On July 19, 2024, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away, leaving behind endless sorrow for all cadres, party members and people of Vietnam as well as many international friends. He left behind a precious spiritual legacy for the entire nation, including the noble ideology, morality and style of a loyal, intelligent and exemplary communist. His ideology and theory, expressed through the books published recently, have had a profound influence and are valuable in guiding the cause of national renewal of our Party and people.
Coming from a background of scientific research, and having spent many years as an editor and leader of a major Party magazine (Communist Magazine), Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong had many important articles and books published in the past. Later, when holding high-ranking leadership positions in the Party and State, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong continued to publish works addressing many important issues of the country.
In particular, in the past 3 years, the Party leader has published a number of works that have received attention from cadres, party members, people nationwide and many scholars and international friends. Typical books include: "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" (2022), "Resolutely and persistently fighting against corruption and negativity, contributing to building our Party and State increasingly clean and strong" (2023), "Some issues on military guidelines and defense strategies in the cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland in the new period" (2023); "The whole country is united, seizing every opportunity, overcoming all difficulties and challenges, determined to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress" (2023); “Building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity” (2024); “Building and developing a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese foreign affairs and diplomacy imbued with the identity of “Vietnamese bamboo” (2024); “The National Assembly in the process of innovation to meet the requirements of building and perfecting the socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam” (2024)…
The General Secretary's books have addressed many theoretical and practical issues on national construction, development and defense. The core content of the books focuses on the following main issues:
One is, inheriting, applying and creatively developing Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam.
As the title suggests, in the book “Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam”, the General Secretary pointed out important issues both in theory and practice on socialism such as what is socialism? Why does Vietnam persevere and firmly follow the path to building socialism? How to build socialism in Vietnam? Through answering each of these questions, the General Secretary showed the inheritance, application and creative development of the views of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought on socialism into the practice of Vietnam's renovation, especially the superiority of the socialist regime as he affirmed: “We need a society in which development is truly for the people, not for profit that exploits and tramples on human dignity” [1].
Two is, inherit and promote the nation's fine cultural traditions and the quintessence of human culture in national renewal.
In most of his books, the General Secretary showed the spirit of inheriting and promoting the nation's fine traditions when he put forward the idea of building an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, "culture is the soul of the nation"; building a foreign policy that is both independent, self-reliant, and flexible with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo"; building a strong national defense and people's security, etc. He focused on absorbing the cultural quintessence of humanity to develop the country, such as the idea of fighting against corruption and negativity of some countries in the world; the idea of building an honest government and a clean parliament, etc.
Three is, summarize practices to draw conclusions into theories, interpret and outline the fundamental issues of the Vietnamese revolution in the current period.
It can be clearly seen that the General Secretary's thoughts through the books are reflected and summarized from the revolutionary leadership practice of the head of our Party over a long period of time, through many key positions. Therefore, the articles have pointed out the core issues of the Vietnamese revolution in the current period. That is the path to socialism; the work of building a clean and strong Party and political system in all aspects; the work of fighting against corruption and negativity with the policy of "no forbidden areas", "no exceptions"; the task of building a modern security and defense, building an advanced culture, fostering national identity, building an independent and autonomous diplomacy... The red thread running through those core issues is the law-like conclusion: "The leadership of the Party is the leading factor deciding all victories of the Vietnamese revolution"; “The Party's political platform continues to be the ideological and theoretical flag that firmly guides our nation to continue to comprehensively and synchronously promote the innovation process” [2].
The General Secretary's books not only crystallize excellent theoretical thoughts but also summarize the results of his leadership and direction in important positions; therefore, the General Secretary's thoughts have unity and close connection between theory and practice. The value of the books is shown in the following basic aspects:
One is, the ideological content of the books has the meaning of guiding and illuminating the Vietnamese revolution on the path of innovation, integration and development. In the content of each book, there is a profound explanation, with theoretical and practical basis on the viewpoints and orientations of innovation, construction and development of the country in the direction of socialism and major solutions in the important fields of the country, demonstrating the foresight, broad vision, both close to reality and having a forward-thinking vision and deep love for people and the people of the leader of our Party. The viewpoint of the General Secretary "We need a society in which development is truly for people, not for profit that exploits and tramples on human dignity" is also the wish and aspiration of the Vietnamese people. That noble humanistic development ideology will forever light the way for the whole nation on the journey to prosperity and happiness.
Two isThe content of the books is valuable in raising awareness and developing theoretical thinking for cadres, party members, and people about the fundamental issues of the Vietnamese revolution in the current period.
It can be clearly seen that each book of the General Secretary discusses in depth the theoretical issues of the renovation policy, socialism and the path to socialism in our country. Those theoretical issues are generalized at the ideological level and presented in a clear, logical and tight manner, helping each cadre, party member and people to raise awareness, develop their thinking; thereby unifying in will and action, joining hands and hearts to build and develop the country according to the goals set by the Party and the General Secretary.
Therefore, every time the General Secretary's books were published, they were quickly warmly welcomed by cadres, party members and people of all walks of life. Many articles about the General Secretary's books were published, many seminars and talks attracted a large number of scientists and managers to participate, showing the rapid and widespread spread of the content of the General Secretary's works both domestically and internationally.
Three isThe content of the books is meaningful in strengthening, enhancing confidence, encouraging, motivating, and creating motivation for the whole nation to overcome difficulties and challenges, and to be determined to develop the country quickly and sustainably in the direction of socialism.
In each book, with an objective spirit, looking straight at the truth, the General Secretary pointed out the limitations and difficulties of our country in the transitional period when socialist factors were formed, established and developed intertwined, competing with non-socialist factors, including capitalist factors in a number of fields. This intertwining and competition became more complicated and fierce in the conditions of market mechanisms and openness, international integration. However, above all is the spirit of optimism, the steadfast belief in the goals ahead through the steadfastness of principles in building socialism (4 steadfastnesses). That has consolidated and enhanced the belief in the bright future of the country; encouraged, motivated, aroused and added strength to our entire nation to overcome all difficulties and challenges, determined to successfully carry out the cause of national renewal.
Four isThe content of the books contributes to spreading and promoting Vietnam's innovation policy to international friends.
As our Party and the General Secretary have always affirmed, Vietnam's renovation policy has been carried out comprehensively and synchronously in all fields and has brought about great achievements of historical significance, helping "Our country never before have had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today". Therefore, the General Secretary's books not only contribute to raising awareness and unifying the actions of cadres, party members and people about the goals of developing the country in the direction of socialism but also have the value of spreading and promoting to international friends the image of the country, cultural values, Vietnamese people in the renovation period and the superiority of the socialist regime that our people are building. Therefore, every time a new book of the General Secretary is published, it quickly receives the attention and acceptance of many international friends, politicians and foreign scholars. Typically, the book "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam" was not only published with 11,000 copies domestically (in 2022) but also published in 7 foreign languages such as English, Chinese, Lao, Russian, French, Spanish, and Dutch. Notably, the book was translated and widely distributed by Anteo Edizioni Publishing House in Italy, or recently the book "General Secretary of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong" by author Cho Chul-hyeon was also launched in Korea. These things have shown the value of the times and the strong influence of the General Secretary's books on international friends.
Five isThe content of the books contributes to effectively combating and refuting erroneous and hostile views about Vietnam.
In all the published books, the General Secretary not only affirmed the correct leadership of the Party but also provided scientific, practical, and convincing arguments to fight against erroneous and hostile views on the revolutionary cause of the Party and the Vietnamese people. The General Secretary pointed out that one of the issues that hostile forces often sabotage is the issue of socialism and the path to socialism in our country: “Since the collapse of the socialist model in the Soviet Union and many Eastern European countries, the world revolution fell into decline, the issue of advancing to socialism was raised again and became the focus of all discussions, even fierce debates. The anti-communist and opportunistic political forces were delighted and joyful, taking advantage of the opportunity to distort and sabotage” [3].
With the steadfast stance of a communist, on the basis of clearly recognizing the law-based issue and the results of the process of leading and directing the country, the General Secretary affirmed that moving towards building socialism is an inevitable objective law, both in line with the development trend of humanity and meeting the legitimate demands and aspirations of the people. This is also an "irreversible" trend, so firmly upholding the goal of national independence and socialism is an immutable principle, the key to bringing the country to prosperity, prosperity, and happiness for the people, so no one is allowed to waver.
With 80 years of age and more than 57 years of Party membership, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has demonstrated his outstanding ideology and theory through many works, especially the books recently published. A great heart has stopped beating so that the loyal, intelligent and exemplary communist can return to the "world of the wise", but his ideology, feelings, heart and mind continue to illuminate the cause of innovation and development of Vietnam. Continuing the ideology, theory and revolutionary cause of Comrade and his revolutionary predecessors, all Vietnamese people need to join hands and unite to build and develop a rich, democratic, prosperous, civilized and happy country according to the wishes of the General Secretary and the entire nation.
[1] Nguyen Phu Trong (2022), Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi
[2] Nguyen Phu Trong (2022), Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi
[3] Nguyen Phu Trong (2022), Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi
Article: Professor, Dr. Le Van Loi, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics
Photo: VNA