General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (photo: baochinhphu.vn)

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s 55-year revolutionary career, strategic vision, and sharp theoretical mind, aided by the Party Central Committee, built a more transparent and stronger Communist Party of Vietnam, built a socialist rule-of-law State that is ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people’, and successfully led the implementation of Vietnam’s policy of reform and national development.

Party leader’s imprints in ideological work and anticorruption

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid special attention to the Party’s ideological work. He always demonstrated the courage and intelligence of a Communist with strategic vision and absolute loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland, and the people, steadfast in Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, the revolutionary goals and ideals of the Party and nation, and the Party's principles. He always raised high and spread the revolutionary morality of being pure, a pioneer, exemplary, modest, and close to the people.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was a theorist who published many articles of great theoretical value in which he summarized practices and outlined a theory of renewal policy.

His typical works include "Some theoretical and practical issues about socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam", "Turning challenges into opportunities, determined to create breakthroughs to develop the country quickly and sustainably", "Building a pure and strong Party and political system, contributing to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13^th National Party Congress", "Building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture embracing national identity", “Resolutely and persistently fight against corruption and negativity, contributing to building our Party and State purer and stronger.”

Journalist Ha Dang said: "General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is one of the Party leaders who has skillfully combined Marxism-Leninism with Vietnamese Socialism according to Ho Chi Minh's thought. Throughout this process, he closely linked theory with practice, always took practice as the standard of truth."

The fight against corruption and negativity under the leadership of the Party headed by the General Secretary, has achieved many important results in both theory and practice, imbued with humanity in dealing with particular cases for the benefit of the nation and people. Vietnam's anti-corruption campaign has achieved significant results with no exceptions or areas that are off limits. The General Secretary said anti-corruption practices are "very painful", but have contributed to strengthening people's trust in the Party's leadership.

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac (photo: VNA)

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac said: “The General Secretary repeatedly said that it’s very painful to impose discipline on our comrades and teammates, but because of the Party's strict discipline, State law, the prestige of the Party and the State, and the will of the people, it must be done unflinchingly. Never before in Vietnam has anti-corruption work been carried out so aggressively, decisively, and effectively. His exemplary, determined, persistent, resolute, and consistent words and actions provided solid support and strong motivation. This was the primary factor in the recent success of Vietnam's fight against corruption.”

Imprint on diplomacy, great national unity

Creatively applying Ho Chi Minh's method of diplomacy in a new context, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the Party built and developed a modern Vietnamese diplomacy imbued with the character of Vietnamese bamboo – strong, durable, and resilient, yet flexible and adaptable to circumstances.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (Photo: vov.vn)

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said: “General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong left his mark on building and implementing the Party and State’s foreign policy in the renewal period, made important contributions to strengthening Vietnam’s foreign affairs, created favorable conditions for national development and defense, and elevated Vietnam’s status and reputation in the international arena.” 

In building a great unity among ethnic groups, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong always reminded Party members and others to remember President Ho Chi Minh's profound words: "There is nothing more precious than people; around the globe there is nothing stronger than the people’s united force."

In his articles and presentations, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong always expressed a consistent ideological view: people are the root, the center, and the subject of national renewal, construction, and defense. All policies of the Party and the State must originate from the interests and aspirations of the people. Promoting great national unity is the central task of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien said: “I accompanied the General Secretary to the Central Highlands and southwestern provinces. Wherever he went, he demonstrated an affection for ethnic minority people. Continuing the Party and State's policy on ethnic affairs from previous terms, the General Secretary directed the summary of Resolution 24 of the 9th Party Central Committee on ethnic affairs. In that spirit, the Politburo directed the development of a national target program to resolve the problems of ethnic minorities.”

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is gone, but the Vietnamese people will forever remember him as a senior leader and strategic thinker who always cared for the people and the country and was modest and compassionate. He will be remembered in history as an outstanding leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam.