Pan Jin'e and Wei Lichun: The Communist Party of Vietnam: Embarking on a New Journey through Inheritance and Integrity

The year 2020 was the year preceding the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). It also served as a commemorative year for several major events: the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Resistance War Against America and the realization of national reunification, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (renamed the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976), the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, and the 130th anniversary of the birth of Ho Chi Minh. The Vietnamese Party and state were tasked with managing numerous celebratory activities while simultaneously guarding against various unforeseen risks. Against this backdrop, the struggle in Vietnam’s ideological sphere was particularly acute. The Central Committee of the CPV systematically and orderly arranged the aforementioned commemorations alongside activities marking the 150th anniversary of Lenin’s birth and the 200th anniversary of Engels’s birth. On one hand, these activities strengthened "positive propaganda" for Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, promoting the historical contributions and vital status of the CPV. On the other hand, they issued powerful refutations of various erroneous trends of thought, exposing the infiltration and "peaceful evolution" ^[1] attempted by hostile forces, thereby bolstering the people's confidence in the Communist Party and the cause of socialism. Furthermore, in 2020, facing the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPV leveraged the institutional advantages of centralized and unified leadership and the superiority of the socialist system to successfully halt the spread of the virus. With 1,548 total infections and only 35 deaths throughout the year, Vietnam was among the countries with the lowest infection and mortality rates in the world. Simultaneously, Vietnam’s annual economic growth reached 2.91%, making it one of the highest-growing economies globally. These achievements greatly enhanced the self-confidence of the Vietnamese Party and people and consolidated the CPV’s governing position, laying a solid social foundation for the successful convening of the 13th National Congress and the mapping of Vietnam's ambitious medium- and long-term development blueprint.

I. Hosting Major Commemorative Activities, Inheriting and Upholding the Fundamentals of the Party’s Ideological Basis, and Combating Erroneous Trends of Thought

To coordinate the various important commemorative activities of the Vietnamese Party and state in 2020, the CPV Central Committee implemented a unified layout. On October 29, 2019, the General Office of the CPV Central Committee issued the Directive on Important Anniversaries and Major Events in 2020. Subsequently, on January 8, 2020, the Commission for Information and Education of the CPV Central Committee issued Guiding Opinions on Publicity and Commemoration of Important Anniversaries and Major Historical Events in 2020. This document provided a detailed classification of all commemorative activities for the year, clearly stipulating the purpose, requirements, organizing units, scale, publicity content, and slogans for each activity. The document categorized the 2020 commemorations into five major classes: the first consisted of large-scale national-level commemorative activities; the second, birth anniversaries of important Party and state leaders; the third, anniversaries of major historical events; the fourth, commemorations by provinces, centrally governed municipalities, or central ministries and commissions; and the fifth, activities of an international nature. Within this framework, the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPV and the 130th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s birth were listed as large-scale national-level activities, with celebrations organized separately by the Party Central Committee and various provinces and cities. The 45th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, along with the 75th anniversary of the victory of the "August Revolution" ^[2] and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, were delegated to provinces and centrally governed municipalities. The 150th anniversary of Lenin’s birth and the 200th anniversary of Engels’s birth were categorized as international activities, with relevant publicity and theoretical research units organizing various academic seminars and conducting extensive promotion through the media. In accordance with the spirit of the Central Committee’s directives, relevant Vietnamese departments carried out a series of celebrations and commemorations in an orderly fashion.

(1) Solemnly Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam

February 3, 2020, marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, and the Central Committee held a solemn celebration in Hanoi. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, delivered a speech reviewing the glorious 90-year journey of the CPV and summarizing its vital status and role in the history of the Vietnamese revolution. The founding of the CPV ended the protracted state of crisis regarding the organization and path of the Vietnamese revolution. The rich and vivid practice of the revolution over the past 90 years has proven that the Party’s correct and brilliant leadership is the decisive factor in all victories of the Vietnamese revolution. Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: "In Vietnam, apart from the Communist Party of Vietnam, no other political force possesses the sufficient capability, wisdom, experience, prestige, and ability to lead the country through all difficulties and challenges and achieve victory after victory for the revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese nation." This proves that the CPV’s seizure of power and its status as Vietnam’s sole ruling party is an inevitable choice of history.

Nguyen Phu Trong further stressed the need to "vigorously preserve and promote the valuable experience and glorious traditions accumulated by the Communist Party of Vietnam over its 90-year journey," namely: "maintaining infinite loyalty to the interests of the nation and the class; persisting in the goals and ideals of national independence and socialism on the basis of adhering to Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought; mastering, creatively applying, and developing Marxism-Leninism, and formulating correct lines to effectively complete various revolutionary tasks while maintaining an independent and autonomous path and referencing international experience; maintaining blood-and-flesh ties between the Party and the masses, and always taking service to the people as the purpose and goal of struggle; upholding unity and unification and enforcing strict organizational discipline on the basis of democratic centralism, criticism and self-criticism, and fraternal care for comrades; and always adhering to international solidarity on the basis of principle and noble goals." In his speech, Nguyen Phu Trong also summarized the most important experience gained from 35 years of successful Doi Moi (革新) ^[3]: the CPV has always firmly grasped and creatively applied the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism, the methodology of dialectical materialism, and Ho Chi Minh Thought to the practice of Vietnam's reform. In the new period, it is essential to continue inheriting the spirit of Doi Moi, persist in the leadership of the CPV, and continue the creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought in the practice of reform. This will continuously push forward the cause of reform in the New Era and constantly consolidate, adjust, and improve the development path of socialism with Vietnamese characteristics, ultimately achieving the goals of a wealthy people, a strong country, and a democratic, equitable, and civilized society.

Major Vietnamese academic institutions also held specialized seminars commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Party's founding. On January 16, 2020, the Commission for Information and Education of the CPV Central Committee, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and the Theoretical Council of the CPV Central Committee jointly hosted a national academic seminar themed "Communist Party of Vietnam: Wisdom, Capability, Reform—For Independence, Freedom, and Socialism." Tran Quoc Vuong, then Executive Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat, delivered a speech emphasizing that the correct leadership of the CPV is the decisive factor in all victories of the Vietnamese revolution. Participants unanimously agreed that the founding of the CPV was the inevitable result of historical development and aligned with the aspirations of the Vietnamese nation for independence and development. On June 26, the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, held a national seminar titled "The Communist Party of Vietnam: A Work of History, Shouldering the Responsibility of History." The seminar explored the status and role of the CPV and the achievements of the Vietnamese revolutionary cause under its leadership from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The meeting fully affirmed the revolutionary fruits achieved by the Vietnamese people under the CPV's leadership over 90 years. It noted that it was precisely under the guidance of the CPV's correct line that Vietnam embarked on the correct reform path of developing a socialist-oriented market economy, ensuring sustained economic growth and social stability. Leading Vietnamese theorists also published numerous articles; some affirmed the CPV's historical merits, clarifying that Party leadership is the decisive factor in revolutionary victory, while others criticized and refuted various erroneous trends of thought that deny the CPV's leading position, exposing the plots of hostile forces.

(2) Further Recognizing and Affirming Ho Chi Minh's Great Achievements

May 19, 2020, was the 130th anniversary of the birth of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the CPV and the creator of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. On May 18, the CPV Central Committee held a solemn commemorative meeting at the National Convention Center, attended by over 2,000 people. Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a speech highly evaluating Ho Chi Minh’s life and his monumental achievements. He pointed out that President Ho Chi Minh left behind a precious spiritual wealth for the CPV and the Vietnamese people. Every victory and every step of the Vietnamese revolution is inseparable from President Ho Chi Minh’s great contributions and the radiance and guidance of Ho Chi Minh Thought. Ho Chi Minh’s life embodied the loftiest spirit of patriotism and revolutionary heroism, representing a crystallization of the morality, wisdom, mettle, and conscience of the Vietnamese nation and the era. Ho Chi Minh dedicated his life to the CPV, the Vietnamese nation, the Vietnamese people, and the glorious cause of international revolution; his name and cause shall endure forever. Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that Ho Chi Minh is a model of revolutionary morality, leaving for the CPV and the people a clear mirror of morality, style, and lifestyle for generations to come, as well as an incomparably precious ideological legacy. Ho Chi Minh Thought is a comprehensive and profound series of views on the fundamental issues of the Vietnamese revolution, the result of the creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism under Vietnam's specific conditions. It inherits and develops the values of the Vietnamese nation's fine traditions and absorbs the essence of human civilization. It is an immense and precious spiritual wealth of the CPV and the nation, eternally guiding the revolutionary cause to victory and contributing to the common cause of all nations striving for peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress. Nguyen Phu Trong noted that Ho Chi Minh Thought and his rich, great revolutionary career are not only an invaluable treasure of the Vietnamese nation and the ideological basis and guide for the Vietnamese revolution but also a contribution to the revolutionary cause of oppressed nations worldwide and the development of the essence of human civilization and thought. President Ho Chi Minh creatively combined Marxism-Leninism with Vietnamese practice, opening a revolutionary path suited to Vietnam’s reality: a path combining national independence with socialism, and national liberation with class liberation and the liberation of the masses.

On May 5, 2020, the CPV Central Committee hosted a national academic seminar themed "President Ho Chi Minh and the Cause of Reform, Development, and National Defense." The main content and viewpoints of the seminar were as follows: First, it affirmed the noble life and revolutionary career of Ho Chi Minh, acknowledging his great contributions to the Vietnamese revolution, the international communist movement, and the national liberation movements of oppressed peoples globally. Second, it explained Ho Chi Minh's creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism within the practice of the Vietnamese revolution. Third, it clarified the practical significance of Ho Chi Minh Thought in the cause of reform, development, and defending the motherland. Fourth, it emphasized the glorious image of Ho Chi Minh. Fifth, it expressed that the CPV and the Vietnamese people will always adhere to and creatively apply and develop Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought in revolutionary practice, treating it as a requirement and a principled demand in the current cause of national reform, development, and defense. Tran Quoc Vuong, then Executive Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat, pointed out at the meeting that Ho Chi Minh is a symbol of peace, friendship, and national liberation for all peoples. His noble revolutionary cause, his life, and his thought are the source of the developmental progress and victory of the Vietnamese revolution. President Ho Chi Minh’s great revolutionary career, thought, morality, and style will forever be a torch guiding the Vietnamese revolutionary cause through the process of Doi Moi, development, and national defense.

Nguyen Xuan Thang, member of the CPV Central Committee, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and Chairman of the Theoretical Council of the CPV Central Committee, wrote that Ho Chi Minh was a hero of the Vietnamese national liberation, an outstanding cultural figure, and a vanguard fighter of the international communist and workers’ movements. Ho Chi Minh’s life and revolutionary career constitute a heroic epic of utter devotion to national independence, freedom, and the happiness of the people, as well as to world peace, development, and progress. Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style are incredibly precious assets of the entire Party, army, and people, serving as a permanent source of pride and immense inspiration for generations of Vietnamese, and the light illuminating the path of the Vietnamese revolution.

(3) Highly Affirming the Great Significance of Leninism to Vietnamese Socialism

Lenin occupies a position of special importance for the developmental path of Vietnamese socialism. In the early 20th century, while searching for the truth of national salvation across various countries, it was precisely after reading Lenin’s "Draft Theses on National and Colonial Questions" that President Ho Chi Minh concluded: to save the country and liberate the nation, one must follow the path of proletarian revolution! From then on, Ho Chi Minh became a believer in Marxism-Leninism. Starting in the 1920s, Marxism-Leninism was introduced to Vietnam. Under its guidance, Vietnam achieved great victories in national liberation, socialist revolution, and the cause of Doi Moi. Therefore, for Vietnam, Lenin’s thought holds extremely profound significance for Vietnamese socialism.

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Lenin's birth, Vietnamese state leaders laid flowers before the statue of Lenin; national-level academic symposiums and commemorative activities were held; and Party and state leaders and theorists published articles highly evaluating the significant historical value and practical significance of Lenin and his thought. On April 22, 2020, Vietnam held a national academic symposium themed "The Legacy of Lenin: Theoretical and Practical Values." The conference centered on and clarified the following themes: Lenin creatively developed the Marxist theory regarding the possibility of the victory of the proletarian revolution during the stage of imperialism, successfully led the Russian October Revolution, and opened the era of transition from capitalism to socialism; Lenin creatively developed Marxist theory regarding socialism and the socialist path; Lenin was a paragon of defending and creatively developing Marxism; Lenin’s theories on nations and colonies served as a precious guide for oppressed nations striving for national independence; Lenin’s legacy illuminated the path of the Vietnamese revolution in the Ho Chi Minh era; and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) will persist in Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought ^[4], leading the Vietnamese people to success in the cause of building and defending Vietnamese socialism. In his opening speech at the symposium, Vo Van Thuong, then head of the CPV Central Propaganda and Education Commission, reviewed Lenin's great achievements and pointed out that commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lenin's birth against the backdrop of globalization, deep international integration, and the rapid development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution demonstrates a reaffirmation of Lenin's great contribution to the revolutionary struggle for human progress. He stated that Vietnam should continue to develop and creatively apply the fundamental ideas of Lenin and Marxism in combination with the achievements of the world revolution and modern science and technology.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lenin's birth, Vietnam’s Nhan Dan (People’s Daily) published an editorial titled "The Light of Lenin's Thought Illuminates the Revolutionary Path of Vietnam," stating that Lenin's thought and image have left a deep imprint on the revolutionary journey led by the CPV, and that Lenin remains a fine example for communists worldwide to learn from and practice, with his thought and theory enduring forever. Media outlets such as the Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army Newspaper), Tin Tuc (VNA News), and Sai Gon Giai Phong (Saigon Liberation) all established special columns for the "150th Anniversary of Lenin's Birth." Vietnamese theorists published a vast number of works elucidating the value of Lenin's thought and its practical significance in Vietnam's socialist construction and the practice of Doi Moi ^[5] (Renovation) from multiple perspectives, including the great historical significance of Lenin’s thought, the relationship between Leninism and Marxism, the relationship between Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the Vietnamese revolution, Lenin’s thoughts on Party building, and Vietnam's innovation and development of Leninism during the Doi Moi period.

Nguyen Xuan Thang, Chairman of the CPV Central Theory Council, published an article in Tap Chi Cong San (Communist Review) titled "The Practical and Theoretical Value of Lenin's Legacy to the World and the Vietnamese Revolution." He argued that Lenin creatively developed Marx’s theory that the proletarian revolution could triumph during the imperialist period, led the October Revolution to victory, and opened a new era of transition from capitalism to socialism. He further noted that Lenin supplemented, developed, and innovated Marxist theory regarding socialism and the socialist path; Lenin's theories on nations and colonies provided precious ideological guidance for oppressed nations to carry out struggles for national independence; and the legacy of Leninism illuminated the revolutionary path of Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh era. Professor Vu Quang Vinh of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics pointed out in the article "Leninism and the Vietnamese Revolution" that Lenin's inheritance and development of Marxism are mainly reflected in three aspects: first, the position of the ruling party in the cause of socialist construction; second, the issue of building a socialist rule-of-law state; and third, the solidarity of the masses to build a new socialist system. Nguyen Cong Dung, in the article "Lenin's Doctrine on a New Type of Proletarian Party," summarized Lenin's basic principles on the new type of working-class party and pointed out that Lenin’s doctrine is of great significance to the CPV, especially regarding Party building. He argued that the CPV must conduct Party building in accordance with the principles of a new type of proletarian party, maintain close ties with the masses, and ensure the Party serves as both the leader and the servant of the Vietnamese people, while emphasizing the need for Party building and rectification. Pham Thai Viet from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam pointed out in "Lenin's Proletarian Internationalism" that Lenin’s proletarian internationalism was a powerful driving force for national liberation movements of all nations oppressed by imperialism, helping the proletariat achieve the goal of liberation from capitalist oppression and exploitation and the liberation of all humanity. In the current context of globalization, Lenin's theory of proletarian internationalism still holds great value. Scholar Nguyen Chi Hieu from the editorial department of Tap Chi Cong San argued that Lenin’s ideas on the New Economic Policy (NEP) serve as the theoretical basis for the CPV's development of a socialist-oriented market economy; in building a socialist rule-of-law state, the CPV should use Lenin’s thought as a guide to handle the relationship between Party leadership, state management, and the people as masters of the country.

(4) Affirming Engels’ Contribution to Marxism and the International Communist Movement

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Engels’ birth, on November 27, 2020, the CPV Central Propaganda and Education Commission, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the CPV Central Theory Council, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) jointly hosted the national symposium "The Legacy of Engels: Epochal Value and Vitality." Participating experts primarily discussed the following topics: first, Engels’ immense contribution to the creation of Marxism; second, Engels’ great contribution as a brilliant leader and polymath of the international communist movement; and third, the connection between the lives and careers of Engels and Marx. The conference held that Engels’ ideological and theoretical legacy illuminates the path of struggle for peace, national independence, democracy, and socialism worldwide. It affirmed Engels’ important contribution to the formation and development of Marxism and affirmed the epochal value and vitality of Marxism-Leninism for both the world revolution and the Vietnamese revolution.

In 2020, the Vietnamese academic community published many research findings regarding Engels’ theoretical contributions. The journal Ly Luan Chinh Tri (Political Theory), managed by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, dedicated a special column in its 11th issue of 2020 to the 200th anniversary of Engels' birth, publishing several articles such as "Engels’ Struggle Against Dühring and His Vigorous Defense of Marxist Materialist Dialectics," "Engels’ Theoretical Contributions to the Building of the Communist Party," "Engels: The Greatest Teacher and Polymath of the Modern Proletariat in World Civilization," "The Defense and Development of Scientific Socialism by Engels during the Period 1883–1895," and "Engels’ Contributions to Materialist Dialectics."

Scholar Tran Hau Tan argued that Engels’ contribution to Marxism-Leninism is primarily reflected in the works he co-authored with Marx; simultaneously, Engels was the first person to use materialist dialectics to understand the laws of nature, explaining and summarizing the latest achievements of the natural sciences while criticizing mystical and mechanical idealist views. Senior General Ha Duc Long from the Political Academy of the Ministry of National Defense argued that during their lifetimes, Engels and Marx consistently struggled against erroneous trends such as reformism and dogmatism to achieve unity of understanding and action within the Communist International. The author proposed that one must use Engels' fighting spirit to refute erroneous and hostile views, identify the subjects behind erroneous, reactionary, and hostile viewpoints, and carry out targeted struggle and criticism.

(5) Combining Commemorative Activities with the Struggle Against Hostile Forces and Erroneous Trends

Regarding the aforementioned thematic commemorations, beyond conducting positive propaganda, the CPV—from the Central Committee to various departments, provinces, and cities—simultaneously carried out activities to prevent hostile and erroneous trends and to guard against "peaceful evolution" ^[6]. These activities included holding specialized symposiums, writing refutational articles, and conducting extensive propaganda in the media to expose various sabotage activities carried out by hostile forces taking advantage of the upcoming CPV National Congress. The primary targets of these hostile forces included Vietnam's socialist path, the socialist-oriented market economy, the leadership of the Party, high-level personnel arrangements, Marxism, and Ho Chi Minh Thought. By spreading various erroneous remarks, hostile forces attempted to negate and distort the guiding ideology, lines, and policies of the CPV, aiming to influence major decisions such as personnel arrangements for the new Party Congress and the future direction of development, ultimately seeking to subvert the leadership of the CPV. In response, the CPV Central Committee launched an ideological and public opinion struggle nationwide. On the one hand, it conducted education in the military and schools and used the media for positive propaganda and education; on the other hand, it organized theoretical workers across the country to write articles refuting various erroneous remarks and trends. In 2020 alone, the CPV Central Theory Council established 34 research projects specifically responsible for refuting hostile and erroneous ideas, organized five specialized symposiums, and compiled the book Firmly Defending the Party's Ideological Foundation Under the New Situation.

In summary, the various commemorative activities held in 2020 under the spirit of the CPV Central Committee's documents expressed the CPV’s upholding of fundamentals and inheritance of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought. Upholding fundamentals is the basis of inheritance, and inheritance is for the purpose of upholding fundamentals. For the CPV, with the 13th National Congress approaching and in a situation where various domestic undercurrents were surging and Western political plots of "peaceful evolution" were intensifying, Vietnam aimed to awaken collective memory and disseminate mainstream values through large-scale celebrations. This was intended to affirm the leadership, prestige, and governing capacity of the CPV, and to affirm that the CPV remains loyal to the interests of the country and the nation, persisting in the goals and ideals of national independence and socialism based on Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought. These efforts aimed to enhance the sense of identity among cadres ^[7], Party members, and the masses toward the CPV and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, evoking confidence in the cause of Doi Moi and national pride, thereby laying the ideological and public opinion foundation for the successful convening of the 13th CPV National Congress.

II. Orderly Advancing the Reshuffling of Leadership Teams at All Levels

The year 2020 was the year preceding the 13th CPV National Congress. One of the most important tasks of the year was to convene Party congresses at all levels across the country, complete the rotation of leading cadres at all levels, and nominate members for the 13th Central Committee to the center. The CPV provided comprehensive guidance primarily regarding guiding ideology, the electoral system, and specific operational procedures, and all work progressed step-by-step.

(1) Determining the Guiding Ideology and Related Institutional Regulations for Personnel Work

1. Regarding guiding ideology: selecting cadres with both political integrity and professional competence as the primary task

CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attached particular importance to the personnel election work for the 13th National Congress, emphasizing the importance of cadre work at multiple meetings. On April 27, 2020, he published a signed article titled "Several Issues Requiring Special Attention in the Preparatory Work for the Personnel of the 13th CPV National Congress," which comprehensively explained the role, significance, importance, and requirements of the personnel preparation for the 13th Congress, as well as its content, methods, and implementation. Nguyen Phu Trong once again stressed the role of cadres, pointing out that in any stage of the revolution, cadres always play a decisive role; cadre work is not only the key to Party building but also an important link in all Party activities, and a factor determining the success or failure of the revolution. Regarding the guiding ideology, principles, and work methods for the personnel preparation of the 13th Congress, Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that this is a particularly important task, the "key of keys" ^[8], which concerns the survival of the Party, the fate of the socialist system, and the developmental direction of the country.

The construction of the 13th Central Committee must meet the following requirements: First, the 13th CPV Central Committee must be a collective that is united, pure, and strong, with high unity of action and will, firm political resolve, pure moral character, and persistence in the goals of national independence and socialism. It must possess strategic vision, wisdom, and creative innovative thinking; it should represent the militancy and discipline of the entire Party, maintain close ties with the masses, and be capable of consolidating the unity of the entire Party and people. It must have sufficient prestige and ability to lead the country into a new stage of development. Second, on the basis of ensuring standards are met, the 13th Central Committee must have a reasonable size and structure to ensure comprehensive leadership, strengthening the number of Central Committee members in important positions, regions, and fields, and ensuring inheritance, stability, innovation, and continuous development. Third, the recommendation of personnel must be based on planning, adhering to principles and regulations, and carrying out the spirit of responsibility, democracy, openness, transparency, and objectivity in personnel evaluation, recommendation, and selection. Nguyen Phu Trong proposed that members of the 13th Central Committee should be models for Party members and cadres in terms of political ability, moral character, and work competence, possessing both integrity and talent, with "integrity as the foundation." In his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Plenary Session of the 12th CPV Central Committee in May 2020, he emphasized that in personnel preparation work, one must hold high the banner of responsibility, strictly abide by the Party's organization and regulations, place the cause of the Party and the nation first, and resolutely prevent behaviors such as individualism, opportunism, factionalism, and "lobbying for positions" ^[9].

2. Formulating and improving standards and assessment systems for leading cadre positions

In August 2017, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) promulgated Regulation No. 90 regarding "Post Standards and Evaluation Criteria Sets for Leadership Cadres Managed by the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat," as well as Regulation No. 89 regarding "Post Standards and Evaluation Criteria Sets for Management Posts of Leadership at All Levels." These two documents clearly defined specific standards and evaluation indicators for positions ranging from primary leadership posts in central and state organs to regional leadership levels. On January 2, 2020, the CPV Central Committee promulgated Regulation No. 214 regarding "Post Standards and Evaluation Criteria Sets for Cadre Posts Managed by the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat" to replace Regulation No. 90. Regulation No. 214 further clarified the specific requirements for every leadership post.

Regulation No. 214 established explicit provisions for the general post standards for members of the Central Committee, members of the Politburo, and members of the Secretariat. It also set specific post standards for all centrally-managed cadres, including the General Secretary of the Party, the Standing Member of the Secretariat, the Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the Central Inspection Commission, the President and Vice President of the State, the Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers of the Government, the Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front ^[10], as well as ministers and deputy ministers of various ministries and commissions, secretaries and deputy secretaries of provinces and municipalities directly under the central government, governors and deputy governors, and chairmen and vice chairmen of councils. The post standards applicable to all centrally-managed cadres include five categories. First, regarding political ideology: absolute loyalty to the interests of the Party, the State, the nation, and the people; persistence in Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought; persistence in the goals of national independence and socialism, as well as the Party’s Doi Moi ^[11] line, etc. Second, regarding moral character and lifestyle: serving as a moral exemplar; being industrious, thrifty, upright, and honest, and acting with absolute selflessness ^[12]; having no ambition for power, playing a vanguard role in all aspects, and serving as a center of unity. Third, regarding educational level: possessing a university degree or higher; having an undergraduate or advanced level of political theory; possessing qualifications as a senior specialist in state management or an equivalent diploma; and possessing foreign language and computer skills compatible with the post. Fourth, regarding capacity and prestige: possessing innovative thinking, strategic vision, and scientific work methods; being creative, daring to think, daring to act, and daring to take responsibility; playing a cohesive and core role within the political system; and enjoying high trust from cadres, Party members, and the masses. Fifth, regarding health, age, and resume: being in good health to fulfill duties; meeting age requirements according to relevant regulations; and having a resume that includes serving in primary leadership positions in directly subordinate units.

On this basis, Regulation No. 214 also specifically clarified the post standards and evaluation criteria for members of the Central Committee and the Politburo. Among these, the standards for Central Committee members are elevated above the general standards for centrally-managed cadres, while the standards for Politburo members are further elevated above those for Central Committee members. For example, members of the Politburo and the Secretariat must also meet the following standards: in terms of political mettle, moral quality, wisdom and fighting spirit, leadership and management capacity, and organizational discipline, they must truly exert the exemplary leading role of the Party Central Committee and remain undisturbed by external forces or interest groups; they must have an in-depth and broad understanding of the national, regional, and world situation, possessing political sensitivity, economic insight, and a grasp of social conditions; they must formulate lines, principles, and policies for national development with a high sense of responsibility, be capable of grasping practical problems, and make decisions for the Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat; they must have served at least one full term as a member of the Central Committee; and they must have served as the head of a provincial or ministerial-level organ. Regarding evaluation, the assessment results for all positions must be "good" or above.

(II) Completing the Selection and Appointment of Local and Central Leadership Cadres Level by Level

1. Orderly advancing the convening of Party congresses at all levels and completing the leadership transition at local levels

In May 2019, the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee promulgated Directive No. 35 concerning Party congresses at all levels leading up to the 13th National Congress, proposing six requirements: (1) Party congresses at all levels must be held in accordance with the principles of inheritance, stability, reform, innovation, and development; they must promote democracy while persisting in principles and strictly observing discipline and rules. (2) Meticulous, in-depth, and effective discussions must be conducted on the draft documents for the 13th National Congress and the major perspectives, goals, propositions, and orientations proposed by higher-level Party congresses. (3) Personnel work for the 2020–2025 term must ensure the Party's unified leadership over cadres and cadre management work, including the Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat, and Party committees and standing committees at all levels. (4) Personnel preparation and election work must ensure compliance with the Party Constitution, various rules, regulations, and state laws, ensuring integrity, synchronization, continuity, democracy, transparency, and that results "enter the hearts" ^[13] of the people and are objective. (5) Members of delegations attending higher-level Party congresses must be exemplary representatives in terms of quality, morality, and lifestyle, possessing the wisdom and ability to make substantive and effective contributions to the success of the congress. (6) Throughout the preparation and convening of meetings, the Party's ideological foundation, political program, and line must be actively defended; meanwhile, one must remain clear-headed and vigilant to proactively prevent, resolutely oppose, and effectively stop the disruptive plots, methods, and actions of hostile forces, political opportunists, and disgruntled elements.

Directive No. 35 stipulated the timeline for holding Party congresses at all levels: grassroots Party organization meetings were to be held from April to June 30, 2020; county-level Party congresses were to be completed by August 31; and congresses for organs directly under the Central Committee were to be completed by October 31. By October 29, Party congresses for all 67 provinces, municipalities, and organs/units directly under the Central Committee had been successfully held and completed their tasks. All 63 candidates for the positions of Secretary of Provincial (or Municipal) Committees for the 2020–2025 term had been determined, including five secretaries for municipalities directly under the central government and 58 provincial committee secretaries. On November 19, the CPV Politburo held a national cadre meeting in Hanoi to summarize the organizational work of Party congresses at all levels for the 2020–2025 term; this was the first national summary meeting for congresses at all levels ever held in the history of the CPV.

2. Selecting the 13th Central Leadership Collective in a step-by-step manner

The planning for strategic cadres of the 13th CPV Central Committee and Politburo followed the principle of "orderly advancement in every step, steady and sure progress at every level." This involved planning for the Central Committee first, then the candidates for the Politburo and Secretariat, and finally introducing the candidates for key positions such as General Secretary, President of the State, Chairman of the National Assembly, and Prime Minister.

The 12th Plenum of the 12th CPV Central Committee, held in May 2020, discussed the personnel work plan for the 13th Central Committee, including the standards and conditions for Central Committee members, the structure, quotas, candidate recommendation processes, selection methods, and several issues requiring leadership implementation during the preparation and execution of the Central Committee's personnel work. Based on the recommendations of the Personnel Group for the 13th National Congress, the CPV Politburo discussed and approved the quotas and structure for the 13th Central Committee. Following the Politburo's decision, the Personnel Group notified all regions and organs to organize personnel recommendation work. Subsequently, meetings of the various organs, local standing committees, and primary cadres of provinces and municipalities conducted voting to recommend candidates for the 13th Central Committee. By August 20, 116 local and organizational units across the country had recommended 119 formal and alternate members of the 12th Central Committee to remain as members of the 13th Central Committee, and had recommended 107 new formal members and 44 alternate members for the Central Committee. The 13th National Congress Personnel Group and the Politburo held multiple meetings to discuss the recommended list of candidates. During the 13th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee held in early October, the 12th Central Committee voted on the nominations for members of the 13th Central Committee, members of the 13th Central Inspection Commission, and candidates for various ministerial posts. According to the plan, the 14th Plenum in December was to vote on the list of candidates for the next Politburo and Secretariat. However, the 14th Plenum failed to complete this task as planned, so it was decided to hold a 15th Plenum to make final determinations. At the 15th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee held on January 17–18, 2021, by invoking a "special case" (特殊情况) procedure, the plenum passed nominations for 10 candidates who had exceeded the age limit to enter the Central Committee and formed the list of candidates for the 13th Politburo and Secretariat to be submitted to the 13th National Congress for a vote.

(III) Flexible Adaptation: Electing a New Central Leadership Collective with Continuity

At the 13th CPV National Congress held from January 15–21, 2021, a 13th Central Committee composed of 180 formal members and 20 alternate members was elected. The congress also produced an 18-member Politburo (in which General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc remained in office despite being over the age limit) and a 19-member Central Inspection Commission. Nguyễn Phú Trọng was elected General Secretary of the Party for a third term. This result exceeded the predictions of many observers and broke Article 17 of the current CPV Charter, which stipulates that the General Secretary cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

Regarding why Nguyễn Phú Trọng was able to break the Charter provision and serve again as General Secretary, according to the explanation provided by Phạm Văn Đức, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, during a video conference held at the School of Marxism of Guangxi University on February 5, 2021: while the CPV Charter stipulates that the General Secretary cannot serve more than two consecutive terms, it also stipulates that the National Congress is the highest organ of power of the Party and has the right to decide on all matters. Before the convening of this congress, the CPV Central Committee had already determined that the Charter would not be amended. Therefore, at the 13th National Congress, a specific vote was held on the issue of "whether to agree to Nguyễn Phú Trọng serving as General Secretary for a third term without amending the Charter," and the result was a majority in favor. Accordingly, Nguyễn Phú Trọng was able to serve as General Secretary for a third term through a special method of a congress vote without amending the Charter.

It is understood that Nguyễn Phú Trọng himself initially had no intention of remaining in office, which is why it was decided before the congress not to amend the Charter. In July 2020, Nguyễn Phú Trọng sent a letter to the 12th Central Committee suggesting the recommendation of qualified individuals to succeed him. However, when the CPV Central Committee conducted an opinion poll among members of the 12th Politburo eligible for the General Secretary position, no one received more than half the votes; the highest vote share was only about 40%. Consequently, the CPV Central Committee made a flexible arrangement and initiated a special procedure to nominate Nguyễn Phú Trọng to remain in office. When meeting with reporters after the 13th National Congress, Nguyễn Phú Trọng also stated that he had no intention of staying due to his advanced age, but because the Politburo requested that he continue, as a Party member, he had no choice but to obey the Party's arrangement and strive to fulfill his duties effectively.

Thus, it can be seen that although very detailed regulations were made for the personnel elections of the 13th CPV Central Committee, the final result did not follow a step-by-step routine. However, against the current backdrop of the world facing changes unseen in a century and the internal need to further strengthen and deepen anti-corruption work, such an arrangement will facilitate the continuity of Vietnam's development strategy since the 12th National Congress and the further implementation and deepening of Nguyễn Phú Trọng's governance concepts.

III. Completion of the Drafting of the 13th National Congress Documents and the Determination of Vietnam's Medium- and Long-Term Strategic Development Plan

In 2020, the most important work in Vietnam's theoretical circles was completing the drafting of the 13th National Congress report and various congress documents. This primarily involved summarizing the achievements and experience of Doi Moi, planning Vietnam's development strategy for the next five years, ten years, and through to the middle of the 21st century, and preparing for the new Party congress to be held in early 2021.

(I) Meticulously Drafting Congress Documents and Seeking Opinions from the Whole People

Beginning in October 2018 with the 8th Plenary Session of the 12th CPV Central Committee, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) initiated the preparation work for the documents of the 13th National Congress. Following more than two years of preparation, four draft documents were formed: (1) The Political Report of the 12th Central Committee submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, which included a summary of 35 years of Doi Moi ^[14] (Renovation) and the work of the 12th Central Committee; the status of implementing the 1991 "Platform for National Construction in the Period of Transition to Socialism" over 30 years and its 2011 amendment over 10 years; and development strategic goals for the next 5 years, 10 years, and looking toward 2045. (2) The Summary Report on the Implementation of the 2011–2020 Ten-Year Socio-Economic Development Strategy and the Strategic Plan for the Next Ten Years. (3) The Summary Report on the Implementation of the 2016–2020 Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Strategy and the Strategic Plan for the Next Five Years. (4) The Summary Report on the 12th Central Committee's Party building work and the implementation of the Party Statutes. Starting in February 2020, outline drafts of the 13th CPV National Congress documents were dispatched to Party organizations at all levels and the National Assembly to solicit opinions, with local areas organizing Party members, cadres, and the masses to participate in discussions. After 22 rounds of supplementation and revision, the CPV Central Committee published the drafts of these four documents on October 22, 2020, widely soliciting opinions from both home and abroad, receiving millions of comments and suggestions. In the report at the opening ceremony of the Congress, Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out that various document groups respectively absorbed and organized these views, undergoing multiple revisions; the Political Report alone was revised over 30 times. The Congress documents, prepared with meticulous care, perfectly integrated theory and practice, inheritance and development, and the spirit of upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground. They crystallized the wisdom of the entire Party, the whole people, and the entire army, highly integrating the "will of the Party" and the "heart of the people," and converging the determination and will of all Vietnamese people to build and defend the country.

(2) Summary of the Achievements and Experience of Renovation

Regarding the results achieved by the cause of Vietnamese Renovation, Nguyen Phu Trong summarized it in one sentence: "Our country has never had the fortune, strength, international position, and prestige it has today!" This summary can be proven by extensive data.

Before Renovation, Vietnam was one of the world's least developed countries, with a per capita GDP of less than 100 USD in 1986. By 2020, Vietnam's total economic volume reached 268.4 billion USD, and per capita GDP reached 2,750 USD. Especially in the past five years, Vietnam's economy grew at an average annual rate of 5.9%, with the quality of economic growth continuously improving; labor productivity rose from 4.3% in the previous five years to 5.8% in 2020. People's livelihoods have improved significantly, and the proportion of poor households has dropped to 1.45%. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has identified Vietnam as one of the countries with the most prominent achievements in poverty reduction.

Political and social stability has been maintained, and significant results have been achieved in Party building. Positive shifts have occurred in the ideological, moral, and organizational work of Party members as well as in cadre work. Anti-corruption struggles have been carried out comprehensively, deeply, and meticulously, gaining the support of people nationwide. Notably, against the backdrop of being severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Vietnam's economic growth rate reached 2.91%, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. It achieved the dual goals of economic growth and pandemic control, demonstrating the superiority of the socialist system. The confidence of the Vietnamese people in the leadership of the CPV and the Vietnamese socialist system has been strengthened.

In terms of foreign affairs, the strategy of active and proactive international integration has continued to deepen, and Vietnam's international position and prestige have continuously improved.

Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that the achievements of 35 years of Renovation prove that the leadership of the Vietnamese Party and the path of socialist development are correct. Through summarizing the practice of 35 years of Renovation, especially the past 5 years, the CPV has derived the following five lessons of experience:

First, Party building and rectification must be persisted in effectively over the long term; the creative application of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought must be upheld; the anti-corruption struggle must be maintained to prevent the ideological degeneration of the Party and the "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" ^[15] of Party members and cadres; and cadre work must be viewed as the "key of keys."

Second, the perspective of "taking the people as the root" must be deeply implemented, adhering to the principle of "people know, people discuss, people do, people check, people supervise, and people enjoy"; keeping the people at the center of the cause of Renovation, strengthening the bond between the Party and the people, and consolidating the people's confidence in the Party and the socialist system.

Third, reforms must be promoted with high political determination, great effort, and resolute action; the superiority of the socialist system must be brought into play, highlighting the coordination and cooperation of the political system, and enhancing the sense of responsibility of the "top leaders" ^[16]; importance must be attached to the summary of practice and theoretical research, maintaining a spirit of innovation.

Fourth, importance must be attached to solving development problems and coordinating various relationships in the development process; in the process of development, practical importance must be given to exerting human agency and internalizing the roles of culture, education, science, and technology.

Fifth, on the basis of accurately judging the international situation, with national security as the center, the Party must persist in independence and autonomy while actively and proactively carrying out diplomatic work; special importance must be attached to handling relations with major powers and neighboring countries.

(3) Mapping a New Blueprint for Vietnam's Development in the New Period

On the basis of evaluating the domestic and international situation, the Political Report of the 13th CPV National Congress proposed the overall development goals for Vietnam in the next five years and beyond: enhancing the Party's leadership capacity, governing capacity, and fighting capacity; comprehensively building a clean and steadfast Party and political system, and consolidating the people's confidence in the Party and the socialist system; stimulating the people's aspiration to achieve national prosperity and happiness, and giving full play to the will and strength of great national unity, combining it with the power of the era; comprehensively and coordinately promoting the cause of Renovation, industrialization, and modernization; building and resolutely defending the motherland while maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; and striving to make Vietnam a socialist-oriented developed country by the middle of the 21st century. The above content constitutes the theme of the 13th CPV National Congress report.

The CPV has divided the development goals leading to the middle of the 21st century into three stages: By 2025, the 50th anniversary of the unification of North and South Vietnam, to become a developing country with modern-oriented industry that has surpassed the lower-middle-income level; by 2030, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, to become a developing country with modern industry and an upper-middle-income level; by 2045, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), to become a high-income developed country.

Among these, the specific goals for Vietnam's socio-economic development from 2021–2025 are: an average annual GDP growth rate of 6.5%–7%; per capita GDP reaching 4,700–5,000 USD; total factor productivity (TFP) contributing 45% to economic growth by 2025; average annual labor productivity growth of over 6.5%; an urbanization rate of approximately 45% by 2025; the manufacturing industry's share reaching over 25%, and the digital economy accounting for about 20% of GDP.

The report of the 13th Congress also identified the development strategy for the next ten years (2021–2030), including twelve directional tasks, six key tasks, and three strategic breakthroughs. The twelve directional tasks include: institutional mechanisms for development, the economic system, human resources, national culture, social welfare, climate change, national security, international integration, social democracy, the construction of a rule-of-law state, Party building, and the ten pairs of relationships that need to be coordinated in the development process. The six key tasks are: First, vigorously promote Party building and rectification, and build a clean and solid socialist rule-of-law state; second, accelerate the renovation of the economic growth model, adjust the economic structure, and build and improve the institutional mechanisms of a socialist-oriented market economy; third, inspire the will and determination for national prosperity and development and people's happiness, and promote the cultural values and humanitarian spirit of the Vietnamese nation; fourth, persist in an independent and autonomous foreign policy line, improve the quality and effectiveness of international integration, strengthen national defense and security, and safeguard the independence, sovereignty, and integrity of the country's territory, territorial waters, and airspace, while maintaining a peaceful and stable environment; fifth, exert the strength of great national unity, enhance socialist democracy and the people's right to be masters of the country ^[17], and strengthen the legal system and maintain social order; sixth, strictly manage and rationally use land, water, mineral resources, and other energy sources, improve the environment, and proactively respond to climate change. The three strategic breakthroughs are: first, improving the socialist market economy system, focusing on solving land-related issues; second, developing human resources, focusing on training high-quality talent; third, strengthening infrastructure construction, focusing on information technology infrastructure. The ten major relationships to be handled in the development process include: the relationship between renovation, stability, and development; between economic renovation and political renovation; between following market laws and ensuring a socialist orientation; between developing productive forces and building and gradually improving socialist relations of production; between the state, the market, and society; between economic growth and cultural development, and achieving social progress and social justice; between building the socialist motherland and defending the socialist motherland; between independence/autonomy and international integration; between Party leadership, state management, and the people as masters; and between exercising democracy, strengthening the legal system, and maintaining social order. Among these, the last pair was newly added at this Congress.

IV. Summary and Outlook

The year 2020 was a landmark year on Vietnam's socialist path, as well as a year full of challenges and uncertainty in the domestic and international environment. The Communist Party of Vietnam took charge of the overall situation, taking the preparation for the 13th CPV National Congress as the main thread, intensively arranging personnel for the leadership transition, and completing the drafting of the 13th Congress documents on the basis of widely soliciting public opinion; on the other hand, it calmly responded to various ideological challenges, severe domestic natural disasters, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and society. Ultimately, it successfully convened the 13th CPV National Congress, leading Vietnam onto a new journey of development and sounding the clarion call to march toward the "Two Centenaries" ^[18] goals. In particular, facing the sudden COVID-19 pandemic, the CPV leveraged its institutional advantage of centralized and unified Party leadership, proposing the dual goal of "preventing the pandemic while restoring socio-economic development and guaranteeing people's livelihoods." It promoted various tasks in a stable and orderly manner, finally achieving the dual goals of economic growth and successful pandemic control, fully demonstrating the superiority of the socialist system and strengthening the people's confidence in the Vietnamese Party and the socialist system. In 2020, Vietnam's economic growth rate reached 2.91%, making it one of the top 10 countries with the highest economic growth rate in the world and the only one among 16 emerging economies to achieve positive growth, winning wide international acclaim. Vietnam's international influence also rose to a new height. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated at the 2020 year-end national work meeting that 2020 is regarded as Vietnam's most successful year in five years of rising to meet difficulties and challenges; the people's trust in the Party and confidence in the country's future have been continuously consolidated and strengthened.

In this context, a sense of national pride permeated the country, and the 13th CPV National Congress formulated ambitious medium- and long-term strategic goals for future development: to leap over the middle-income trap in the next 5 years, to become a modern industrial country in the next 10 years, and to become a "high-income developed country" by the middle of the 21st century. However, according to data released by Vietnam, the per capita GDP in 2020 was only 2,750 USD, and the expected economic growth rate for the next 5 years is 6%–7%, which clearly does not match the goal of leaping over the middle-income trap; as for becoming a high-income developed country in the next 25 years—by present general standards, the minimum per capita GDP for a developed country is 12,000 USD, typically reaching around 20,000 USD—this is also clearly difficult to achieve.

Looking ahead to 2021, this marks the first year for implementing the resolutions of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). In the first half of the year, elections for the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels will be held to formally appoint a new term of state leadership ^[19]. It is expected that under the guidance of the new collective leadership of the Party and the State, the entire Vietnamese political system will adopt a more proactive posture to ensure a strong start for this new journey, striving to achieve even more fruitful results than in previous years. At a video conference between the Vietnamese government and localities nationwide held on December 28, 2020, CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong proposed that, in accordance with the spirit of the 13th National Congress resolutions, a "two-handed" ^[20] approach must be taken: both the effective implementation of various annual socio-economic development plans and the simultaneous consideration of the five-year plan and the ten-year development strategy. Meanwhile, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated: "Vietnam is fully capable of being at the forefront in many fields!" He also proposed raising the 2021 GDP growth rate target from 6% to 6.5%. However, during the convening of the 13th CPV Congress in late January 2021, a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Vietnam and subsequently spread rapidly to most cities across the country. As of January 24, Vietnam had recorded a total of 1548 COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths, with 54 days of no new local transmissions. Nevertheless, the third wave returned with great Ferocity. By February 21, in less than a month, more than 800 new cases were added. By early May, the entire nation of Vietnam was once again plunged into the "anti-epidemic struggle," with most commercial activities suspended and the tourism industry essentially at a standstill. Therefore, achieving a 6.5% GDP growth rate for 2021 may prove quite difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue exerting a significant impact on the Vietnamese economy, presenting a new trial for the incoming collective leadership of the Vietnamese Party and State.

(Authors: Pan Jin'e, Director and Research Fellow of the Department of International Communist Movement Studies, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Wei Lichun, 2019 Doctoral Student, School of Marxism, University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Online Editor: Tong Xin Source: Report on the Development of the International Communist Movement (2020-2021), Social Sciences Academic Press, June 2021, pp. 143-165.