On the morning of 27/8, at the National Convention Center, General Secretary To Lam met with generations of National Assembly delegates to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, National Day (2/9), and the 80th anniversary of the first general election. This was the first time the National Assembly held a meeting gathering delegates from across different periods.

Party and State leaders, former leaders at the meeting. Photo: National Assembly Media

In his speech, the General Secretary stated that the 14th National Party Congress will take place in the first quarter of 2026. The Central Committee is actively preparing for the Congress to become "a historic congress, marking the country's entry into an era of prosperity and sustainable development for a prosperous and happy life for the people."

According to him, to successfully achieve the two 100-year goals set by the Party, the 14th Congress will inherit and develop the achievements of the 13th term, while also creating new breakthroughs. The Party's personnel policy places special emphasis on quality and a reasonable structure to meet comprehensive leadership requirements.

The 14th Central Committee (both official and alternate members) will have over 10% of members under 47 years old, 10-12% female members, and 10-12% ethnic minority members.

"The selected comrades must be truly exemplary, honest, dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to sacrifice personal interests for the common good; put collective interests, people's interests, and national interests above all else; and be prestigious within the Party and trusted by the people," the General Secretary said.

A new aspect of the 14th Congress is that the three main documents—the Political Report, the Socio-Economic Report, and the Party Building Report—will be integrated into one comprehensive "Political Report." The Congress will also approve an "Action Program" for the entire term. These documents have been sent to party committees, party cells, party members, and the public for feedback.

General Secretary To Lam speaks at the meeting. Photo: Hoang Phong

The General Secretary reiterated that since September 2024, the Central Committee has drastically implemented the reorganization of the administrative apparatus, implementing the three-tiered government model, with two levels at the local level. After two months of operation, the system has been operating synchronously and smoothly, especially at the commune level. "The new organizational structure clearly defines responsibilities, assigns specific tasks and authority, promotes administrative reform, saves the budget, and serves the people more quickly and conveniently," he said.

The reorganization not only saves the budget, but more importantly, according to the General Secretary, has created new space, opportunities, and momentum for development, "in the true spirit of walking the talk."

The General Secretary noted that the world situation is rapidly changing, and strategic competition between major countries is intensifying. The armed forces are rapidly progressing towards the goal of being regular, elite, and modern; capable of fighting and winning against all forms of war, while also mastering and producing many types of modern weapons and equipment. The army and police are organized to be lean, strong, and effective; the national defense and security posture is arranged in accordance with the new development space. "The upcoming military parade on 2/9 will showcase part of the strength of the people's armed forces," the General Secretary said.

He also stated that Vietnam's internal strength is now at a regional level, significantly enhancing its international position and role. Vietnam has diplomatic relations with 194 countries and territories, including 13 comprehensive strategic partners, 10 strategic partners, and 15 comprehensive partners. In the first six months of 2025, Vietnam welcomed 25 international high-level delegations, organized 12 high-level delegations to visit foreign countries, and signed over 250 cooperation documents with a committed value of approximately 62 billion USD—double that of 2024.

On behalf of the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man presented the "For the Cause of the National Assembly" Medal to General Secretary To Lam. Photo: Hoang Phong

Looking back over 80 years, the General Secretary called the National Assembly not only the highest organ of state power but also the "common house of people's representatives." From the 1946 Constitution to the 1959, 1980, 1992, 2013, and amended 2025 Constitutions, the National Assembly has passed many important resolutions, from mobilizing human and material resources during the resistance war to institutionalizing the Doi Moi policy, international integration, private economic development, and ensuring human rights and citizens' rights.

He expressed gratitude to the veteran National Assembly delegates—those who have gone through many challenging periods, from land reform, post-war economic recovery, the early years of Doi Moi, to international integration and building a state governed by the rule of law. "The National Assembly must be one step ahead in terms of institutions, daring to pave the way and make difficult decisions in unprecedented areas," the General Secretary said.

He expects that by 2030, Vietnam will have two million private enterprises, including 20 large enterprises participating in the global value chain, contributing 55-58% of GDP and creating jobs for 84-85% of the labor force. By 2045, there will be at least three million private enterprises, contributing over 60% of GDP with international competitiveness. The Politburo will issue a new resolution on the state economy, along with resolutions on education, training, and healthcare for the people, creating momentum for social development and improving social welfare.

The General Secretary affirmed that "from the aspiration for independence to the aspiration for a strong and prosperous nation, we are on a continuous journey." To achieve the goal of a strong, prosperous, and happy Vietnam, the National Assembly must dare to lead the way, making bold and timely decisions suitable for the times.

Son Ha