Recognising this trend, the Party and State have identified the development of modern productive forces closely associated with science and technology, innovation, and the national digital transformation as one of the key drivers of national development.
Developing new productive forces in the digital age is an objective requirement of the country's development process.
However, hostile forces have distorted the issue by claiming that developing new productive forces based on digital technology will lead to the degeneration of socialism, or that the application of artificial intelligence, automation, and the digital economy will widen social inequality, causing Viet Nam to deviate from the socialist goal of social equity.
These are distorted allegations that misrepresent the nature of the issue. They lack both theoretical and practical foundations and run counter to the fundamental principles of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, as well as the consistent viewpoint of the Communist Party of Viet Nam on building socialism in the new era.
First and foremost, it must be affirmed that the development of productive forces is an objective law of social development. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels pointed out that the development of human history is, in essence, the development of productive forces and the replacement of outdated relations of production with relations of production better suited to the level of development of those productive forces.
Accordingly, the building of socialism cannot be separated from the task of developing modern productive forces based on science and technology and innovation, because the superiority of socialism must first and foremost be demonstrated through higher labour productivity and a more advanced material and technical foundation than capitalism.
From the perspective of Marxist theory, the nature of a social system is determined not by technology or the level of development of productive forces but by its development objectives, the nature of its relations of production, and the interests it serves.
Digital technology, artificial intelligence, big data, and the digital economy are not inherently capitalist or socialist in nature. Rather, they are achievements of humanity that can serve different socio-political objectives depending on who owns, manages, and uses them.
Under socialism, technology is not used to maximise profits for a small group of people. Instead, it is employed to improve people's living standards, promote social progress and equity, narrow development gaps, serve the interests of the majority of the population, and become an instrument for building socialism.
Throughout the renewal process, the Party has consistently affirmed that developing new and modern productive forces is an objective requirement during the transition to socialism.
The documents of the 14th National Party Congress emphasise the need to focus on making breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, creating a foundation for the development of new and modern productive forces, thereby generating new growth drivers, improving labour productivity, and enhancing national competitiveness.
The Party has made it clear that the development of new productive forces must go hand in hand with developing human resources; promoting culture as the spiritual foundation, an endogenous strength, and a major driver of rapid and sustainable development; building a modern education system; training and effectively utilising high-quality human resources; attracting and valuing talented people; and fostering the comprehensive development of individuals with morality, intellect, civic responsibility, national consciousness, and creativity.
Viet Nam's development achievements over the past 40 years of renewal provide compelling evidence refuting the distorted claims made by hostile forces that developing new productive forces in the digital age will lead to the "degeneration" of socialism.
In Viet Nam's digital era, science and technology are not only deeply integrated into and promoting the development of every component of the productive forces but are also becoming direct productive forces, driving the development of social production and increasing labour productivity.
As a result, major achievements in digital technology and digital transformation have not only contributed to the development of productive forces and economic growth but have also enhanced the effectiveness of national governance and improved the quality of public services.
During the development of new productive forces, Viet Nam has consistently emphasised the principle of placing people at the centre, as both the driving force and the ultimate goal of development. This is the fundamental difference between the socialist orientation and the purely profit-driven logic of capitalist development.
All policies on the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation are aimed at improving the material and spiritual well-being of the people, ensuring that "no one is left behind" in the development process.
Therefore, developing new productive forces on the foundation of digital technology does not alter the nature of the political system. On the contrary, it creates the resources needed to promote sustainable poverty reduction; improve people's living standards; expand access to education, healthcare, and social security; and enhance Viet Nam's standing in the international arena.
Therefore, the claim that digital technology increases social inequality and causes Viet Nam to deviate from the socialist goal of social equity is a one-sided view that fails to reflect the true nature of the issue.
Similarly, the allegation that the development of the digital economy and digital technology will inevitably give rise to a "new bourgeois class" and a fundamental change in the regime in Viet Nam is also a mechanical equating the development of productive forces with a fundamental change in production relations and the political system.
The development of the private economic sector and large technology enterprises is an objective and inevitable outcome of the development of productive forces during the transition to socialism. It is fully consistent with the Party's policy of developing a multi-sector economy in order to mobilise all available resources for national development.
In Viet Nam, private ownership is protected by law, while all economic activities are conducted within the legal framework, under State management, and in line with the orientation of serving the interests of the nation and the people.
The State performs its regulatory role through taxation policies, social security, social insurance, health insurance, and sustainable poverty reduction programmes to ensure social progress and equity.
Accordingly, the ultimate objective of developing digital technology and the digital economy in Viet Nam is not to maximise profits for a particular group of people, but to improve people's living standards and create increasingly favourable material conditions for achieving the goals of socialism.
In the digital era, the task facing Viet Nam is to master and effectively apply the achievements of science and technology in service of the cause of building socialism.
This also represents the creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought under the new conditions, in line with the laws governing the development of the times and the development path chosen by the Party and the Vietnamese people.
