The guiding light (Part 2)

Part 2:

ONLY WITH A STEADY HELMSMAN CAN THE SHIP SAIL

Since the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the Party has continued to affirm its guiding viewpoint on “focusing on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially those at the strategic level and the heads of organizations, who possess the qualities, capabilities, and credibility commensurate with their responsibilities.” In his article titled “Radiant Vietnam”, written on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPV, Party General Secretary To Lam emphasized essential requirements for building a contingent of strong, clean, and steadfast cadres who remain firmly committed to the goals and ideals of Marxism–Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought. Of particular importance is the requirement to care for a pool of key officials at all levels who meet five fundamental criteria. In the new era, revolutionary cadres must embody integrity, competence, and a strong aspiration to devote themselves to the nation’s development.

From the 13th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, the Central Committee reached consensus on nine key orientations. Regarding the personnel work for the 14th National Party Congress, the Committee emphasized: “Upholding the exemplary role of leaders, valuing true talent, and appointing the right people to the right positions at the right time.” In the photo: Mac Dinh Huan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tan Hung commune, moderates a conference to gather feedback on the draft documents of the 14th National Congress of the CPV. Photo: Cam Lien.

New-era cadres must possess integrity, competence, and a strong aspiration to serve

During his keynote speech at the 1st Congress of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, term 2025–2030, held on September 29 and 30, 2025, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Head of its Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac emphasized: “The 2025–2030 Provincial Party Congress provides an opportunity to review, assess, and reorganize the contingent of cadres, particularly leaders and managers at all levels. It is necessary to boldly screen and replace officials who are corrupt, negative, or incompetent, fail to meet requirements, evade responsibility, hesitate to act, and lack diligence and professionalism. At the same time, there’s a need to respect, encourage, and protect cadres with a strong aspiration to serve, who dare to face challenges, dare to think and act, take responsibility, innovate, and create for the common good.” The Party Congresses at all levels and the Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress harnessed the strength of collective wisdom of key cadres, contributing to a unified vision and practical outcomes.

Following Central guidance, the 1st Congress of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee successfully completed two main tasks: reviewing the implementation of the 2020–2025 provincial Party congress resolutions and setting orientations, goals, tasks, and solutions for the 2025–2030 tenure; and discussing and providing input on the draft documents for the 14th National Party Congress. The Congress brought together the contingent of core cadres from the provincial to grassroots levels, crystallizing collective intelligence, and contributing to success from providing feedback to refine the Congress documents to reaching a consensus on the Action Program.

According to Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Dong Nai National Assembly delegation, “With 15 thematic reports, 56 discussion papers - including 12 presented directly at the Congress - and hundreds of contributions from group discussions throughout the Congress, these inputs have contributed to refining the documents to ensure they closely reflect the realities of life, are concise, memorable, easy to implement, and applicable throughout the next five years. These documents become a textbook and a reference guide, so that whenever needed, one can consult them and immediately see the guiding light."

More importantly, starting from the Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress, cadre work in the new era has been presented as a specific discussion topic, clearly identifying strengths and weaknesses to ensure that, in the new term, this contingent will continue to serve as the nucleus for developing intelligence, competence, and integrity, driving Dong Nai province forward into a new era of development.

Thai Bao, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Organization Commission, noted: “Cadres must meet key standards: steadfast political resolve, ethical integrity, high responsibility, exemplary conduct, honesty, dedication to serving the people, without seeking personal gain or engaging in corruption and negative behaviors. They should have innovative and creative thinking, the ability to seize opportunities, and the courage to think, act, and take responsibility for the common good. They must not evade, be sluggish, or passive in the face of emerging issues. They must also demonstrate practical competence, leadership, and management skills. These orientations and strategies serve as a lodestar for the Dong Nai provincial Party Committee to implement and direct the building of core cadres at all levels in the coming period.”

Aspiration of the revolutionary red seeds

The appointment of 68 individuals by the Politburo to the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term, 15 individuals to the Provincial Party Standing Committee, and 35 delegates to the 14th National Party Congress represents the core leadership team tasked with directing and implementing political duties and socio-economic development in the new term. These individuals are also recognized as the elite whose strength will be combined to drive breakthrough development of Dong Nai Province in particular and across the country in the new era.

Nguyen Minh Kien, Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai, and Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Youth Union, speaking on behalf of the province’s youth, said: “In my role as the leader of the province’s youth, I will fully demonstrate pioneering spirit, exemplary conduct, energy, and the aspiration of Dong Nai’s young generation in the coming period. At the same time, I call upon every cadre, union member, young person, and student to cultivate a spirit of openness, a commitment to learning and continuous professional development, and to nurture revolutionary ideals and patriotism. This will enable them to demonstrate innovative thinking, creativity, and the aspiration to contribute to development in every action.”

"Focusing on building a Provincial Party Executive Committee that is truly united, cooperative, cohesive, pioneering, responsible, and exemplary, serving as the core leadership for unity. This must begin with the standing members, the Party Standing Committee, and the Executive Committee, forming the nucleus for internal Party solidarity, ethnic unity, unity between religious and non-religious followers, and unity of the entire population.”

Phan Dinh Trac, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of its Commission for Internal Affairs

Mac Dinh Huan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tan Hung commune, shared: "In my role as a cadre and Party member, especially as the head of a commune in a remote area with a large ethnic minority population, I believe it is essential to maintain unity and cohesion, and always prioritize serving the people in the leadership. At the same time, we must innovate our thinking, while consistently preserving consensus and agreement in our approaches and methods. To achieve this, every cadre and Party member, particularly leaders, must set an example, uphold exemplary conduct, and maintain the noble qualities of revolutionary ethics: diligence, thrift, integrity, justice, and impartiality. In the new era, cadres must continually study and enhance their revolutionary ethics while also acquiring specialized knowledge and skills to ensure that leadership and management meet the demands and tasks of the new period."

Thi Dieu Hien, Standing Deputy Secretary of Tho Son Commune Party Committee, added: "As an ethnic minority member, in managing local government at two levels, I strive to cultivate ethical qualities, continue learning, and practice according to the ideology, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh. During my work, I aim to make meaningful contributions, particularly by introducing effective methods and innovative models to respond to digital transformation, implement the resolutions of the Provincial Party Congress in practical ways, and align initiatives with local realities."

Cadre work has always been the key of the key. After each Party Congress, by clearly identifying strengths and weaknesses of a term and continuously serving as the nucleus of development, the contingent of Party’s cadres must constantly refine their capacities, ethical standards, and aspiration to contribute, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for Dong Nai province.

By Cam Lien – Translated by Hong Van, Thu Ha