People's Democracy

Successful Eleventh Congress of CPV

From N S Arjun

in Hanoi

THE Communist Party of Vietnam has a special place in the hearts of all communists and progressive people of the world for not only defeating the barbaric imperialist aggression of United States but also successfully repulsing all colonial forces that sought to subjugate the country since the Party's inception over 80 years ago. In the 21st century, the Party is deputing all those renowned qualities on a different front – the economic front.

The Eleventh Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam that was held in Hanoi from January 12-19, 2011 has resolved to make Vietnam into a modern industrialised nation by the year 2020. And by adopting an amended and updated 'Political Program for National Construction during the period of transition to Socialism', it has also underlined its ultimate goal. It also resolved take up Party building as a key task and a decisive factor in increasing the quality of Party leadership in the following years in order to make it the vanguard and a loyal representative of the working class and the whole nation.

The main Political Report, placed in the Congress by the 10th tenure Central Committee, that had  called for “enhancing Party's leadership capacity and combativeness, promoting the nation's entire strength, comprehensively boosting the Renewal process, and creating foundations for making Vietnam a modernity-oriented industrial country by 2020” was also adopted after incorporating some amendments proposed by the delegates. The 'Report on Socio-economic characteristics of Socialism', the 'Report reviewing the leadership of the 10th Central Committee and some 'Modifications to the Party’s Statutes' were also adopted.

The eight day Congress, attended by 1377 delegates representing 3.6 million party membership,  concluded successfully in Hanoi on January 19 with the election of new leadership for the eleventh tenure of the Central Committee. It elected a 200 member new Central Committee after a full day of discussion on personnel. Of them 25 were alternate members. The Central Committee, at its first meeting on the penultimate day of the Congress, elected a 14 member Polit Bureau, among whom was a woman from Thai ethnic minority. It then elected Nguyen Phu Trong as the new General Secretary for the eleventh tenure of the Central Committee after his candidature was nominated by the Eleventh Congress. It also elected four member Secretariat and a 21-member strong Inspection Committee.

Trong, who joined the party in 1968, has been a member of the party's Central Committee since 1994 and of the Polit Bureau since 1997. He has chaired the National Assembly of Vietnam since June 2006. In the early stages, he worked as the editor-in-chief of the CPV ideological magazine, Communist Review and held many key positions within the party and the government. He completed his PhD in Political Science in erstwhile Soviet Union. Trung succeeds Nong Duc Manh who has served two terms as general secretary and is past the age limit of 67 for Polit Bureau members. Immediately after announcing of his name, Trung exchanged bouquets with the outgoing general secretary Nong Duc Manh on the stage and placed on record party's gratitude for the services rendered by the outgoing general secretary.

The details of these elections were announced in the concluding session of the Eleventh Congress that was open to select invitees, among whom included diplomats, the journalists from the 14  fraternal parties central organs invited by the CPV to cover the Congress and war veterans. Taking the podium amidst continuous applause and playing of military band, the newly elected general secretary made brief closing remarks. “The Congress held discussions in a frank and democratic manner and approved important documents which is of strategic significance to national development. The Congress demonstrated the Party’s great determination to implement its target of raising leadership capacity and combative strength as well as bringing national strength into full play and promoting the doi moi (Renewal) process”, he said. Underlining that there were great challenges and difficulties that lay ahead, he called upon the delegates to adhere to Comrade Ho Chi Minh's quotation: “learn more and do more”. The achievements and experiences gained during the earlier tenures of the Central Committee and during doi moi would guide the present tenure for the coming five years. 

Later, addressing his first press conference immediately after the conclusion of the Congress with the singing of Internationale, Nguyen Phu Trong told a battery of media persons that the Eleventh Congress was a great success because of high levels of responsibility exhibited by the entire Party members, right from the preparatory Congresses at the lower levels. He in particular underlined the fact that the Eleventh Congress had received 171 congratulatory messages from parties,  organisations and governments across the world. “This demonstrated international friends’ attention, support and encouragement for Vietnam’s doi moi (Renewal) process under the leadership of the CPV”, he said. Trong further stated that with this Congress, a new atmosphere of confidence, steadfastness and true democracy prevailed in the country. Asked about the status of democracy within the Party, he pointed out to the fact that there were several rounds of voting in election of Central Committee members by the Congress. “Moreover, seven members nominated by the outgoing CC could not win in the vote. That shows a true sense of democracy in the party”, he said.

INAUGURAL

SESSION

Earlier, the Eleventh Congress opened on January 12 at the sprawling, most modern 'National Convention Centre' (NCC) with great pomp showcasing the strength of this emerging economic entity. Apart from the 1377 delegates, all former presidents, prime ministers, general secretaries of the party, Polit Bureau members and veterans of freedom struggle and wars attended the inaugural session. The entire city of Hanoi was bedecked with Red banners of hammer and sickle and Red star proclaiming “Long live the Glorious Communist Party of Vietnam”. Portraits of Ho Chi Minh adorned the main thoroughfares. A 24-member presidium was elected to conduct the proceedings of the Congress. 

On behalf of the presidium, Polit Bureau member and President of the country, Nguyen Minh Triet delivered the inaugural address. He said that the event was being held at a very crucial moment as the the nation marked 25 years of beginning the comprehensive renewal process. “Despite domestic and global challenges, particularly the global financial crisis and consequent economic downturn, the entire party and people have strived to achieve important results that we can be proud of”, he said. Triet highlighted the success of bringing the country out of an under-developed status and giving a new lift to the country's image and people's lives. Mentioning about the upcoming challenges to the nation in the context of global economic crisis, he stressed the historic responsibility of the Eleventh Congress to the nation. He concluded by calling on the delegates to “look at the truth, speak out the truth and be seriously critical in order to review our achievements and shortcomings, and draw proper lessons”.

CPV General Secretary of the tenth tenure Central Committee, Nong Duc Manh, placed a report reviewing the results and weaknesses of the country since the implementation of the 10th Party Congress Resolution adopted five years ago. He spoke about improvement in various fields, including education and training, science and technology, economic growth and democracy promotion. The economy grew quickly at an average annual rate of 7.2 per cent and its structure shifted positively while institutions designed to help the country's market economy operate within a socialist orientation continued to be perfected.  In 2010, the country's GDP recorded a 3.4 fold rise over 2000 as calculated in real prices. After mentioning about the achievements, the general secretary pointed out some existing problems, including economic development that is not yet sustainable, low competitiveness, and the slow pace of economic restructuring.

(More about the Political Report and

Discussions in the next issue)