The world in 2024 was unpredictable with many conflicts and competitions that have not ended, economic growth was slowing down, climate change was increasingly severe, environmental pollution challenged all efforts and determination. Domestically, natural disasters and severe storms and floods have caused serious consequences, especially storm No.3 (Yagi), which caused heavy losses in human lives and property in the northern provinces and cities. In that context, Vietnam has affirmed its internal strength, risen strongly, and is an impressive bright spot.
In the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII) Report of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Vietnam ranked 44 out 133 countries and economies, up two places in the GII index compared to 2023. Many other indices have increased dramatically, such as the happiness index (up 11 places), the e-Government development index (up 15 places), and the global cybersecurity and safety index (up eight places, ranking 17 out of 194 countries), showing improvements in many areas.
In 2024, the country’s GDP growth was estimated at 7%, exceeding the target set by the National Assembly (6-6.5%), putting Vietnam among the few countries with high growth in the world; inflation was below 4%; and major balances of the economy have been guaranteed. This is the premise for successfully completing the 5-year Socio-Economic Development Plan for the 2021-2025 period according to the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.
Following the relentless journey, it can be seen that under the leadership of the Party, after nearly 40 years of innovation, from being poor, backward, low-level, besieged, and embargoed, Vietnam has become a developing country with average income, deeply and widely integrated into world politics, global economy, and human civilisation.
The country has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries, built partnerships, strategic cooperation, comprehensive strategic partnerships with many major powers, undertaken many international responsibilities, and promoted an active role in important multilateral organisations and forums.
The scale of Vietnam’s economy ranks 34th in the world, increasing more than 96 times compared to 1986. People’s lives have improved significantly; the poverty rate has decreased; the Millennium Development Goals have been achieved early; and the political, economic, cultural, social, scientific-technological, and defence and security potential has been continuously enhanced.
The year 2025 opens with many major events such as the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Party, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Specifically, 2025 is the final year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, holding party congresses at all levels. Organising party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Congress is an important task that the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army are focusing on, because this congress will open a new era of development, an era of national rise.
To successfully carry out that important task, based on the urgent requirements of reality, the major policy that the entire Party, army, and people are determined to carry out and implement is to comprehensively summarise Resolution No.18-NQ/TW and arrange and perfect the organisational apparatus of an elite, streamlined, strong, efficient, valid and effective political system.
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General Secretary To Lam emphasises that streamlining the organisational apparatus of the political system is a very urgent task, and must be done; the sooner it is done, the more beneficial it is for the people and the country. |
The Party Central Committee and the Politburo have identified this as a revolution, requiring a high level of unity in perception and action throughout the Party and the entire political system. The opportunity is very close for Vietnam to continue writing its success story from its own efforts to innovate the content, perfect the organisation and apparatus of the political system, the Party’s leadership and governance methods; remove bottlenecks, perfect development institutions; and enhance the leadership, management and implementation capacity of the political system.
Regarding the implementation of the socio-economic development goals of the entire term, 2025 is identified as a year of acceleration and breakthrough, contributing to the realisation of the goal of becoming a developed country by the middle of the 21st century. Projects of unprecedented scale have been approved by the National Assembly to meet the requirements of advanced infrastructure, opening a larger dimension for the country's industrialisation and modernisation. Along with that is the promotion of digital transformation, green transformation, development of business models and methods, and modern production.
The country and people welcome spring in a new spirit, new spirit, promising new successes, but also a lot of work that cannot be delayed. Putting people at the centre, putting national and ethnic interests above all, we believe that with the tradition of solidarity, unanimity, joint efforts, unanimity, with strong, decisive, resolute, positive movements, full of inner strength and confidence, the entire political system is ready to overcome all obstacles, difficulties, and challenges towards bringing the country into a new era.
As General Secretary To Lam emphasised: This is the era of development, the era of prosperity under the leadership of the ruling Communist Party, successfully building Vietnam as a strong socialist country with rich people and democratic, fair, and civilised society on a par with the world’s powers.