Speaking at the 110th anniversary of the birth of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (1/7/1915), Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed that Linh was a talented leader who initiated and led the country's renewal process (Doi Moi).

Born Nguyen Van Cuc, also known as Muoi Cuc, the late General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh hailed from Hung Yen. From 1940 to 1975, he held key positions in the southern revolutionary movement, including Secretary of the Southern Central Bureau and Secretary of the Saigon-Gia Dinh City Party Committee.

After reunification, Linh held important roles such as Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Party General Secretary (1986-1991). At the 6th National Party Congress in 1986, facing the country's economic difficulties with its stagnant, subsidized, centrally planned management model, Linh "showed rare courage" by declaring: "We cannot continue to do things the old way. Without renewal, the country cannot develop, and the people cannot prosper."

Party General Secretary To Lam speaks at the 110th anniversary of the birth of Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh, July 1. Photo: TTXVN

Party General Secretary To Lam speaks at the 110th anniversary of the birth of Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh, July 1. Photo: TTXVN

As Party General Secretary, Linh initiated strong reforms, removing institutional barriers and liberating productive forces. He expanded autonomy for local authorities, piloted and then consolidated non-state economic sectors, established a state-managed market mechanism, and expanded foreign relations, proactively integrating internationally.

One of Linh's notable contributions was the series "Things to do immediately" in the Nhan Dan newspaper from 1987, under the pen name "NVL". "This was the frank, courageous, and responsible voice of the head of the Party, demonstrating the spirit of fighting negativity and resolutely dealing with corruption, bureaucracy, and waste," To Lam said.

With Nguyen Van Linh's strategic and decisive leadership, the renewal process brought about transformations across sectors. Agricultural production shifted from collectivization to household contracts, from subsidies to the market, from closure to integration, and from command management to operation according to the laws of supply and demand. As a result, Vietnam's economy gradually overcame the crisis, people's lives improved, and the country's standing was gradually enhanced.

Four lessons from the renewal career of Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh

To Lam emphasized that the life, career, and renewal ideology of Nguyen Van Linh offer valuable and enduring lessons for all stages of the nation's development, particularly the current process of renewal, integration, and advancement.The first lesson is about innovative thinking, daring to think, daring to act, and taking responsibility. Linh affirmed that renewal does not mean rejecting the past, but rather continuing to develop from reality, daring to face the truth to act. "That spirit is a guiding principle for today's generation of officials when the country is facing many challenges: difficulties in the traditional growth model, environmental problems, an aging population, and fierce geopolitical competition," he said.

According to To Lam, "Only by renewing our thinking, renewing our approach, and daring to do the unprecedented can we take the country further." Leaders, especially those at the helm, must have the courage to take responsibility, be ready to face new things, and be willing to overcome conservatism and stagnation.

The second lesson is the close connection with the people, stemming from the people's interests. Linh regularly visited the grassroots, listened to people's feedback, and engaged with the realities of life. His renewal decisions did not originate from books but from the desires and survival needs of the people, businesses, cooperatives, and small enterprises.

Today, in the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, leaders at all levels need to be closer to the people, understand them, and know what they need to provide guidance instead of purely administrative orders. This is the foundation of modern, effective, and highly consensual governance, according to To Lam.

Party General Secretary To Lam and leaders, former leaders of the Party and State offer incense at the Nguyen Van Linh Memorial House in Hung Yen province. Photo: TTXVN

Party General Secretary To Lam and leaders, former leaders of the Party and State offer incense at the Nguyen Van Linh Memorial House in Hung Yen province. Photo: TTXVN

The third lesson from the late Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh is to combat individualism, preserve revolutionary ethics, and rectify the Party from within. In the series "Things to do immediately," he did not hesitate to frankly criticize manifestations of corruption, vested interests, and abuse of power. He believed that renewal is not only about the economy but also about ethics, behavior, and discipline within the Party.

"This lesson is especially urgent in the current context, as we are strongly implementing the Party building and rectification campaign, strictly handling manifestations of decline in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle. Without a strong, clean Party, there cannot be a powerful country," To Lam emphasized.

The final lesson, during his lifetime, Linh always stressed that Vietnam's renewal is not at anyone's behest, nor does it replicate any external model, but stems from its own reality and for the benefit of the nation.

"Vietnam needs to learn from the world, cooperate extensively, but more importantly, develop its internal strength from science and technology, flexible institutions, high-quality human resources, and a resilient national spirit," To Lam said, calling on the entire country, as it begins to operate the two-tiered local government model with a new development space, to continue to awaken the "Nguyen Van Linh spirit" of innovation, decisiveness, science, closeness to the people, and honesty.

Vu Tuan