Time for Vietnam to rise up and break through middle-income trap

Speaking at the recent 10th plenum of the Party Central Committee, Party General Secretary and President To Lam emphasised that Vietnam has gathered all necessary conditions in order set forth its strategic directions and breakthroughs which will usher the country into a new rising era, by making use of all the strengths and resources that it has accumulated over nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), along with the unity and collective efforts of the entire Party, people, and military, under the clear-sighted leadership of the Party.

The discourses on ‘a new era’ and ‘a rising era of Vietnam’ serve to affirm the views and determination of the Party and State leaders, duly inspiring citizens with a renewed commitment in this new period.

PhD. Nguyen Van Dang from the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics sheds light on the connotation of the discourses in an interview granted to VOV.

VOV: From the achievements Vietnam has recorded since embarking on the Doi Moi (Renewal) process in 1986, what do you think of the rising era that the country is pursuing? Can it be considered as the second renewal era?
PhD. Nguyen Van Dang: Well, speaking of a new era, we refer to a future period, which could span the course of several decades. It’s worth remembering that the 13th National Party Congress set forward the vision to elevate Vietnam to a high-income developed economy by 2045, while currently, we are still a member of the group of middle-income countries.

The top leader’s statement means the coming era can be viewed as a time for us to rise. To do this we must break through the middle-income trap to join the group of developed countries globally. To be recognised as a developed country, we need to raise our GDP per capita to over US$12,500 per year. Additionally, our social and cultural indicators must improve, with the Human Development Index anticipated to surpass the 0.800 mark, whereas we are currently just above 0.700.

This therefore requires the collective effort of the entire country to significantly lift our national standing to new heights - the status of a developed country in the world.

VOV: In the article “Continuing to Strongly Renew the Leadership of the Party, an Urgent Requirement of the New Revolutionary Era,” General Secretary and President To Lam reaffirms Lenin’s thought that when the situation changes, we should not look back and use yesterday’s methods. How do you view the urgent task of renewing the Party’s leadership method, particularly in terms of renewing thinking and actions as requested by the top leader?
PhD. Nguyen Van Dang: It is obvious that some methods and measures from the past have proved to be successful, but it does not mean that they will also yield the same success moving forward. Therefore, the need to renew the Party’s leadership in this new era can be seen as very urgent.

As we all know that the Party is responsible for both leadership and governance, particularly in guiding all social forces towards pooling resources for realising the 2045 vision, it can be viewed as a necessity for renewing its leadership in this new period.

For instance, we have traditionally emphasised leadership through resolutions, which in itself remains relevant. The question arises whether relying solely on resolutions will ensure success in leadership in the current context. This highlights the need for new thinking and methods alongside traditional leadership approaches, such as resolutions, exemplary behaviour, and monitoring. We must work on developing new strategies and measures specifically aimed at transforming these into driving forces for development, ultimately achieving the goal of becoming a developed economy by 2045.

VOV: ‘Continuing with strong renewal’ is a phrase emphasised by General Secretary and President To Lam. How can we perceive this phrase?
PhD. Nguyen Van Dang: The General Secretary and President emphasised the need for continued strong innovation, meaning that we must undertake comprehensive reforms, not only within the Party’s leadership, but also in the entire political system and state agencies, as well as in our thinking, policy planning, and implementation.

The leader’s directives therefore serve as a foundation for each individual and agency in which to reflect on the issues which require further innovation within their units or fields. It is important to identify bottlenecks and key areas that require thinking beyond conventional limits to address the challenges at hand, thereby contributing to the overall development of the country.

VOV: Vietnam is truly entering into a new rising era necessitating a strong innovation in the leadership method and ruling capacity of the Party to continue advancing the nation. Is this requirement urgent and critical?
PhD. Nguyen Van Dang: The General Secretary and President emphasised that the Party must innovate its leadership method while avoiding the pitfalls of overstepping or relaxing its authority. The Party exercises its leadership over the political system, while the State undertakes the tasks of the management, planning, and implementation of policies.

This issue has become increasingly relevant as we observe instances where some leaders, such as provincial Party secretaries, interfere in specific matters of agencies. In this new era, we need to reaffirm and clarify the Party’s leadership role that involves establishing visionary goals, mobilising support and resources, and inspiring all societal forces. Meanwhile, state management focuses on outlining and implementing policies, as well as addressing concrete issues.

We must strive to innovate to ensure that the Party fulfills its leadership role without encroaching upon the State’s responsibilities. The goal is to create effectiveness and efficiency in leadership and management, while always safeguarding the Party’s leadership role.

VOV: Many believe that this is a candid acknowledgment of the reality and the necessity for ongoing innovation to enhance strengths and address limitations in leadership. How can we achieve breakthroughs in terms of quality and effectiveness of the leadership?
PhD. Nguyen Van Dang: In our governance structure, we consistently believe that personnel are the root of everything. No matter how well-designed processes, institutions, or policies may be, if the quality of leadership, especially among governing officials, is weak, success will not be achieved. Therefore, human factors are the most critical element in innovating the Party’s leadership methods.

Looking ahead to the future, especially in preparation for the upcoming 14th National Party Congress, we face the challenge of selecting truly capable and reputable individuals who resonate with the people and the nation. These leaders must possess a passionate commitment to the cause of national development, going beyond the thinking or working style of ordinary civil servants to become political leaders who can guide the community in realising the 2045 leadership vision, aiming to transform Vietnam into a developed country by the mid-21st century.

VOV: To advance the Vietnamese nation into the new era of acceleration, our Party remains steadfast in its guiding values for the development process towards the goal of a prosperous people, a strong nation, and a fair, democratic, and civilised society. So how can we gather and transform that spiritual energy into a driving force for the national development goal by 2045?
PhD. Nguyen Van Dang: We have already set an ambitious goal, one that I believe the vast majority of Vietnamese people will support. The Party has publicly committed to the people to make concerted efforts over the next two decades to change the nation’s standing.

Realising the goal requires numerous factors, particularly the solidarity of all forces in society, not just political officials but also various classes, social strata, and different groups both domestically and internationally. The challenge is to transform the inherent resources and capabilities of the Vietnamese people into a driving force for development.

One of the key elements is the leadership role of management officials, especially key leaders and strategic decision-makers. They must embody a passionate commitment to national development and inspire all sectors of society with this vision. Their fervent aspiration for national progress will therefore help them to rise above personal or group interests, motivating them to further contribute to the realisation of the national development goal.

Secondly, we need a dedicated and skilled workforce of officials who are always mindful of their duty to serve the people and the nation. Additionally, we must cultivate social unity and mobilise resources towards national development rather than allowing them to become fragmented.

Thirdly, regarding international co-operation, we must continue to proactively expand our international partnerships and leverage the support of global friends to mobilise resources for the goal of transforming Vietnam into a developed country by the mid-21st century.

These are major orientations that will require significant effort and positive changes from every agency, unit, and even every individual, official, Party member, and citizen.