Communist Review - Throughout its development history and the process of leading the revolution, the Communist Party of Vietnam has consistently adhered to the principle of "taking the people as the root," defining the revolution as the cause of the people, by the people, and for the people. Resolution 43-NQ/TW of the 8th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, dated November 24, 2023, on "Continuing to promote the tradition and strength of great national unity to make our country more prosperous and happy" emphasized that "The growing demands of the cause of national construction and defense, including making our country a developed, high-income nation by 2045, require the efforts to promote and maximize the tradition and strength of great national unity."

Theoretical and practical foundation for promoting the people’s strength in building and firmly safeguarding the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Thoroughly understanding Marxism-Leninism and inheriting the lessons on the role of the masses in the history of national construction and defense, the Communist Party of Vietnam, led by President Ho Chi Minh, has consistently affirmed that the people are the subject of the revolution and possess infinite creativity and great strength. President Ho pointed out: “In the sky, nothing is more precious than the people. In the world, nothing is stronger than the united force of the people,”⁽¹⁾  “with the power of the people, all tasks can be fulfilled, no matter how heavy or difficult they are. Without the people, nothing can be accomplished. The people can solve many problems simply, quickly, and thoroughly, in ways that the most talented individuals and large organizations cannot even conceive,”⁽²⁾ and “The unity of our compatriots has formed a bronze wall around the homeland. No matter how cruel and cunning the enemy may be, they will surely fail when confronting this wall.”⁽³⁾

According to President Ho Chi Minh, the term "people" has a very broad meaning, encompassing all patriotic Vietnamese citizens — a large and powerful force. The strength of the people is the strength of the great national unity bloc. This is the material and spiritual strength, crystalized from the power of each individual, ethnicity, religion, class, and social stratum. The people are large in number but they will be unable to create strength if each person stands alone. Only when they are enlightened and united in a bloc of cohesive will and action can they form great power. Therefore, building and constantly consolidating and strengthening the great national unity bloc is one of the most important strategies to harness the tremendous power of the people.

The cause of national liberation, national reunification, and the building of socialism are imperative, unprecedented and immensely challenging tasks, which require significant sacrifices and contributions from the entire nation. This long-term, difficult, and arduous cause can only succeed if the Party unites, gathers, and makes full use of the strength of the people of all strata, creating a formidable force with the strength of "millions as one." Gathering, uniting, and harnessing the strength of the people requires appropriate methods and forms, on the basis of harmonizing the practical interests of the people, with the Party serving as the nucleus in this mission.

Practical experience in the struggle for national liberation and reunification has demonstrated that, thanks to the correct revolutionary direction, whose ultimate goals are national independence, socialism, and people’s freedom and happiness, and thanks to the cadres and Party members, who are truly servants of the people and dedicated and willing to sacrifice for the people, and have won the people's trust, the Communist Party of Vietnam has been able to gather, unite, and fully tap the great strength of the people physically, materially, and emotionally, to achieve the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, the "resounding Dien Bien Phu victory that shook the world" in 1954, and the great victory of the Spring of 1975, which completely liberated the South and reunified the country. This is the strength of the great national unity bloc, with millions of people united as one, resolutely and unanimously rising up to liberate the nation from the oppression and exploitation of colonial and feudal regimes. The people's active engagement, regardless of the sacrifices and hardships they endure, and their unwavering resistance to any invading and oppressive forces, stems from the precious tradition forged over thousands of years of national construction and defense. In modern times, it has become the people's great trust in the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.

To bring the people’s strength into full play in the cause of national construction and defense, the Party identifies the goal of "a wealthy people, and a strong, democratic, equitable, and civilized country" as the common ground; ensuring social justice and equality; taking care of the practical, legitimate, and lawful interests of all classes and strata of people; and harmoniously combining personal interests, collective interests, and the interests of the entire society. All these are considered crucial factors in consolidating and developing the great national unity bloc. At the same time, the Party leads the development of a socialist-oriented market economy with various forms of ownership, multiple economic sectors, different business organizations, and appropriate, effective distribution forms. It advocates building a law-governed socialist State of the people, by the people, and for the people. All state power belongs to the people with the alliance between workers, farmers, and intellectuals serving as the foundation under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Efforts have been made to promote the people's right to mastery across the board and ensure the practical and effective exercise of democracy at every level, in every sector, and across all aspects of social life. Attention has been paid to building an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, which develops comprehensively with unity in diversity; embraces humanistic, democratic, and progressive values; and deeply integrates into all aspects of social life, providing a solid spiritual foundation and an important internal strength for national development. Policies encouraging equality, solidarity, mutual respect, and mutual assistance among ethnic groups have been implemented, creating favorable conditions for all ethnicities to develop and contribute to the overall development of the Vietnamese ethnic community. Ethnic discrimination and division are strongly condemned and resolutely dealt with. Freedom of belief and religion and non-religion and non-belief is respected and guaranteed according to the law. Violations of law, freedom, democracy, freedom of belief and religion, as well as the abuse of "democracy" and "belief and religion" to harm national interests and the interests of the people are strictly punished. Vietnam has been pursuing a consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralization of international relations, and active, proactive, and extensive international integration to enhance the country's reputation and position for the sake of national interests. Vietnam is willing to be a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community, contributing to peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress worldwide.

With comprehensive guidelines and solutions, the Party has leveraged the strength of the great national unity bloc, successfully combined the strength of the entire nation with the strength of the era, navigated Vietnam through all difficulties and challenges, maintained national independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and carried out comprehensive renewal, primarily in the economic field, resulting in exceptional development strides. "Our country has achieved great, historically significant accomplishments with vigorous and comprehensive development compared to the pre-renewal period. The scale and level of the economy have been elevated. The material and emotional well-being of the people has markedly improved. Never before has our country enjoyed such fortune, such strength, and such international standing and prestige as we do today"⁽⁴⁾. Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 193 countries and territories, including 3 countries with a special relationship, 6 countries with a comprehensive strategic partnership, 13 countries with a strategic partnership, and 12 countries with comprehensive partnerships⁽⁵⁾. These are important momentum and resources, serving as the basis and confidence for the entire Party, people, and army to overcome difficulties and challenges, to steadfastly embark on the path of comprehensive and synchronous renewal, and to foster rapid and sustainable national development.

Over the past nearly 80 years, the Vietnam People's Army, which originates from the people, fights for the people, and shares the intimate and enduring bond with the people under the absolute and direct leadership of the Party in all aspects, has constantly fulfilled its roles and duties as a combat army, a working army, and a production army. In any circumstances anywhere, and for the sake of national independence and freedom and the people’s happiness, all officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army are always ready to sacrifice and overcome all difficulties and hardships to fight for and protect the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and its people. They serve as the core force and work alongside the people in disaster and disease response and recovery as well as search and rescue operations, and actively participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces, highlighting the quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" in the new era. These efforts help raise Vietnam's international standing and reputation, safeguard the homeland  early and from afar, and reinforce the people's trust in the Party, the State, and the socialist regime, as well as in the army, creating a crucial foundation for gathering, uniting, and harnessing the strength of the people.

The Party has set the goals for Vietnam to "become a developing, upper-middle-income country with modern industry by 2030, when it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and a high-income developed country by 2045, which marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."⁽⁶⁾ These significant and glorious but challenging and complex tasks require the Party and State to adopt sound guidelines and cohesive strategies, plans and solutions, to fuel the determination of all sectors, forces, and the entire political system, and to fully tap the strength of the people and the great national unity bloc. However, the new context has posed many new challenges for the promotion of the people’s strength to accomplish revolutionary tasks.

 Continuing to harness the people’s strength to meet new requirements and tasks in national construction and defense

First, rekindle national pride, strengthen trust and revolutionary ideals, and stir up the aspiration for a prosperous and happy country among the entire population.

First and foremost, it is essential to ensure effective communication and education to raise public awareness of the value and significance of building socialism. Moving towards socialism is the only correct path as it aligns with the trend of the era and guarantees national independence, development, and the people’s prosperity, freedom and happiness. It is necessary to accelerate communication on the achievements of the renewal process, highlighting the leadership of the Party and the management of the State as the most important factors for the success of national renewal and construction and defense. The people should be made more aware of the role and strength of unity, community responsibility, and joint efforts in overcoming all difficulties and challenges. Only unity and consensus can generate the strength needed to realize the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation, ensuring the benefits of each individual.

Communication and education need to be continuous and employ various forms and methods tailored to different audiences, focusing on educating the younger generations—the future owners of the country—about their responsibilities and obligations. This approach will solidify the people's trust in the leadership of the Party and the path to socialism, thereby "strongly arousing the spirit of patriotism, the will of self-reliance, the strength of great national unity, and the aspiration for a prosperous and happy country"⁽⁷⁾ among the population.

Second, balance the interests of people of all social strata and ensure social equity and progress.

In recent years, socio-economic development has continued to progress, with an increase in GDP per capita. Significant improvements have been recorded in various social sectors as well as in the people’s material and emotional well-being. The demands and relationships of interests in society, and the interests of different social strata, sectors, and forces, have been met and resolved in a more harmonious, satisfactory manner. Social issues such as labor, employment, social evils, and social equity and equality have been better dealt with. These positive factors have created a solid foundation for gathering, uniting, and promoting the strength of the people.

However, many regions, especially remote, mountainous, and island areas and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities still face socio-economic challenges, including poverty and illiteracy relapses. The growing wealth inequality indicates clearer social stratification, which means that the most essential interests of the people are not fully guaranteed, leading to complex community relations, increasing the risk of political and social instability, and breaking the cohesion and connection between different social strata, sectors, and forces.

The negative impacts of the market economy, such as pragmatism, selfishness, and prioritizing economic interests above all else, have disrupted many social values, resulting in a diminished sense of community and a lack of cohesion in the great national unity bloc. Therefore, the Party, the State, sectors, services, and agencies need to adopt policies and solutions that harmonize the legitimate and lawful interests of the people, both materially and spiritually.

It is crucial to uphold the responsibility of every individual for the common cause, goals and ideals of national independence and socialism, placing the collective and national interests first and foremost. Economic growth should go hand in hand with improved social progress and equity while policies on poverty reduction, social welfare, culture, education, training, healthcare, and other areas need to be enhanced to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people, minimize the wealth gap in the population, and ensure social equity and equality.

Third, promote the role of socialist democracy, ensure the effective exercise of the people's right to mastery, and strengthen the execution of direct democracy by the people.

The Party and State continue to fine-tune institutions on the practice of democracy to ensure that all state power belongs to the people, allowing every citizen to directly and equally express their will and aspirations on and actively and proactively engage in State activities across all fields, including economy, politics, culture, social affairs, national defense, security, and foreign affairs. Strong efforts have been made to promote the role of the people in Party building and rectification and the development of a law-governed socialist state, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political-social organizations, and a pool of competent Party members, cadres, and civil servants. The motto "The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, the people supervise, and the people benefit" has been effectively enforced in every sector and area while the exercise of democracy is coupled with efforts to maintain discipline and order. Organizations and individuals who take advantage of "democracy" and "human rights" to cause internal unrest and political-social instability, or violate democracy and undermine the people's right to mastery, are promptly and strictly dealt with.

Fourth, improve the position and role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the effectiveness of patriotic emulation movements. 

The State should continue to improve regulations on the establishment and operation of associations to ensure that these associations operate in accordance with their stated objectives and purposes as defined by law, particularly in activities involving mutual assistance in daily life and the protection of the legal rights and interests of the associations and their members, as well as national construction and defense. Simultaneously, it is necessary to continue renewing and raising the position and role the Vietnam Fatherland Front as well as improving its performance to ensure its function as the central body that gathers, unites, and promotes the strength of the great national unity bloc. The Front should focus its activities on the grassroots level, reaching every household, especially in remote, isolated, and particularly difficult areas. Attention should be paid to training and guiding reputable individuals in the community to contribute to common movements; promoting the positive aspects of traditional community forms such as villages, hamlets, clans, and families; and promptly correcting parochial and deviant tendencies. There should be appropriate mechanisms and policies for mass organizations to reflect the thoughts and aspirations of the people, actively participate in formulating Party guidelines and State policies and laws, and strengthen their oversight on the performance of State agencies, elected representatives, officials, Party members, and civil servants, contributing to building and protecting pure and strong Party organizations and administrations. Patriotic emulation movements and other movements should be improved to ensure they are practical and suited to the characteristics, requirements, and tasks of each service  and sector, as well as to the needs of the people; thereby creating a diverse, intensive and extensive revolutionary movement to attract the people of all strata.

Fifth, strengthen the building and rectification of the Party and the political system to ensure they are pure and strong.

Party organizations, cadres, and Party members especially those at the grassroots level, need to be close to the people and understand their legitimate and lawful aspirations, and continue to strictly adhere to and implement resolutions and regulations on the building and rectification of the Party and political system to ensure that they are clean and strong. There should be a strong emphasis on studying and following Ho Chi Minh's thought, ethics, and style, and on a determined effort to combat corruption, negativity, wastefulness, and the signs of political, ethical, and lifestyle degradation, as well as "self-evolution" and "self-transformation”. It is crucial to enhance the building of a clean and strong political system, put the duty of serving the people above all else, and promptly and correctly address issues directly related to the lives of the people. Cadres, Party members, and civil servants should build and practice the work style of "respecting the people, staying close to the people, understanding the people, learning from the people, and being responsible to the people," and of "listening to the people, speaking in the way understandable to the people, and acting in the way that wins the people’s trust." They should be sincere with the people, respect the people, guide and assist the people, and exercise democracy in leadership, management, and governance while resolutely addressing bureaucracy.

Sixth, resolutely fight to thwart all schemes, tactics, and activities aimed at undermining the great national unity bloc by hostile forces.

Hostile forces are taking advantage of issues such as "freedom of thought," "democracy," "human rights," "ethnicity," and "religion," as well as the shortcomings and limitations of some cadres and Party members, to distort Party guidelines and State policies and laws, slander leaders, and incite people to gather in large numbers to file collective petitions against the administration. Their purpose is to cause political instability, create opposition, and undermine the close relationship between the people and the Party, between majority and minority ethnic groups, and between followers of different religions. Therefore, Party committees, organizations, agencies, and units should be made well aware of the significance of the fight against "peaceful evolution," and hostile forces’ schemes and tactics to sabotage the great national unity bloc. This is an urgent and regular task for the entire Party, people, and armed forces. To carry out this task, it is essential to have a profound understanding of Party guidelines and adhere to the motto of being proactive, tactful, and resolute, combining "building" and "fighting," with "building" as the core and "fighting" as a constant effort.

First and foremost, it is essential to make full use of the role of cadres, Party members, and media agencies in countering distortions by hostile forces and correcting any wrongful perceptions to firmly safeguard the ideological foundation of the Party in each organization and unit. Party committees, authorities, organizations, and forces, especially the armed forces, must thoroughly understand the specific conditions of their localities, particularly in strategic areas, remote areas, and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, in order to promptly detect and thwart plots and actions by hostile forces aimed at undermining stability, while dealing with all happenings resolutely and tactfully to prevent prolonged "hotspots." It is also crucial to leverage the synergy of the great national unity bloc and the entire political system, reinforce the country's potential, effectively implement  ethnic and religious policies of the Party and the State, and tap into the support of international friends so as to foil any plots, schemes, or acts of sabotage by hostile forces, reactionaries, and political opportunists.

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(1) Ho Chi Minh’s Complete Works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, Vol. 10, tr. 453
(2), (3) Ibid., Vol. 5, pp. 335, 179
(4) Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, Vol. 1, pp. 103 - 104
(5) Vu Trong Lam: “Consistent ideology on Vietnam’s diplomacy”, online Fatherland Front Magazine, November 22, 2023, https://tapchimattran.vn/thuc-tien/tu-tuong-nhat-quan-xuyen-suot-ve-duong-loi-doi-ngoai-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-55585.html; On November 27, 2023, Vietnam and Japan established a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.
(6) Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, Vol. 1, p. 112
(7) Ibid., p. 110

This article was published in the Communist Review No. 1028 (December 2023)