Communist Review - The 13th Party Congress has raised new perceptions and major orientations for Party building organization whereby “organizational and cadre work becomes the breakthrough, the “key” of the “key” task deciding the survival of the Party, the fate of the regime, and the rapid and sustainable growth of the country”(1).

Raising awareness on the Party building organization and strengthening the leadership, ruling and combat-ability of the Communist Party of Vietnam

In the overall task of Party building and rectification, the Party building organization was placed a particular emphasis by the 13th Congress in association with the 35-year renewal process, 30 - year implementation of the 1991 Platform for national construction in the transition to socialism and 10-year implementation of the 2011 Platform (amended), thus bridging the gap between theory and practice, between preservation and renovation, and between inheritance and development. In particular, the Political Report and Report on the Party building work and the implementation of Party’s Charter submitted to the 12th Central Committee of CPV have many important highlights, making a big step forward in awareness of the importance, goals and orientation of Party building organization and the necessity to strengthen the leadership, ruling and combat-ability of CPV in the new situation to reach the goal of rapid and sustainable development of the country.

From the goals set out in the Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee consisting of “resolutely overcoming weaknesses of cadre management; building a contingent of cadres and party members, especially leaders and managers at all levels with political steadfastness, morality, responsibility, capacity and right motivation who become good examples and always put the common interests of the nation and people first to serve the people and strengthen the people's trust in the Party”, the Political Report at the 13th Party Congress has made great strides in awareness when emphasizing the first factor in the overall goals in the coming years which is “strengthening the leadership, ruling and combat-ability of the CPV; building a pure and strong Party and political system(2). At the same time, the issue of “Strengthening the rectification of the Party and a pure and strong political system” was chosen as the first element in the theme of the 13th Party Congress.

This is a new step forward in thinking, further clarifying the way of building leadership and ruling capacity of the CPV as outlined in the Platform for national construction in the transitional period to socialism (Amended and supplemented in 2011): “The CPV is the ruling Party leading the State and society... The Party regularly improves its ruling capacity and leadership effectiveness”(3). The document of the 13th Party Congress has shown more comprehensively and deeply the importance of Party building organization in the context that the Party is the leading force to build a socialist rule of law state of the people, by the people and for the people, develop a socialist-oriented market economy and pursue global integration.

The report of the 12th Party Central Committee on summarizing the work of building the Party and implementing the Party's Charter mentioned five lessons learned in which the third lesson emphasizes: “It is vital to consider the cadre work as the “key” task of Party building since it determines the survival of the Party and the fate of the regime; officials are the root of all work, the decisive factor for the success or failure of the revolution”(4). As one of the Party leadership methods, the Party building organization must fulfill its duties in arranging the organizational structure of the political system and improving its effectiveness and efficiency, building a contingent of qualified officials and a pure and strong Party and a streamlined, efficient, effective State apparatus. In other words, fulfilling duties in Party building organization is an important contribution to raising the ruling position, affirming the leadership role and proving the correct and clear-sighted leadership of the CPV. It is also a crucial condition to reach targeted goals for the years 2025, 2030, and 2045 by the 13th Party Congress.

Key tasks of Party building organization in the new situation

After holistically assessing the Party building and rectification work during the 12th  Congress and based on the new context and tasks in the coming time, the 13th Party Congress has decided to attach special importance to the Party building and rectification in terms of politics, ideology, morality, organization, and cadres. Moreover, it has indicated 10 tasks and solutions in which there is a comprehensive orientation on all aspects of Party building organization in the new situation as follow:

Firstly, continue to renovate and perfect the organizational apparatus, improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of the political system.

During the term of the 12th Congress, the organizational apparatus of the political system was more streamlined: the number of focal units and intermediate agencies, officials, and managers, leaders have been reduced; the overlap in functions and tasks of agencies and organizations, especially public administrative agencies has been gradually eradicated; Some pilot programs in renovating organizational apparatus have initially yielded positive results. However, there are still shortcomings in restructuring the organization and streamlining staff... Therefore, the 13th Party Congress stated that: “it is essential to perfect the organizational structure of the political system, assess pilot programs..., accelerate the downsizing and employment restructuring of cadres, civil servants and public employees”(5). Due consideration should be given to the following measures:

- Regarding the organizational structure, continue to restructure the Party apparatus and the political system to be streamlined and efficient, coherent with economic reform to improve leadership capacity of the Party. Clearly define the functions, tasks, and operating mechanisms of organizations within the political system; renovate the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations. Arrange and streamline the organizational structure of central agencies and units according to roadmap; for administrative agencies at district, commune, and provincial levels, conduct reforms under overall plan initially created. Accelerate the arrangement and streamlining of public non-business units and socialize the public sector in adequate localities. Evaluate and synthesize pilot programs and replicate new and effective models; evaluate and perfect the model of party organization by industry, field, and in some specific areas.

- Regarding streamlining staff and restructuring the contingent of cadres, civil servants, and public employees, it is necessary to be persistent in implementing Resolution No.18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, of the 12th Party Central Committee on “Some issues on continuing to restructure the organizational apparatus of a streamlined, effective and efficient political system” and Resolution No.19-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, of the 12th Party Central Committee on “Continuing to renovate the organizational and management system to enhance performance of public non-business units” in order to streamline and restructure the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees by improving the quality of human resources, fostering virtuous and talented people and reforming salary policy.

Secondly, improve the leadership capacity, combat ability of the party at the grassroots level and the quality of party members.

President Ho Chi Minh has emphasized: “To lead the revolution, the Party must be strong. A strong Party is due to a good Party cell. A Party cell is good because its members are all good”(6). Deeply imbued with his teachings, during the course of building and rectifying the Party over the years, the CPV has attached great importance to building, consolidating and improving leadership capacity and combat ability of grassroots party organization and the quality of party members. The 13th Party Congress placed a particular emphasis on the following majorq tasks:

- Continue to consolidate and rearrange the grassroots Party organizations in line with the reorganization of the political system under the Party’s comprehensive leadership.  Review to improve existing regulation on functions, duties of grassroots Party organizations under the direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party at the local level.

- Enhance political courage, leadership capacity, professional skills for Party members at the grassroots level, especially Party secretaries. Holistically implement the policy by which the head of an agency or unit assumes at the same time the role of Party secretary; implement the model by which a Party secretary is concurrently the chairman of the People's Council or the president of the People's Committee when needed; the secretary of a Party cell is concurrently the head of a village, a residential group or a front work committee.

- Continue to renovate and improve the quality of Party cells under the principle of “simple in form, various and practical in content, ensuring leadership, education, combat ability and effectiveness”. Strengthen supervision, promptly and strictly punish Party cells and members that violate Party regulations. Enhance self-criticism and criticism, evaluate the performances of Party organizations and members.

 - Resolutely and persistently implement the Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the Party Central Committee, 11th and 12th tenure on Party building and rectification, promote studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style. It is the responsibility of cadres and party members to set an example, to create real changes in preventing and repelling the deterioration in political ideology, morality, lifestyle, and manifestations of “self-evolution”, “self-transformation” amongst Party members. Strengthen political and ideological education, educate revolutionary ideals for party members. Due consideration should be given to selecting good candidates to become Party members, to fostering and selecting elite people in the Youth Union and qualified workers, intellectuals and businessmen to develop a corps of future cadres for the political system in the immediate and long term. Strengthen the supervision of Party members and expel from the Party the ones who violate Party regulations.

Thirdly, focus on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level and leaders.

Being aware of the importance of cadre personnel management, the 13th Party Congress separated the issue of cadre personnel from Party organization issues by which the building of a contingent of cadres at the strategic level and the top level is given special attention. The following measures should be taken:

- Build a contingent of officials at all levels, especially those at the strategic level who are capable, moral, qualified and reputable, on a par with their duties; ensure a smooth transition between generations. Create an appropriate organizational structure, train young officials, female officials or officials from ethnic minorities.

- Review, amend, and institutionalize the principle of “Party’s direct and comprehensive leadership over personnel management in the political system”, reform administrative procedures, promote decentralization in terms of personnel management; deal with new and difficult problems such as mechanisms for identifying, selecting, attracting and fostering talented people; protect creative individuals who dare to take risks and assume responsibility for the common good; promote human resources management decentralization in appointment, dismissal, resignation, etc.

- Renovate and improve the quality of public personnel management by promoting human resources management decentralization, clearly defining the authority and duties of Party committees, party organizations, leaders. Improve the system of evaluation of cadres in conformity with criteria, ensure its transparency, continuity, multi-dimensionality; attach great importance to assessing real working performance, and uphold the responsibility of leaders.

- Well organize the implementation of regulations on power control in personnel management, fight against corruption in personnel appointment; regularly supervise to promptly handle violations of cadres, even after they have changed jobs or got retired under Party discipline, administrative rules, and law.

 - Improve the quality of staff planning and develop a coherent process from assessment, training, appointment, job rotation…The staff planning should be developed on the principle of flexibility and publicity and implemented holistically at all levels; The planning of subordinate cadres constitutes a basis for the planning of superiors and vice versa, the planning of superior rank promotes the planning of subordinates. Pay attention to officials with outstanding abilities, young talents to train and foster them.

Effectively implement regulations on staff rotation, ensure the overall, synchronous, interconnected, and regular nature; create a close connection between staff planning and personnel training, evaluation and appointment. Harmonize staff rotation and the development of local human resources to ensure an appropriate number of officials. In the rotation of cadres, comply with regulations by which some key leadership positions at provincial and district levels are not assumed by local officials and a cadre can not hold a position for more than two consecutive terms; increase staff for key areas and difficult regions.

- Continue to improve mechanisms and policies to motivate staff to perform their work. Formulate and effectively implement the National Strategy on attracting and employing talents, the National Program on training and fostering cadres; update new undertakings of the Party and policies, laws of the State, foster leadership knowledge, management, and problem-solving skills; closely and effectively combine theoretical training and challenging staff to improve their experience of working

Fourthly, attach importance to protecting officials and internal politics.

Protecting internal politics is an important task of Party building and rectification, related to the survival of the Party and the regime. It consists of the following main activities: 1- Defending the ideological foundation of the Party, Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought and the Platform, Charter, lines, and organizational principles of the Party; 2- Protecting the purity and strength of party organizations and the unity and solidarity within the Party; 3- Protecting officials and party members; 4- Protecting secrets of the Party and State; 5- Proactively preventing and stepping up the fight against anti-sabotage of hostile forces and reactionary organizations.

In the current Party building organization, the protection of internal politics requires a firm grasp of the situation; It is essential to resolutely prevent and combat the manifestations of “group interests” and acts of inciting riots; promptly investigate and verify internal political issues; strictly supervise, control and verify the eligibility of cadres and party members, especially when appointing them to a position.

Strictly grasp and effectively implement the national security strategy in the new situation and the Central Government's regulations and guidelines on the protection of internal politics. Raise awareness of party committees, organizations, and leaders; uphold the roles and responsibilities of the Party committees and organizations in the management of cadres and party members. Strengthen close coordination among relevant agencies and units in the protection of internal politics.

Fifthly, build a strong contingent of officials in charge of Party building organization.

Party building in the new situation requires a contingent of officials engaged in Party building work with “unity, loyalty, honesty, transparency, exemplary, expertise and professionalism”(7) as they play a vital role in advising the Party committees and organizations on personnel management, especially at the strategic level. On the one hand, this staff must thoroughly grasp the Party's lines and viewpoints, has strong political courage, and study hard to improve their knowledge in all aspects; regularly cultivate and improve their political, moral and lifestyle qualities and have real-world experiences. In addition, they must satisfy the general standards of the Party and the requirements of their assigned tasks. On the other hand, they need to be steadfast in belief and opinion, good at professional skills, objective, fair, transparent in work and example in life. If they do not meet these requirements, they will not be able to complete their task and will not be trusted by the political system, cadres, party members and people.

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(1) Nguyen Phu Trong: “Preparing and succeeding 13th Party Congress, bringing the country into a new stage of development”, Communist Review, No. 949, September 2020, p. 6

(2) Documents of the 13th National Congress, National Political Publishing House, 2021, vol. I, p. 111

(3) Documents of the 11th National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, pp. 88 - 89

(4) Documents of the 13th National Congress, ibid, vol. II, p. 226

(5) Documents of the 13th National Congress, ibid, vol. I, p. 185

(6) Ho Chi Minh: Complete works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, vol. 15, p. 113

(7) Documents of the 13th National Congress, ibid, vol. II, p. 245

This article was published in the Communist Review No. 973 (November 2021)