In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of Vietnam’s celebrations of the 80th National Day (September 2), he stressed that the Declaration of Independence delivered by President Ho Chi Minh in 1945 embodied the nation’s aspiration for independence and unwavering determination to dedicate their spirit, strength, lives, and resource to defending the country’s freedom and independence.

During the resistance war, every village became a bastion of patriotism and self-reliance. Along the Truong Son range and the Ho Chi Minh trail, young volunteers and households arranged relief operations and medical stations, ensuring food, medicine and ammunition, he said.

In the postwar period, the spirit of self-reliance drove agricultural and industrial reform. With the Doi Moi (renewal) policy launched in 1986, Vietnam eyes a socialist-oriented market economy, ensuring social equity towards development goals. Even during years of economic embargo, domestic industries such as textiles, footwear, and agriculture proved Vietnam’s capacity to draw on its intrinsic strength.

Bonilauri said that the country’s resilience was evident again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when coordinated responses under the principle of “putting the people first” prevented infections and safeguarded production continuity.

He held that Vietnam’s prestige and influence in the international arena have increased over the recent past, with diplomatic ties established with 194 nations and strategic partnerships and close cooperation spanning all major powers. As an active participant in key international institutions, Vietnam is now recognised as a responsible member of the global community, contributing to peace, stability, and development, he observed.

According to him, Vietnam’s 80-year journey has shaped up the fundamental conditions for its new stage of growth. Decades of resistance and socialist state-building have forged a deep sense of sovereignty, while raising the awareness that Vietnamese people have the right to determine their own destiny. This legacy of trust and sacrifice continues to inspire reform and innovation.

The country’s people-at-the-centre policies have demonstrated through achievements in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, he said, a healthier and better-educated population could make positive contributions to economic growth and cultural vitality.

Intrinsic strength and solid revolutionary spirit have driven a war-torn nation to an example for many developing countries, he underscored.

As challenges are on the horizon, Vietnam should promote innovation policies and scientific research to move from low-value manufacturing to green and digital solutions. Besides, due attention should be paid to climate change response to safeguard the future of vulnerable communities in the Mekong Delta, he stated.

Furthermore, urbanisation, an aging population, and regional disparities also call for reforms in welfare, pensions, lifelong education, and policies to assure that no one is left behind.

Vietnam's landmark resolution shifts mindset towards private firms: scholar

The Politburo’s Resolution 68-NQ/TW on the development of the private economic sector is a watershed document that marks a fundamental shift in the perception and mindset towards private enterprises in Vietnam, underscoring their crucial role in driving national growth.