socio-economic development plan for the period 2026 - 2030, the tasks from now until the end of the year are very heavy but of extremely important significance, creating momentum for development in the following years. The Government, the Prime Minister, ministries, branches, and localities will continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, joining hands, unity, innovation, not backing down before difficulties and challenges to successfully complete the set goals, building a strong, prosperous, civilized, and happy Vietnam" - Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized at the First Session of the 16th National Assembly. The Prime Minister emphasized the key tasks from now until the end of 2026, unifying thinking, awareness, aspirations and actions to achieve the goal of double-digit economic growth.