Communist Review - In his article on “Good preparation and organization of the 13th national Congress of the CPV to bring the country into a new stage of development”, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: “It is necessary to creating a fundamental shift of the economy to a growth model based on the effective use of resources, scientific and technological progress and innovation, etc. It is indispensable to building and promoting cultural values ​​and the power of the Vietnamese people, building and perfecting the national value system, the cultural value system and human standards in association with promoting aspirations for development and enhancing strengths of Vietnamese people in the new era⁽¹⁾.

Many new points and spotlights

1- The draft documents to be submitted to the 13^th national Congress have many new points. Stemming from the urgent objective needs and the reality of the country and the world with different opportunities and challenges, several new theoretical and practical questions are posed, which requires Vietnam to rise strongly and to innovate more synchronously and more comprehensively at a higher level. These new points come from Vietnam's actual ability after nearly 35 years of renovation with great achievements of historical significance and valuable lessons learned from the process of working and creativity of the whole country. They also stem from the promotion of foreign affairs and successful international integration so that Vietnam can be on a par with other countries, predict development trends and access to universal values ​​of humanity. These factors create a solid foundation for Vietnam to speed up its sustainable development process at a new high level. Thus, the new points of the Draft Documents of the 13^th national Congress reflect the compatibility between the country's objective development needs in the new context and the innovation capacity of the Party and the Vietnamese people.

These points are not only new in terms of words but also in approach, overarching vision, guiding ideology, set goals and development orientations of the country on the basis of achievements obtained during the innovation process over the past 30 years of implementing the Platform on  National Construction in the Transitional Period to Socialism (the 1991 Platform), especially the 10 years of implementing the Platform on National Construction in the Transitional Period to Socialism (amended in 2011) and the 2011-2020 socio-economic development strategy, 5 years of execution of the Resolution of the 12^th National Congress of the CPV and through analysis and prediction of the world development trends to develop their own theoretical system.

2- Since the country carried out the Doi Moi, each Party Congress highlights some specific questions that make a strong impression on the awareness of cadres, party members and people, create consensus and trust within the Party and the  entire society. The 6^th  national Congress of the CPV highlighted innovation; the 7^th  Congress set out the Platform on the development of the country in the transitional period to socialism; the 8^th  National Congress focused on accelerating industrialization and modernization; the 9^th  Congress  defined the socialist-oriented market economy as the general economic model in the transition to socialism; the 10^th Congress  summarized the achievements of 20 years of renovation, set the goal of bringing the country out of underdevelopment; the 11^th Congress supplemented and developed the Platform on national development in the transition to socialism and decided to renew the growth model, restructure the national economy and integrate into the world; the 12^th National Congress prioritized the comprehensive consolidation of CPV in terms of politics, ideology, organization and morality, the reorganization of a healthy and efficient political system and improvement of national economy’s quality and competitiveness. So what does the 13^th Congress highlight?

The draft documents submitted to the 13^th national Congress spotlight certain questions, in which two new factors have been mentioned and emphasized many times in the Congress's topics, guiding views, overall goals, development orientation, key tasks or strategic breakthroughs. These are respectively the aspiration to build a prosperous and happy country with the goal of becoming a developed, socialist-oriented country by the middle of the 21st century and the innovation. They are spotlighted in the Draft Documents of the 13^th National Congress, reflecting the Party's new vision about the endogenous strength and ways to develop the country in the new context.

Aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country is an endogenous resource and a potential energy to create the nation’s great strength in the new era

1- Aspiration, in a universal sense, is a mental state reflecting “a desire and demand with a powerful urge”⁽²⁾. Keith D. Harrell - a famous American speaker has deeply analyzed in many of his works⁽³⁾ the meaning of aspiration as a positive form of human attitude towards life. From the philosophy of “attitude is everything for success”, Keith D. Harrell analyzed the significant role of aspiration. According to him, aspiration is the driving force with boundless strength in every human being, which is expressed through non-stop activities so that people never give up their dreams and never succumb to challenges.

A nation’s aspiration for development is the resonance of aspirations of the whole community and  people, which creates a great source of endogenous energy and incomparable strength. That is the core driving force of a nation on the path to the future⁽⁴⁾. For Vietnam, a country with a tradition of solidarity, civilization, heroism, aspiration to develop the country becomes really an extraordinary endogenous force, performing miracles during the process of thousands of years of building and defending the nation.

2- In the Middle Ages, Vietnam conquered all enemies in invasion wars of the Northern feudalism, maintained its national independence and created a brilliant Dai Viet civilization not mainly by its military power or physical strength but by the unbelievable power stemming from the aspiration for national sovereignty: “The mountains and rivers that carved the southern empire, dwelled by the Southern Emperor” (Ly Thuong Kiet), the desire for a Dai Viet nation that “had long-standing culture in which mountains, rivers and border have been demarcated, the customs of the North and South were also different” (Nguyen Trai) and aspiration for “a prosperous country that lasts forever” (Tran Nhan Tong).

During the Ho Chi Minh era, under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people have broken the shackles of oppression and exploitation of imperialism and feudalism, built and defended the revolutionary State, defeated powerful invaders, protected the country’s independence, sovereignty and integrity, liberated the country and built the socialism. Those outstandingly glorious feats resulted from the invincible strength of patriotism and revolutionary heroism, stemming from the intense aspiration generalized by President Ho Chi Minh into truth: "We would rather sacrifice everything than lose the country and become enslaved”⁽⁵⁾; “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”⁽⁶⁾; “The Vietnam country is one unified entity, the Vietnamese people stay also united. Rivers may dry up, mountains may erode, but that truth never changes”⁽⁷⁾.

After reunification, Vietnam carried out the construction of socialism nationwide. With the burning desire to overcome poverty and backwardness, the Vietnamese people unanimously believe in the CPV to implement the cause of renovation. The desire for prosperity and happiness has turned into a great strength to help the country surmount the severe socio-economic crisis happened in the 80s and early 90s of the twentieth century, overcome the global political shock when socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe collapsed and harsh challenges caused by the regional economic and financial crisis in 1997 - 1998 and the global economic - financial crisis in the years of 2008 - 2009. The country has escaped from poverty and underdevelopment to become a developing country with middle income,  successfully controlled the COVID-19 pandemic, minimized the losses from epidemic, stabilized the socio-economy life, restored the economy and maintained growth rate. The nation's desire for development is vividly reflected through the desire to win of the Vietnam national under -23 football team in 2018 and 2019 in the regional and continental championships. This is a team of professionally trained players, strictly and reasonably organized and led under a reasonable strategy. By its deep desire to win, Vietnam has performing a miracle during the championship of U23 team, burning the desire of the whole nation. This is an evidence to prove the miraculous power of the nation's aspiration.

3- During the third decade of the 21st century, in its Draft Documents submitted to the 13^th National Congress, the CPV advocates arousing the aspiration for a prosperous and happy Vietnam to a new height.

The aspiration for a prosperous and happy country is not an arbitrary illusion but it is rooted from an unmovable faith in the future, potential, position and prestige of the country after nearly 35 years of Doi Moi, from the bravery and  practical experiences that the Vietnamese Party and people have accumulated over the past few decades. It is not a simple aspiration but a long term one built on the basis of analysis and careful prediction of opportunities and advantages as well as external difficulties and challenges and weaknesses, internal obstacles to overcome and adapt with the motto “firm in objectives, flexible in strategies and tactics”, to take advantage of opportunities, proactively respond to risks, turn risks into opportunities.

This aspiration is not only a dream but a real strong desire formed and built on the basis of a goal-oriented roadmap with well-planned steps. Inheriting and perfecting the goals determined from previous Party congresses, based on the country's actual conditions and capabilities and the development trend of the world, the Draft Documents submitted to the 13^th National Congress have set specific goals: by 2025, Vietnam will be a developing country with modern industry, surpass the low-middle income level; by 2030, it will become a developing country with modern industry and high middle income; by 2045, Vietnam will be classified as a developed and high-income country.

This aspiration is associated with the process of building and promoting the national value system, the cultural values, social norms ​​and human strength of the Vietnamese in the new period⁽⁸⁾. It is also associated with the synchronous promotion of the development driving force system: socialist democracy, great national unity, the power of the political system, high-quality human resources, talents, science, technology and innovation...⁽⁹⁾.

Innovation - a powerful driving force for comprehensive and synchronous reform

1- Truth is concrete, revolution is creativity. Reform is a process of creating revolutionary changes. Innovation and creativity are two closely related aspects in a development process. In innovation, there is creativity and creativity is associated with innovation. The Doi Moi initiated and launched by the CPV since 1986 is a great creative work of the entire Party and people of Vietnam. It is a continuous process of creativity to eliminate backwardness, build a completely new model in order to create both new forces of production and new relations of production, new economic foundation and superstructure, new material life and spiritual life⁽¹⁰⁾.

The cause of Doi Moi resulted in innovation process of the whole Party, army and people in all fields of national life, in all areas and aspects of different levels suitable to the conditions and level of socio-economic development in each period. Innovation starts from summarizing practices, drawing on successful and unsuccessful experiences to find out new methods. The 6^th Congress of the CPV initiated the Doi Moi from its profound lessons drawn from the previous years of Doi Moi and from the practice of new and creative models of the CPV and the Vietnamese people. During the period of Vietnam’s accelerated industrialization and modernization, creativity made a step forward. Scientific and technological advances are applied to management, production and business, creating development across fields and regions. The level of creativity in this period was higher. The country's great and historically significant achievements over the past 35 years have been associated with the enduring innovation and creativity process of the entire Party and people. However, due to the underdeveloped science, technology and socio-economic life, the level of creativity of Vietnam is too low to create breakthroughs.

2- Today, the world is entering a new era. The new technological revolution called the Fourth Industrial Revolution is going on a large scale with an unprecedented speed, creating technological breakthroughs, especially in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, internet of things, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, etc. Breakthroughs from the interaction of science technology are creating a smart and efficient world through digitization and automation. The fourth industrial revolution has a huge impact on all countries, creating both opportunities and challenges in management, national defense, security, production, business, environment, social life and human being⁽¹¹⁾.

All countries have focused on developing and implementing strategies to take advantage of achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and respond to challenges - a factor that determines if a country could go forward or move backwards. Innovation is a new thinking in the development strategy of most countries and has become a global tool, representing a new level of creativity for a deeper and more effective innovation through application of scientific and technological advances to create new values ​​in socio-economic development in general and in products and goods in particular.  Developing the national innovation system and raising the innovation index are prioritized by countries and creative communities around the world.

3- Having an acute mind, the Party and State of Vietnam have led and directed over the years all branches and sectors to promote the application of science, technology and innovation, improve capacity in technology and actively participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In particular, on September 27, 2019, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW on “a number of policies on the nation's proactive involvement in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. The Resolution No. 4 emphasized that "Active engagement in the Fourth Industrial Revolution is an indispensable and objective requirement, an urgent and also long term strategy of particular importance for both political system and the whole society. This is considered as a breakthrough solution. It is necessary to have appropriate steps and roadmap to create opportunities for Vietnam to make socio-economic progress. “Industry 4.0 requires renewing the mind in economic management, social management and institution adaptation. An open, creative and practical approach is needed through piloting new methods and creating all favorable conditions to encourage innovation”⁽¹²⁾.

The acute mind and spirit of Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW of the Politburo were affirmed and enhanced in the Draft Documents submitted to the 13^th National Congress. Innovation can be seen as a spotlight of the Congress.

4- It is indispensable to have a correct understanding of innovation so that awareness and action unite among the whole Party and society.

With the philosophy that nothing is impossible, innovation is an important determinant of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, reflecting the new thinking and development methods that become universal for all mankind. Vietnam's international integration is becoming more and more direct and extensive. Therefore, we need to approach and acquire elite culture of humanity, new intellectual values and successful experiences of the world in order to move forward together. Moreover, innovation is an evident trend at a new level after the reform process of the Vietnamese Party and people over the past three decades. It is the driving force to accelerate the comprehensive and synchronous renovation to meet the requirements of national construction in the new era. President Ho Chi Minh is the embodiment of innovation and creativity. During his lifetime, he advised: The world is changing day by day, the society is developing gradually, the people are  progressing towards more well-being  so cadres and party members must change their mind and their action⁽¹³⁾.  

Innovation must be carried out simultaneously, synchronously in both thinking and action. It is crucial to “renovate thinking and action, especially economic thinking, working style, organizational structure and human resources” ⁽¹⁴⁾.

The renovation in Vietnam started from the renewal of thinking of the CPV, especially economic thinking by respecting the rules. In today's world, there are many new theoretical and practical problems, which require the Party to continue deeply renewing thinking and increasing intellectual capacity to lead the country to catch up with the times. President Ho Chi Minh set a great example of innovative thinking. He had an acute mind with historical evolutions, actively took advantage of opportunities, upheld principles and dared to innovate. He combined theory with practice (15). An innovative thinking requires a good control of the relationship between "preservation and innovation, creative application" through the application of the dialectical method of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought. Preservation must be associated with creativity and creativity must be based on preservation in accordance with reality and demands of the country. Inflexible preservation leads to dogmatism, rigidity, conservatism, stagnation. However, if we do not have the firm position, it is easy to fall into revisionism and disorientation⁽¹⁶⁾.

In practice, innovation must be comprehensively implemented in all fields with many synchronous and concentrated solutions and careful roadmap and steps which are appropriate to the country’s existing conditions. Stop being impatient to become risky. Besides, we should not be indifferent, hesitant, afraid of risk and possible failure so that we can miss opportunities. It is compulsory to focus on building a favorable institutional environment, developing high-quality human resources, promoting research and science and technology transfer and applications, enhancing ICT infrastructure… to create the essential prerequisites for successful innovation implementation. Priority should be given to  digital technology development, digital transformation in the fields of economy, society, administration, etc to gradually form a digital economy, digital society and digital government, creating new values ​​and new power for the country. A rational process of innovation results in its effectiveness in serving the country and the people according to Ho Chi Minh's truth: "Truth is what benefits the country and the people. What is adverse to the interests of the nation and the people is not the truth”⁽¹⁷⁾.

Innovation is the cause of the entire Party and people in which cadres and party members, especially strategic-level cadres, heads of Party committees and authorities at all levels must take the lead and set a good example and dare to innovate for common cause. Intellectuals and entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in start-ups and business innovation. They encourage and promote the role of the people and their great creativity, thereby forming the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Vietnam.

With the aspiration to build a prosperous and happy Vietnam through innovation process, Vietnam will definitely “advance to victory to stand shoulder to shoulder with the powers of the five continents”⁽¹⁸⁾ in the 21st century as the wish of the great President Ho Chi Minh and the burning desire of the entire Vietnamese nation.

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(1) Nguyen Phu Trong, “Good preparation and organization of the 13^th national Congress to bring the country into a new stage of development”, Communist Review, No. 949 (9-2020), pp. 10 – 11

(2) Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences: Vietnamese Dictionary, Da Nang Publishing House, 2006, p. 493

(3) Keith D. Harrell, An Attitude of Gratitude, Publishing House of Ho Chi Minh City, 2015; 10 Life-Changing Steps to Turning Attitude into Action, Publishing House of Ho Chi Minh City, 2016, vol. 2, 3

(4) See: Vu Minh Khuong: “Vietnam by 2045: Aspirational vision and historical mission”, Vietnam Electronic Science & Technology Review, January 17, 2020; “Innovation aspirations for development”, baodauthau.vn, February 12, 2018

(5) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Volume, Publishing House of National Politics Truth, Hanoi, 2011, vol. 4, p. 534

(6) Ho Chi Minh: Complete volume, ibid, vol. 15, p. 131(7) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Volume, ibid, vol. 4, p. 280

(8) See: Nguyen Phu Trong: “Good preparation and organization of the 13^th national Congress to bring the country into a new stage of development”, ibid, p. 11

(9) See: Communist Party of Vietnam: Draft documents submitted to the 13^th Party Congress (documents used in Party congress at district, provincial level and equivalent level), April 2020

(10) See: Complete documents of CPV, Publishing House of National politics, Hanoi, 2004, vol. 7, p. 504 - 505

(11) See: Nguyen Thang: The fourth industrial revolution: Some characteristics, impacts and policy implications for Vietnam, website on economic diplomacy, http://ngkt.mofa.gov.vn/cmcn4-mot- so-dac-trung-tac-dong-va-ham-y-chinh-sach-cho-viet-nam/, December 13, 2016

(12) Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW, dated September 27, 2019, of the Politburo, “A number of policies on the nation's proactive involvement in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”

(13) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Volume, ibid, vol. 8, p. 55

(14) See: Truong Chinh: Innovation is the urgent requirement of the country and the era, Publishing House of Truth, Hanoi, 1987, p. 66

(15) See: Pham Van Dong: Ho Chi Minh - elite culture and national mettle, Publishing House Of National politics, Hanoi, 2009, p. 219

(16) See: Nguyen Phu Trong: “Good preparation and organization of the 13^th national Congress to bring the country into a new stage of development”, ibid, p. 8

(17) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Volume, ibid, vol. 10, p. 378

(18) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Volume, ibid, vol. 4, p. 35

This article was published in the Communist Review No.  953 (November-2020)