People's Democracy

ON February 3, 1930, in Kow Loon near Hong Kong, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, in his capacity as representative of the Communist International, presided over a conference to merge various communist organisations, founding the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The first plenum of the Communist Party of Vietnam was convened in Hong Kong, China, from October 14-31, 1930. The plenum renamed the Communsit Party of Vietnam as the Indochinese Communist Party and elected the Central Committee with Tran Phu as general secretary.

The first congress of the Indochinese Communist Party was held from March 27-31, 1935 in Macao, China, with the participation of 13 delegates. The congress set three main tasks for the fledgling party: to consolidate and develop the party organisation; to mobilise and develop people as a force; and to lead the revolutionary movement against imperialism. The congress elected a 13-member Central Committee with Le Hong Phong as general secretary.

It appointed Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) as a party representative working with the Communist International.

The second congress was held from February 11-19, 1951 in Chiem Hoa district, Tuyen Quang province during the anti-French resistance war. The meeting drew 158 delegates and 53 alternate delegates representing 7,60,000 party members.

The congress set the main tasks for the Vietnamese revolution at that time, i e to bring the resistance war to complete victory, to gain national independence and to advance to socialism. The congress decided to rename the party as the Vietnam Workers’ Party, which would operate openly.

It elected the Central Committee with Ho Chi Minh as chairman and Truong Chinh as general secretary.

The third congress was held from September 5-10, 1960 in Hanoi during the anti-US resistance war. Present at the congress were more than 500 delegates, representing over 500,000 party members, and 20 international delegations.

The congress mapped out a path towards socialism for North Vietnam, and a strategy to liberate South Vietnam and reunify the country. Ho Chi Minh was re-elected chairman and Le Duan was elected first secretary of the Central Committee.

The fourth congress was held from December 14-20, 1976 in Hanoi with the participation of 1,000 delegates representing 1.5 million party members.

The congress heralded the complete victory of the national liberation movement, and charted a course from national reunification to socialism. It decided to rename the party as the Communist Party of Vietnam. Le Duan was elected general secretary of the Central Committee.

The fifth congress was held from March 27-31, 1982 in Hanoi with the participation of 1,000 delegates representing 1.7 million party members and 47 international delegations. The congress summed up the reality of the time and set out policies that addressed the country’s situation during its transition to socialism. Le Duan was re-elected general secretary.

Truong Chinh was elected general secretary at a special session of the Central Committee in July 1986, after Le Duan’s death.

The sixth congress was held from December 15-18, 1986 in Hanoi, with the participation of 1,130 delegates, representing 1.9 million party members, and 32 international delegations. The congress launched the doi moi (renovation) process, making a turning point in the cause of building socialism in Vietnam. Nguyen Van Linh was elected general secretary.

The seventh congress was held from June 24-27, 1991 in Hanoi, with the participation of 1,176 delegates, representing more than 2.1 million party members, and numerous international delegates. Do Muoi was elected general secretary of the Central Committee.

The congress approved a nation-building programme for the period of transition towards socialism, and laid out a blueprint for stabilising and developing the society and economy over the ensuing decade. These initiatives built on the already continuing doi moi process.

The eigth congress was held from June 28 to July 1, 1996 in Hanoi. It reviewed the first 10 years of renovation, and set the targets, orientation and tasks for the new period. The aim of the plans was to accelerate industrialisation and modernisation, so as to build Vietnam into an industrial country by 2020. Do Muoi was re-elected general secretary.

In December 1997, fourth session of the Central Committee of the eighth congress elected Le Kha Phieu as general secretary. Do Muoi, Le Duc Anh and Vo Van Kiet were appointed advisors to the Central Committee.