The term of the 13th National Congress (2021-2026) closed with historical milestones. Before the 14th National Congress of the Party, Vietnam News Agency interviewed Comrade Nguyen Hoa Binh, Member of the Politburo, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Government Party Committee, Standing Deputy Prime Minister about the results achieved in the term of the 13th National Congress and orientations, tasks, and key solutions to successfully implement the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Party.
The term of the XIII Congress takes place in a particularly harsh context: more difficulties and challenges, greater and harsher than opportunities and advantages. Please, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, give a general assessment of the comprehensive results that the country has achieved in this golden test fire term and what are the key factors creating those miracles?
- The term of the XIII Congress is a special term, starting with extremely difficult tests, especially for the bravery and intelligence of the Party, State and people of our country. We entered the term when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, spread, seriously affecting the world economy, the region and Vietnam; followed by supply chain breakdowns, sharp increases in world inflation and geopolitical conflicts weakening many economies around the globe.
But in difficult times, the bravery and intelligence of Vietnamese people shine even more. With the spirit of turning danger into opportunity, under the wise and comprehensive leadership of the Party, the drastic direction of the Government and the joint efforts and consensus of the entire people, we have overcome difficulties and challenges, completed socio-economic development targets and tasks and achieved comprehensive results in many fields with 10 outstanding bright spots:
First, the macroeconomy is stable and solid, with breakthrough growth, and major balances are ensured. In 2025, GDP increased impressively by 8.02%, bringing the average for the whole period to the highest level in the region (6.3%). The economic scale reached over 514 billion USD (ranked 32nd in the world), per capita income exceeded the 5,000 USD mark. Inflation was controlled (3.31%), public debt decreased to 34.4% of GDP, and budget revenue reached a record of 2.65 million billion VND (exceeding 34%), affirming the strong internal strength of the economy.
Second, successfully implementing the revolution in reorganizing the apparatus, rearranging administrative units, ensuring streamlining, efficiency, effectiveness, and efficiency. This is a special mark of the entire term of the XIII Congress, through arrangement, a new development space has been opened, organizing local government at 2 levels closer to the people, better serving the people and sharply reducing the number of administrative units, cutting intermediate levels: reducing 100% of general departments, more than 1,000 departments, about 145,000 payrolls; helping to save regular expenditures of about 39,000 billion VND/year to allocate resources for development investment and social security.
Third, perfecting institutions with a breakthrough thinking, creating development. Law-making work has strongly shifted from management thinking to creating and removing bottlenecks. During the term, the Government submitted to the National Assembly for approval a record volume of documents (178 laws, resolutions and ordinances), including key laws such as the Land Law, Housing Law, and Real Estate Business Law. At the same time, implement decentralization and thorough delegation of power in the spirit of local decision-making, local action, and local responsibility; cut and simplify nearly 3,000 business regulations, bringing Vietnam into the group of countries with a transparent, transparent, and attractive business investment environment.
Fourth, strategic infrastructure has made outstanding progress. Completing 3,345 km of highways, more than 1,700 km of coastal roads, exceeding the target set by the XIII Congress, forming the North-South backbone. Gradually completing the telecommunications network, important digital infrastructure and other economic infrastructure, preparing to start construction of high-speed railways in the next term.
Fifth, innovate the growth model, creating new driving forces for the era of rise. The economy is undergoing a strong shift in quality, from breadth to depth, growth based on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. The green economy and energy transformation have become the dominant trend with a strong commitment to Net Zero. Total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in the term reached over 184 billion USD; attracted leading technology companies in the world (such as Samsung, Amkor, NVIDIA...) to invest in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, making Vietnam gradually become an important link in the global supply chain.
Sixth, resolutely remove difficulties and obstacles, and unlock resources for the economy. Implementing the Central Government's Resolution, the Government has resolutely led and directed the handling of long-standing problems; removing legal obstacles for a series of loss-making energy and industrial projects, weak banks and thousands of real estate projects. To date, there have been 3,289 land projects with a total investment of about 1.67 million billion VND, land use scale of about 70,000 hectares unlocked, continuing to be invested, creating jobs and making practical contributions to growth.
Seventh, culture truly illuminates the path, becoming an endogenous strength and driving force for development. Good traditional cultural values, family values and standards of Vietnamese people in the new era are awakened and strongly spread. The cultural industry is formed and flourishing, Vietnamese heritage and cultural identity become world heritage, not only contributing to economic growth but also becoming a source of pride, nurturing patriotism, self-reliance and aspiration to contribute in each citizen.
Eighth, well implement social security work. Our Party and State pay special attention to social security with the spirit of not leaving anyone behind. Completed the elimination of all temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide before 5 years; the multidimensional poverty rate has decreased sharply to 1.3%. Each year, more than 1 million billion VND has been allocated to social security activities. Income and welfare have improved, and the national happiness index has increased by 37 places.
Ninth, education and health have made outstanding progress, the quality of life has been improved. The health system has developed widely, grassroots health has been strengthened. In the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, people's lives and health have been successfully protected; although Vietnam is a country that cannot produce vaccines, it has vaccinated the entire population for free. Universal health insurance has reached a coverage rate of over 95%, ensuring that all people have equal access to basic services and enjoy the fruits of development. The average life expectancy of people reaches 74.8 years old. Fundamental innovation in education, the quality of human resources has had positive changes. We have paid attention to and allocated appropriate resources to build 248 inter-level boarding schools for students in border communes to improve people's knowledge and human resource quality, contributing to strengthening national defense and security; implementing a roadmap for tuition fee exemption and reduction for preschool children and general education students.
Tenth, national defense and security are firmly consolidated, protecting the Fatherland from early and remotely; foreign affairs and international integration have achieved important and strategically meaningful achievements. We have built the army and police forces in a streamlined, compact, strong direction, heading straight towards modernity, capable of coping with all traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Political security and social order and safety are maintained. Smart handling of unusual and complex international relations, maintaining a peaceful environment for development. To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries, has Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Strategic Partnership with most major powers and key partners in the world. Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena are increasingly enhanced, affirming its role as an active and responsible member of the international community, a reliable partner, making positive contributions to peace, stability, and development of the region and the world.
There are three key factors that create these impressive achievements. First and most decisive is the wise leadership, bravery, and strategic vision of the Party, especially the drastic and close direction of the Politburo, the Secretariat, headed by the General Secretary. Second is the drastic, dynamic, creative, daring to think, daring to do, and daring to take responsibility of the Government, always sticking to reality, responding to policies flexibly, promptly, and effectively in the face of all developments and situations. And third, most important is the joint efforts, consensus, and absolute support of the people, the strength of the great national unity bloc being highly promoted in the most difficult moments.
In the process of implementing the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress, many new, unprecedented issues, exceeding forecasting capabilities, have posed extremely difficult problems. The Government has handled these issues very promptly and effectively. From that vivid and arduous reality, can the Deputy Prime Minister share the most profound lessons learned in leadership, direction, and administration?
- Doing things that have a precedent is easy, but doing things that have no precedent, things that are difficult, sensitive, and affect the interests of many people is extremely difficult. From the anti-campaign war to the revolution in organizational structure, each decision made must carefully consider the pros and cons, between the immediate and the long-term. 6 lessons can be drawn from directing and operating:
First, there must be new thinking, strategic vision, closely following reality and putting national - ethnic interests first. The unpredictable changing world context requires leaders not to think in a rut, not to be satisfied with old experiences. All decisions must originate from reality, respect reality and take reality as a measure. At the same time, there must be a long-term strategic vision, overcoming immediate local interests to move towards the sustainable development of the nation and people.
Second, there must be high determination, great effort, drastic and effective action. When there is a correct policy, it must be implemented drastically and urgently, doing as much as possible, not discussing retreating, only discussing doing. The Government must set an example by doing first, spreading the spirit of daring to think, daring to do to each locality and grassroots level. The hesitation that makes development opportunities lost is the fault of the people.
Third, always take the people as the center, the subject; all policies must aim to protect the people, care for the people, for the prosperous and happy life of the people. Our Party has no nobler goal than the goal of maintaining the independence and sovereignty of the country, constantly caring for and improving the happy life of the people. In the pandemic, people's health and lives are paramount; in storms and floods, people's safety is paramount; in economic development, eradicating temporary housing, reducing poverty, and improving people's income is the central task. Only when the people enjoy the achievements, will the Party's leadership and the Government's management be truly successful and sustainable.
Fourth, directing and operating must be thorough and specific according to the 6 clear principles: clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibilities, clear products, clear authority. Reality shows that where the head is thorough, decisive, and daring to take responsibility in the spirit of 6 clears, the work is completed and the bottleneck is cleared.
Fifth, determine the right focus and key points, not spread out, with a reasonable roadmap and priority order. In the context of limited national resources and very large investment demand, the lesson on resource allocation is extremely important, it is necessary to choose breakthroughs, projects with high spillover effects, creating motivation to focus on definitive investment.
Sixth, strengthen ideological work, create consensus among the people. Policy communication work must go one step ahead to provide official information, orient public opinion and create social consensus. When people deeply understand that all policies of the Government are for the benefit of the nation, the nation, and for the lives of the people, they are willing to share, accompany and support. Policy planning and implementation must be reasonable and reasonable, and satisfactorily resolve the legitimate and lawful rights of people and businesses.
Dear Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, before the 14th Party Congress, which is also a historical moment, bringing the country into a new era of development, to successfully implement the strategic goals set out, what strategic breakthroughs and key operating solutions will the Government prioritize in the coming period?
- Towards the 14th Congress and vision to 2030 - the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, and 2045 - the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country, the Government identifies the following 10 groups of key tasks:
First, accelerate sustainable economic development, creating a solid foundation for the new era. Focus all resources, remove all barriers to strive to achieve double-digit growth every year. Renew old growth drivers and thoroughly exploit new drivers (digital economy, green economy, circular economy), taking science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main driving forces; develop the state economy to truly play a leading role, private economic development is the most important driving force of the economy.
Second, continue to innovate the thinking of building and perfecting institutions, considering this as a breakthrough of a breakthrough. Strongly innovate the thinking of building laws to create development, liberate production resources. Continue to promote decentralization and delegation of power in the spirit of local decision-making, local action, local responsibility, central focus on creation, supervision and inspection. Immediately remove overlapping regulations, sub-licenses, and the application-grant mechanism that is hindering resources; resolutely abandon the thinking of "if you can't manage, then ban them".
Third, promote innovation in growth models, based on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. Build a comprehensive, paperless digital government. Develop a green economy, circular economy, strongly deploy the carbon credit market. Increase investment in new growth drivers such as AI, chips, semiconductors, renewable energy, nuclear energy. Modernize smart grids, strongly develop renewable energy and gas, offshore wind power, absolutely ensure national energy security, serving high growth.
Fourth, focus on investing and completing and putting into use regional and regional connectivity infrastructure projects. Focus resources to start construction of the North-South high-speed railway line. Soon complete and put into operation Long Thanh International Airport. Research and restart the nuclear power program to ensure a clean and stable energy platform for industrialization and modernization.
Fifth, developing science, technology and innovation is the top national policy. Promoting research and development (R&D) models. Building data centers, national innovation centers of regional scale. Researching specific and superior mechanisms, attracting and retaining leading technology corporations in the world to Vietnam. Promoting innovative startups throughout society; encouraging businesses to invest in developing and applying science and technology, especially new and high technology.
Sixth, breakthrough in high-quality human resources. Fundamental and comprehensive innovation of higher education and vocational education. Proactively prepare human resources to master technology in the fields of nuclear energy, high-speed railways, digital economy, international financial centers, semiconductor industry, AI in the shortest time. At the same time, implement policies to attract real talents, with superior preferential treatment to attract and retain leading scientists and Vietnamese talents abroad to contribute to the Fatherland.
Seventh, continue to streamline the apparatus and reform administrative procedures. Continue to review to reduce focal points within ministries, sectors, and localities; implement 100% digitization of dossiers and results of administrative procedure resolution; resolutely remove from the apparatus officials who harass, evade, fear responsibility, and replace them with people who dare to think and dare to do.
Eighth, consider cultural development on par with economic development, comprehensive development of Vietnamese culture and people. Effectively implement the National Target Program on Cultural Revival. Build and develop an advanced Vietnamese culture, imbued with identity, synchronous on the foundation of national value system, family value system and standards of Vietnamese people in the new era. Strongly develop the cultural industry, turning culture into indigenous strength and important economic resources.
Ninth, develop a sustainable society, ensure social security, manage and use resources effectively, protect the environment, and adapt to climate change. Implement the roadmap for tuition fee exemption for high school students and strive to exempt hospital fees at a basic level for the entire population according to the roadmap. Promote and soon complete the project of 1 million social housing apartments, so that workers have a place to settle down and work. Build a social security net covering the entire population, ensuring that no one is left behind in the country's development journey. Proactively take measures to be ready to respond to all types of natural disasters; fundamentally overcome the situation of environmental pollution, flooding, landslides...
Tenth, raising the level of foreign affairs and consolidating national defense and security. Protecting the Fatherland from early and far. At the same time, proactively and actively integrating deeply and substantively into the international community, turning international commitments into specific economic benefits. Building a sophisticated, streamlined, and strong army and police, moving straight to modernity, self-reliance, autonomy, and dualism. Maintaining a peaceful and politically stable environment for economic development, while resolutely and persistently firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Sincerely thank Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh!
