Outlining major outcomes of the session, General Secretary To Lam said that the Committee agreed on understanding and determination to carry out the summarisation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW issued by the 12th Party Central Committee on October 25, 2017, regarding the continued reform and streamlining of the political system to ensure effective and efficient operations, along with a number of guidelines for Party committees and organisations as well as agencies, enabling them to give proposals on further streamlining the political system.
Stressing the high determination in processing this work, Lam said that a report on plans for the restructuring and shuffling of the political system’s organisation must be submitted to the Party Central Committee by the first quarter of 2025.
The leader underscored that the implementation of the reform must strictly adhere to the Party’s principles, the political platform, the Party’s Charter, the Constitution, laws, and the realities. The reform efforts should aim to harmonise the relationships among Party organs, the National Assembly, the Government, the judiciary, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and other socio-political organisations, ensuring effective coordination across the system, he stated.
Besides, this process must be conducted objectively, democratically, scientifically, and thoroughly, ensuring that all reforms are implemented carefully, with respect for principles. Input from practical experiences, experts, and international practices should be taken into account to propose ways to streamline the political system, he added.
Lam clarified that agencies and organisations which have already begun streamlining should conduct further reviews with more concrete steps. He emphasised the need to eliminate intermediary structures and align the reform efforts with the broader objectives of strengthening the Party’s leadership methods, decentralising power to local authorities, fighting wastefulness, advancing digital transformation, and encouraging the socialisation of public services.
The restructuring should go hand-in-hand with ensuring that the leadership team is competent and capable of fulfilling tasks effectively. A strong focus should be placed on reforming recruitment, training, promotion, rotation, assessment, and appointment processes in order to ensure that people are placed on the basis of measurable achievements and results, stated Lam who also stressed the need to provide adequate support policies to those affected by the scheme.
In parallel, administrative reforms must be accelerated to create the most favourable conditions for citizens and businesses, which will contribute to improving the living standards of the people, he said. The restructuring of the political system and the reshaping of the workforce should also contribute to the successful realisation of socio-economic targets for 2024 and 2025 and the whole tenure, while laying a foundation for the country to enter a new era, the leader said, stressing the good preparations for the 14th National Party Congress.
The Party chief stated that the new administrative apparatus must run more effectively than its predecessor and ensure continuous operations without interruption or gaps in governance, stressing the reorganisation should not disrupt normal activities of society and the people.
He urged agencies and localities to continue studying and proposing specific streamlining measures for Party committees, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, organisations under the National Assembly (NA) and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), and other socio-political organisations. They should examine the internal structure of each agency following mergers, prepare personnel plan, as well as review and adjust the functions, duties, working relationships of the new apparatus.
Describing streamlining organisational structures as a sensitive and complicated task that directly affects individuals within each organisation, the Party chief said it requires unity, determination, courage, and personal sacrifice for the common good.
The process must be monitored carefully to identify and replicate effective practices while handling any emerging issues in a timely fashion, he stressed.
The Politburo was entrusted to oversee various party organisations, including the NA’s party delegation, the Government’s party civil affairs committee, party delegations at the VFF and political-social organisations, and Party committees in central agencies in implementing the streamlining of apparatuses in agencies and organisations under their leadership and management and in amending and issuing related legal frameworks.
The Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education must guide party committees and organisations in political and ideological work, while directing media agencies to strengthen communications efforts, creating strong unity within the Party and the entire political system, as well as public consensus regarding the policy and requirements for streamlining the organisational apparatus in the new situation.
Meanwhile, the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, in collaboration with relevant agencies, was asked to study and propose amendments to the Party’s related regulations and rules and give advice on personnel arrangements within agencies and units undergoing reorganisation.
Party General Secretary Lam also noted that at the plenary session, the Party Central Committee reached unanimity on the re-start of the nuclear power programme and the continuation of research on the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project.
He described this as a crucial step in developing national energy infrastructure to meet the country's development requirements, emphasising it must be expedited while ensuring the highest standards on safety and environmental protection.
Additionally, the Party Central Committee also agreed with the Politburo’s proposal regarding the dismissal of two members from the 13th Party Central Committee and the expulsion of three former members of the Party Central Committee from the Party for their violations.
The General Secretary stressed the need to continue with strict measures to prevent wrongdoings and negative phenomena, strictly handle any violations with no forbidden zones or exceptions, and intensify Party building work in the new situation.
Stressing the challenging and urgent tasks facing the country, he urged the Politburo, the Party Central Committee's Secretariat and the Party Central Committee to demonstrate the highest level of responsibility to the Party, State, and people so as to fulfil important missions and achieve the set targets.
