Must persistently cultivate culture, preserve the prestige and reputation of the Party.

That was the emphasis of Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc, former Director of the Institute of Party History (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics) in an interview with reporters of the People's Army Newspaper, revolving around the issue of building and enhancing culture within the Party, so that our Party is worthy of its position and mission of leading the State and society and meeting the expectations and trust of all classes of people.

VTC News•02/02/2025

The cultural foundation in the Party was conceived nearly 100 years ago.

Reporter (PV):

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc: First of all, Lenin's viewpoint when talking about building the communist party clearly stated that the party is "the intelligence, honor and conscience of the era". Thus, when talking about the communist party, Lenin talked about intellectual height. After all, intellectual height is a cultural value.

Imbued with Lenin's ideology, in the process of preparing to establish a genuine revolutionary party, in his work "The Revolutionary Path", Nguyen Ai Quoc placed the qualities of a revolutionary at the forefront. Looking back at the 23 qualities of a revolutionary, it is both the moral value in the Party, the morality of a communist, but at the same time it is also the height of culture. A nation or a political force with high cultural level is also one with high moral standards. When emphasizing moral standards, it means the cultural value of a ruling party. Later, President Ho Chi Minh summarized: "Our Party is moral, is civilized", then "civilized" already contains cultural values.

One of the things that creates the position and prestige of the Party is culture. When it comes to a nation and a political party, culture is decisive, as President Ho Chi Minh pointed out: "Culture lights the way for the nation to go"; during his lifetime, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once emphasized: "If culture exists, the nation exists", broadly speaking, if culture in the Party exists, our Party exists.

PV:

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc: In general, the culture within the Party is integrated into the national culture. National culture governs and sets requirements for the culture within the Party.

In each historical period, national cultural values and culture in the Party have specific requirements and contents. For example, in the national liberation revolution, the requirement of cultural values in the Party as well as in the nation is the aspiration for independence, freedom, and regaining the right to live for people. Culture focuses on carrying out that important task. In the construction of socialism, there are new cultural requirements, building a new socialist person requires cultural criteria and standards suitable to the new context and conditions. Our Party identifies: Culture is both the spiritual foundation of society and the goal, the endogenous strength, and the important driving force for national development. Culture is always associated with people. When it comes to national cultural standards, they are always associated with Vietnamese cultural standards, which are: patriotism, humanity, loyalty, honesty, solidarity, diligence, intelligence, creativity... These are also the ethical standards and cultural depth of cadres and party members.

Make culture permeate the hearts and minds of cadres and party members

PV:

Performance in the program celebrating the Party and spring organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Photo: CHAU XUYEN

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc: I think so too. Uncle Ho once warned that: “A nation, a party and each person, who were great yesterday, had great appeal, will not necessarily be loved and praised by everyone today and tomorrow, if their hearts are no longer pure, if they fall into individualism”.

Unfortunately, many cadres, including some high-ranking cadres, have not deeply absorbed that, allowing individualism to prevail and dominate, causing the cultural personality of the leader to degenerate and change. I think that cadres and party members who do not set an example in ethics mean that they are letting the communist culture gradually erode in their thinking and responsibility, and that is the path leading to degradation.

PV:

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trong Phuc: From practice, in order for the country to rise up in the new era, our Party needs to focus on 5 points in building culture within the Party.

First of all, the entire Party must improve its intellectual level. Every cadre and Party member, regardless of their level, must improve their intellectual level. This does not come naturally, but requires each person to strive to study to cultivate their own intelligence and thinking capacity. Regardless of the level, attention must be paid to improving one's thinking level: Think deeply, look far, and do big things. If these three things are achieved in thinking, the Party's intellectual level will be improved; the level of each cadre and Party member will be improved. When talking about culture in the Party, we must talk about intellectual level, communists must master information technology, digital transformation, and innovation, only then can they fulfill the Party's leadership and governance responsibilities.

Second, the Party must uphold its vanguard and exemplary role. Superiors must set an example for subordinates, those holding positions in the Party and in the political system must set an example for those who do not hold positions; Party members with many years in the Party must set an example for new Party members, from which they can set an example for the whole society, "Party members go first, the country follows". In the Party, cadres and Party members look to role models and leaders to think and act.

Third, talking about culture in the Party means talking about the reputation of the Party and the honor of communists. During his lifetime, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong repeatedly emphasized: "Honor is the most sacred and noble thing". We must persistently protect, preserve and foster the reputation of the Party. A Party with extensive experience in leading the revolution from 1930 to the present, so that the country has the foundation, potential, position and international prestige as it does today, the reputation of the Party is very great! Cadres and Party members must know how to preserve the reputation and prestige of the Party. Prestige within the Party, prestige with the people and international friends. Closely linked to the reputation of the Party is preserving the honor of each cadre and Party member.

Fourth, building culture in the Party means talking about the Party's discipline and order. We must comply with the principles of the Party, and must not act contrary to them. Acting contrary to them is an uncultured act. Uncle Ho taught: "For a good Party member and cadre to become a true revolutionary, there is nothing difficult. It all comes from within. If our hearts only know how to work for the Party, for the Fatherland, for our compatriots, then we will move towards impartiality. If we are impartial, our shortcomings will become less and less, and the following good qualities will increase more and more." Indeed, there is nothing difficult, it all comes from within ourselves!

Fifth, in building a culture within the Party, the key is that cadres and Party members must love, respect, and live together with affection and meaning. Poet To Huu wrote: "Even when we die, we still take off our clothes for each other/ Save a piece of rice to warm the hearts of the next generation", that is what communists are like. Therefore, living together must be affectionate, meaningful, loyal, and steadfast. The same is true within the Party, and with the people, that is the tradition of "helping each other when the lights go out", "people in the same country must love each other". Unity, love, and affection within the Party will make the Party much stronger. Just as Uncle Ho advised communists to love each other as comrades; understanding Marxism-Leninism means living together with affection and meaning. If you know a lot of books but live without affection and meaning, how can you understand Marxism-Leninism?

PV:

DUY THANH (performed)