On the afternoon of 23/1, the 14th National Congress of the Party unanimously adopted the Resolution of the 14th Congress. The Congress approved the main contents regarding the assessment of the implementation results of the Resolution of the 13th Congress; the outcomes of summarizing theoretical and practical issues concerning the socialist-oriented renewal process over the past 40 years in Vietnam; and the summary of 15 years of implementing the Party Charter (2011-2025), as presented in the documents submitted by the 13th Central Committee of the Party to the Congress.

The term of the 13th Congress was marked by numerous difficulties and challenges, with many new, unprecedented issues emerging, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic and disruptions to supply chains due to increasingly complex geopolitical tensions and conflicts. With a strong will, aspiration for development, future-oriented vision, innovative thinking, great efforts, and decisive actions, the entire Party, people, and army united to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th Congress.

The Resolution outlines future development goals: resolutely and persistently maintaining a peaceful, stable environment; achieving rapid, sustainable national development; and firmly protecting the Fatherland; while comprehensively improving the lives of the people.

Specifically, the Resolution sets strategic autonomy, self-reliance, and self-confidence as national goals, aiming for significant progress in the nation's new era. It targets becoming an upper-middle income developing country with modern industry by 2030.

The Resolution further states the vision for 2045: to become a developed, high-income country, striving for a peaceful, independent, democratic, strong, prosperous, civilized, and happy Vietnam, steadily advancing towards socialism.

General Secretary To Lam and members of the 14th Central Committee debut at the congress. Photo: Giang Huy

The Congress established key development goals and targets for the 2026-2030 period. These include an average annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 10% or more, with per capita GDP reaching approximately 8,500 USD by 2030. The processing and manufacturing industry is projected to account for about 28% of GDP, while the digital economy is expected to reach approximately 30% of GDP. The contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to economic growth is targeted at over 55%, with labor productivity growth at about 8,5% annually. Total asset accumulation is set at approximately 35-36% of GDP, and total social investment capital for the five-year period is estimated at about 40% of GDP.

Efforts aim for a human development index (HDI) of approximately 0,8, with an average life expectancy from birth of about 75,5 years, including a minimum of 68 healthy life years. The proportion of trained labor with degrees or certificates is targeted at 35-40%. The multidimensional poverty rate for the 2026-2030 period is expected to decrease by 1-1,5 percentage points annually. The country also strives to be among the top 40 nations with the highest happiness index.

The Resolution outlines 12 development orientations for the country during the 2026-2030 period, emphasizing a continued strong renewal of thinking and action, promoting strategic breakthroughs, and fostering a new development ecosystem.

The new growth model prioritizes enhancing the economy's productivity, quality, efficiency, added value, and competitiveness. Science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are identified as primary drivers. The focus areas include the data economy, digital economy, green economy, and circular economy. Simultaneously, there will be a push for digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation, structural transformation, and improved human resource quality.

Regarding culture, the Resolution tasks the nation with building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture, rich in national identity, integrated on the foundation of national values, cultural values, family values, and Vietnamese human standards.

International delegates attend the closing session of the 14th Party Congress. Photo: Giang Huy

The Resolution identifies five key tasks for the 14th Congress term. These focus on prioritizing the synchronous development of institutions, particularly the legal system, mechanisms, and policies, to promptly and definitively remove bottlenecks and obstacles, thereby promoting innovation.

These institutions are mandated to ensure synchronization and harmony between growth and development; between the economy, society, and environment with national defense, security, and foreign affairs. They must also align institutional renewal and improvement with comprehensive, focused transformations across all sectors, consistent with the three-tiered government model, to meet the demands of rapid, sustainable national development in the new era.

The Resolution also stresses continued efforts to build and rectify the Party and the political system, making them clean, strong, and comprehensive. This includes synchronously renewing methods and enhancing the capacity for self-renewal and self-improvement to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the Party's leadership and governance. Cadre work must be substantive and effective, building a contingent of cadres at all levels who truly possess virtue and talent, and strengthening the control of power within the Party and the State.

In economic terms, the Resolution clearly states that the state economy must genuinely play a leading role, while the private economy is recognized as one of the most important drivers of the economy. The economy will be restructured towards accelerated industrialization and modernization, with science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation serving as the main impetuses.

Regarding science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, the Resolution calls for breakthroughs, prioritizing the development of strategic industries and technologies, focusing on semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence. It also emphasizes promoting the training and utilization of high-quality human resources.

For education, the Resolution demands building a modern national education system, on par with regional and global standards, while prioritizing and investing in public healthcare.

Concerning national defense and security, the Congress requires building revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern People's Army and People's Public Security forces to firmly protect the nation's independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, including its seas and islands.

Vietnamese Heroic Mothers – guests attending the closing ceremony of the Congress. Photo: Giang Huy

The Congress identified three strategic breakthroughs to focus on during the term. The first involves a strong breakthrough in development institutions, enhancing the capacity for planning and implementing Party policies and guidelines, as well as State laws and policies.

The second breakthrough focuses on structural transformation and improving the quality of human resources, developing high-quality and high-skilled human resources. This contributes to enhancing labor productivity and quality, actively attracting and utilizing talents, and encouraging and protecting dynamic, creative cadres who dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility for the common good.

The third breakthrough involves building socio-economic infrastructure, particularly multi-modal transport infrastructure; technology infrastructure to support management, governance, and development creation; infrastructure for digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation, and climate change adaptation; and cultural, educational, and sports infrastructure.

Also at the closing session, the Congress approved the Political Report; the Report summarizing theoretical and practical issues concerning the socialist-oriented renewal process over the past 40 years in Vietnam; the Report summarizing 15 years of implementing the Party Charter (2011-2025) and proposals, orientations for supplementing and amending the Party Charter by the 13th Central Committee of the Party; and agreed not to supplement or amend the current Party Charter.

The Congress also approved the Report reviewing the leadership and direction of the 13th Central Committee of the Party presented to the 14th Congress; and the election results for the 14th Central Committee of the Party, comprising 180 official members and 20 alternate members.

Son Ha