Party leader’s article contributes to affirming significance and lasting vitality of Marxism-Leninism in present day

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, many people have been concerned about the authenticity and practicality of Marxism-Leninism. With theory and practice in socialism construction in Vietnam, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s article has contributed to affirming the significance, importance and lasting vitality of Marxism-Leninism in the present day.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s article has contributed to affirming the significance, importance and lasting vitality of Marxism-Leninism in the present day. (Photo: NDO)
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s article has contributed to affirming the significance, importance and lasting vitality of Marxism-Leninism in the present day. (Photo: NDO)

1. First of all, we highly hail the timeliness and practicality of the article titled “A number of theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path towards socialism in Vietnam” by Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, which gave priority to answering five important questions: What is socialism? Why did Vietnam choose the socialist path? How to gradually build socialism in Vietnam? How significant have “Doi Moi” (Renewal) and the building of socialism been in Vietnam over the past years? And what are the issues facing this process? The article fully and frankly explained each related question.

2. Socialism has been clearly affirmed by the General Secretary as “a scientific socialism, based on Marxism - Leninism in the world today”. In the context that the world popular movement is facing threats of opportunism (social democratic ideologies with many different colours), we think that this clear standpoint is very important.

3. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, many people have been concerned about the authenticity and practicality of Marxism-Leninism. With theory and practice of socialism construction in Vietnam, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s writing has contributed to affirming the significance, importance and lasting vitality of Marxism-Leninism in the present day.

4. We strongly agree with the accurate and comprehensive assessments mentioned by the writer in his article when criticising the inability of the free market and capitalism in solving outstanding problems and crisis around the world today.

5. We especially note his emphasis on the importance of national sovereignty. "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom".

6. Next, the author rightly explained that while the Soviet Union collapsed and many socialist states cease to exist, the Communist Party of Vietnam and people “are determined to build Vietnam on the path towards socialism on the basis of Marxism- Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought”. We think this statement is very meaningful because it emphasises the importance of people's participation in building a socialist nation and we appreciate this.

7. Professor Nguyen Phu Trong has drawn special attention from the readers by stating a number of points that communist, socialist and leftist organisations in the world have been analysing and discussing deeply: “The Communist Party of Vietnam has been gradually reaching a more complete and profound understanding of socialism and the transition into socialism; and had in stages addressed simplistic ideas that we held previously such as homogenising the end goal of socialism with the task currently at hand, one-sidedly stressing production relations and equal distribution without fully realising the need to develop the productive force in the transition period, not recognising the existence of other economic sectors, putting the market economy in the same basket as capitalism, and viewing the rule-of-law state as the same as a bourgeois state…”

8. Next, the writer mentioned the “suitable and progressive production relations”. We look forward to learning about the nature of the production relations stated in this phrase.

9. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong provided additional views on the socialist-oriented market economy. We greatly admire the process of building socialism by democracy without the significant help and strength of strong communist countries (as suggested by Lenin). However, we also wish to understand more about the operation of a socialist-oriented market economy through only an ethical and politically powerful government. The author affirmed Vietnam’s economic mode is clearly different from the capitalist market economy. Therefore, we would like to know whether other economic mechanisms might be available to regulate this socialist-oriented market economy and its fundamental differences from state monopoly capitalism.

10. We agree and appreciate comrade Nguyen Phu Trong’s emphasis in his article that “certainly not ‘sacrificing’ social progress and equality in pursuit of mere economic growth”. There is a perception in the world today that people should endure hardships until the country achieves economic growth. However, in this article, we realise that we need to align the nature of growth with the interests of the people.

11. Next, in his writing, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highlighted the importance of Marxism - Leninism in building a culture on the basis of progressive and humanistic values. Many people said that Marxism-Leninism does not deal with the development of spiritual aspects of life. However, we strongly agree with his opinion.

12. The Party chief stressed the “democracy” and the fact that Vietnam has built a mechanism for social participation in political life to promote democracy, unlike democracy under capitalism - in which boundaries are determined by power and privilege.

13. The author has clearly stated the difference in nature between rule-of-law socialist State and rule-of-law bourgeois State. We think that this is a new approach to this issue and look forward to discussing further to better understand this distinction.

14. We would like to express our admiration for Vietnam’s special attention to equality and solidarity among ethnic minority groups and religions in the country.

15. Next, we acknowledge that Vietnam has maintained continuous economic growth and social development and now achieves much better development indicators than capitalist countries of the same rate in economic development around the world. We are delighted at great achievements that Vietnam has gained in the fields of education, healthcare, and information technology as well as in stability and social security.

16. We highly appreciate the efforts and determination of the Communist Party of Vietnam in bringing the country into a stage of development as today. “Our country has never before had the potential, position and prestige in the international arena as it does today”. This shows the world that Vietnam’s development has not been an easy and smooth path. However, we are sure that Vietnam would not have been able to achieve these achievements without the determination and sound, principled and foresighted decisions of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

17. In addition, the Party chief pointed out the shortcomings and limitations in the country’s development that need to be rectified immediately. We strongly agree with this perception and consider it a substantial step for self-improvement and self-correction. The determination to publicise and point out shortcomings and limitations is the foundation for the Party building and rectification. In his article, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong made the very wise commented that: “At the same time, hostile forces are trying all means to intervene, subvert, cause instability and carry out “peaceful evolution” in order to undermine socialism in Vietnam”. This was a powerful statement that outlines an invisible cancer and slow attempts to abolish socialism. We respect this statement because it showed that the Communist Party of Vietnam has recognised and seen the need of eliminating this threat in the near future.

18. Throughout the article, the writer often uses the sentence “Vietnam is in a transitional period towards socialism”. As Marxists-Leninists, we consider socialism as a transitional period from capitalism to communism. We understand that the unfinished tasks in the phase of capitalism must be taken over and completed in the phase of socialism and in the transitional period. We would like to learn more about the concept of “transitional period” outlined here.

19. We also hope that the Communist Party of Vietnam will continue to share with socialist countries, communist parties, leftists and other socialist organisations and movements to contribute to international socialist movement.

20. We clearly understand that as a responsible ruling party, the Communist Party of Vietnam has taken a very prudent and wise course in building socialism. “Both theory and praxis have shown that building socialism means creating a qualitatively new form of society, which is by no means a simple or easy task. This is a grand and innovative endeavour, full of challenges and adversities. It is a self-driven, continuous, long-term and goal-oriented cause that cannot be rushed.”. We affirm that this stance of the Communist Party of Vietnam will serve the path of building a socialist state in a sound and long-term manner.

Finally, we are very honoured and proud to share our views and sympathies with the Communist Party of Vietnam, one of the most experienced revolutionary ruling parties. We found this entire article to be a focused, well-structured, informative and comprehensive document. All of our comments in this review are well-intentioned, and we hope they will be received sympathetically. We wish to discuss further some issues we have raised. We are looking forward to further strengthening the relationship between the two parties.