As many as 1,176 delegates representing more than 3.1 million Party members across the country attended the opening session of the 10^th national Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in Hanoi. 

Present at the ceremony were Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, all Politburo members of the 9^th CPV Central Committee (CPVCC) and former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Do Muoi.

In his opening speech, State President Tran Duc Luong said the congress takes place at a time when the entire Party and people have accomplished five years of implementing the resolutions of the 9^th National Party Congress and 20 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process.

Therefore, he said during the week-long sitting, the congress will review the achievements and lessons withdrawn from implementing the resolutions of the 9^th National Party Congress, the 2001-05 national socio-economic development strategy and the Renewal process, as well as draw up guidelines and orientations for national development in the next five years. They will discuss Party building work, supplements and amendments to the Party Rules, and elect a CPVCC for the new tenure. 

Five years of implementing 9^th National Party Congress resolutions

In the past five years, Mr Manh said, despite domestic and global difficulties and challenges such as weaknesses in the national economy, natural disasters and epidemics, the entire Party, army and people have made every effort to implement the resolutions of the 9^th National Party Congress and made important achievements. The national economy has overcome the recession period and secured a comparatively high growth rate year-on-year, reaching 7.5 percent annually. Progress has been made in cultural and social affairs. The combination of economic development and settlement of social issues has resulted in positive changes, particularly in hunger and poverty reduction. People’s living conditions have significantly improved. The country has maintained socio-political stability, strengthened national security and defence, and expanded external relations. The building of the law-governed socialist State has made remarkable progress in the three areas of legislation, execution and judiciary. The aggregate strength of the entire nation has been promoted, while Party building work has obtained positive results.

Mr Manh attributed the achievements to the correct leadership of the Party, consistent management of the State and flexible performances of the Government, as well as the efforts exerted by the entire Party, people and army.

However, the Party leader also pointed out the country’s shortcomings and weaknesses, including the slow pace of economic restructuring, poor quality and competitiveness of the national economy and unresolved pressing social issues. He said several weaknesses were also found in the Party building and rectification work, national security and defence, external relations, and activities of State agencies and mass organisations.    

He said there are subjective and objective reasons leading to these shortcomings and weaknesses, including the slow pace of renewal in Party thinking, a lack of unanimity on several issues, as well as on policy making and governance. He particularly pointed out weaknesses in building a consistent mechanism for the socialist-oriented market economy; making breakthroughs in human resource development; and renewing organisation and operations of the entire political system.  

He said the Party Central Committee, the Political Bureau and the Secretariat are responsible for these shortcomings and weaknesses.  

The Renewal process brings about significant achievements

Mr Manh said that with the exerted efforts made by the entire Party, people and army, the Renewal process has achieved tremendous achievements of historical significance. The country has escaped from the economic crisis. The national economy has developed gradually and firmly towards the socialist-oriented market economy. People’s living conditions have improved significantly. The political system and the national great unity bloc have been consolidated and strengthened. The country’s role and position has been raised in the international arena.

Mr Manh said awareness about socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam has been made clearer. A system of theoretical stances on Renewal, socialism and the path to socialism in the country has been established.

He said after 20 years of implementing the Renewal process, the Party and State have drawn invaluable experience and lessons regarding the leadership and management work as follow:

- First, during the Renewal process, persisting in the goal of national independence and socialism founded on Marxist-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

- Second, implementing the Renewal process comprehensively and consistently, with inherited traditions and appropriate steps.

- Third, implementing the Renewal process for the interest of the people and for the people; developing the active and creative role of the people. 

- Fourth, playing to the full strength of the country’s internal resources, while making full use of external resources, combining the strength of the nation and the era in the new situation.

- Fifth, increasing the leadership capacity and the combative strength of the Party, constantly renewing organisation and operations of the political system, building and regularly perfecting socialist democracy to ensure power belongs to the people. 

Objectives and orientations in 2006-2010

Mr Manh said that the next five years will play a decisive role in completing the national socio-economic development strategy in the first decade of the 21^st century.

Overall objectives for the next five years include increasing the leadership capacity and combative strength of the Party; developing the aggregate strength of the entire nation; comprehensively boosting the Renewal process; mobilising and making use of all resources for national industrialisation and modernisation; promoting cultural development; implementing social progress and equality; intensifying national security and defence; expanding external relations; actively integrating into global economy; ensuring political and social stability; lifting the country out of the underdeveloped state before 2010; and creating foundation to help the country become an industrial nation by 2020.

Accordingly, total gross domestic product (GDP) by 2010 will be 2.1 times higher than in 2000, with the annual GDP growth rate reaching between 7.5 and 8 percent, or beyond. The agricultural sector will make up 15-16 percent of total GDP, the industrial and construction sectors 43-44 percent, and the service sector 40-41 percent. About eight million jobs will be generated, and the unemployment rate in urban areas will be reduced to less than 5 percent. The poverty rate will drop to 10-11 percent according to the new poverty line. 

Perfecting the socialist-oriented market economy

Mr Manh said in the next five years, Vietnam should continue perfecting the socialist-oriented market economic institution and accelerate national industrialisation and modernisation associated with the development of the knowledge-based economy.

To this end, it is imperative to:

-          improve the role and management capacity of the State.

-          effectively develop and efficiently manage operations of fundamental markets such as commodities and services, labour, real estate, and science and technology in a healthy competitive environment.

-          develop multi-economic sectors and different types of production and business.
 

To speed up national industrialisation and modernisation process associated with developing the knowledge-based economy, Mr Manh stressed that it is necessary to seize opportunities from the international context and harness the advantages of the country so as to shorten the process. The knowledge-based economy should be considered an important factor of the national economy, as well as the industrialisation and modernisation process.

In addition, Vietnam should further promote the rural and agricultural industrialisation and modernisation process, and resolve other related issues. Agricultural mechanism and rural economy should be restructured towards creating highly value-added products, associated with the processing industry and market. Moreover, it is necessary to develop processes of mechanization, electrification and irrigation; apply scientific and technological advancements and bio-technology to production, improve quality, productivity and competitive capacity of products in conformity with the characteristics of each region.

Regarding the development of industry, construction and services, the Party leader said Vietnam encourages the development of hi-tech industries, manufacturing, software, and supporting industries with competitive advantages to boost exports and attract labour, coupled with establishment of open economic zones and export processing zones.

Priority should be given to attracting investment from economic groups and trans-national companies. It is urgent to attract local and foreign investment capital to implement major projects in oil and gas exploration, oil refinery and petro-chemistry, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, fundamental chemicals, fertilizers, construction materials, and construction of civil infrastructure. It is also important to make a breakthrough in service industries, especially in high quality, potential and highly competitive edge industries, bringing the growth rate of the service sector higher than GDP growth rate.

Mr Manh stressed the need to develop regional economics through proper policies to facilitate the development of each region and inter-regions. Priority should be given to developing the marine-based economy, to turn it into a power in the region, while ensuring national defense, security and international co-operation.

On the other hand, sci-tech development should keep up with global developments, focusing on key areas. 

Actively integrating into the world economy

Regarding external relations, Party leader Manh said Vietnam consistently implements the open external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, co-operation and development, as well as multilateralisation and diversification of international relations. Vietnam wants to befriend and be a reliable partner of all countries in the international community, actively participating in the regional and international co-operation process.

Tasks of the diplomatic sector are to maintain a peaceful environment, create favourable international conditions for the Renewal process, boost socio-economic development, and the industrialisation and modernisation process, build and defend the nation, while actively contributing to the common struggle of humankind for the sake of peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

Vietnam develops relations with all countries, territories and international organisations under the principles of respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of each nation, non-intervention in each other’s internal affairs, opposition to the use of force or threats of force, and deals with disputes and conflicts though peaceful negotiations.

In addition, the country will continue to consolidate and enhance relations with communist parties, workers’ parties, left-wing parties and national independence, revolutionary and progressive movements around the world.

According to Mr Manh, Vietnam should actively integrate into the world economy via a roadmap in conformity with the country’s development strategy from now till 2010 and 2020. in addition, it needs to fully implement commitments on trade, investment and other areas and make better preparations for the signing and implementation of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.  

Mr Manh also pushed for promotion of comprehensive and efficient co-operation with countries in Southeast Asia and Asia and Pacific regions, developing bilateral trustful co-operation with strategic partners, seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges and risks before Vietnam becomes a full WTO member. 

Developing democracy and the great unity bloc

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh noted that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, national great unity, based on the alliance of the working class, peasantry and intelligentsia, is the consistent strategic guideline of the Vietnamese revolution, serving as a source of strength, a key driving force and a decisive factor to ensure the sustainable victory of the cause of national construction and defence.

He said the Party considers nationality and unity of ethnic groups a strategic, key and durable part of the Vietnamese revolution. All ethnic groups under the Vietnamese roof are equal, and they unite, respect and assist each other.

In addition, he said Vietnam’s consistent policy is to respect and guarantee citizens’ rights to freedom of belief and religions, as well as unity of religious and non-religious followers. The country is determined to fight and prevent any forces, which make use of ethnicity, belief and religious issues to incite and divide ethnic groups and religions, causing harm to the country’s interests. 

Renewing the Party building work

Over the past five years, Mr Manh said, the Party has persistently embarked on and strictly implemented the essential task of Party building in the three areas: politics, ideology and organisation, with a focus on key areas, which has obtained encouraging results.

However, he said, the Party building and rectification, and criticism and self-criticism campaign in Party organisations and agencies has not met all requirements. The degradation in political ideology and virtuous character, decadent lifestyles, opportunism, conservatism, individualism, corruption, bureaucracy and waste were still serious concerns. Many Party organisations were paralysed, lacking the combative strength and leadership capacity to deal with issues that arose.

According to Mr Manh, Party building work must be a key and vital task for the Party and the revolutionary cause in the coming years. To do this, Mr Manh said, it is necessary to

-          increase the political conscience and intelligence of the Party,      

-          institutionalise and renew operations of Party organisations at the grassroots level, and increase the quality of the contingent of Party members,

-          strictly carry out the democratic regulations within the Party, increase close relations between the Party and people, and increase the quality and efficacy of the inspection work,

-          renew organisation, apparatus and personnel work.

-          renew the leadership capacity of the Party.

By persisting in the fundamental principles of the Party and Party building work, based on Marxist-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the achievements of the Renewal process in the past 20 years, the congress will also discuss supplements and amendments to the Party Rules, focusing on three major issues, including the definition of the Party. Accordingly, the Communist Party of Vietnam is the vanguard of the working class, working people and the nation. It is the faithful representative of the interest of the working class, working people and the nation.  

In his conclusion, Mr Manh called on the entire Party, people and army to seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and carry out the Renewal process comprehensively to realise the goal of a “rich people, a strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilised society”, in order to stand side by side with other countries in the world.

After that, Phan Dien, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat delivered a report reviewing the Party’s leadership in the past tenure.

According to the Congress’ Secretariat, 35 communist parties and other parties across the world sent congratulatory messages to the congress.

Earlier, delegates laid wreaths at the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and War Martyr’s Monument.