General Secretary andPresident To Lam speaks at the press conference. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Propaganda Department; Comrade Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Party Central Committee member, Head of the Party Central Committee Office co-chaired the press conference.

Attending the Press Conference were members of the Politburo, members of the Secretariat, members of the Party Central Committee; leaders and representatives of departments, ministries, branches, central agencies, Hanoi city and reporters, news agencies, domestic and international press.

The World and Vietnam Newspaper would like to introduce the full text of the speech of General Secretary and President To Lam at the press conference:

Dear reporters and all comrades!

Comrade General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - an exceptionally outstanding leader, a loyal communist party member with great prestige of our Party, State and People, the embodiment of all the qualities, talents, mettle and intelligence of the generation of Vietnamese leaders in the renovation period, whose passing is an extremely great and irreplaceable loss for our Party, our Nation and our People; at this moment, our entire Party, our entire people, our entire army and international friends are still very emotional, still not over their infinite grief for our exceptionally outstanding leader.

However, in response to the urgent and regular requirements and tasks of the Party and State in building and developing the country and taking care of the people's lives, the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee have decided to consolidate the leadership positions of the Party and State, first of all the position of General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Party. This is an urgent requirement of the Party and the country at present, aiming to ensure the leadership role and successfully implement the goals of the 13th National Congress of the Party; prepare for Party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Congress of the Party; create a solid foundation to achieve the strategic goals of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and at the same time, determine the future vision, bringing Vietnam on par with the world powers, contributing to peace and development in the world.

The mid-term election of the General Secretary was carried out in accordance with the Party Charter, the personnel work orientation of the 13th Party Central Committee, and the Party's regulations on cadre work; this is not a new issue, in the history of our Party, we have also elected General Secretary in the mid-term for comrade Truong Chinh and comrade Le Kha Phieu.

The process of preparing and introducing the General Secretary position was carried out strictly, in accordance with principles, fully meeting the standards, titles, and procedures prescribed by the Party. To ensure stability, inheritance, and development of the experiences and achievements of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, previous leaders, and the Central Executive Committees of previous terms, with the highest responsibility for the common cause of the Party and the country. The Politburo and the Central Executive Committee discussed democratically, thoroughly, considered many aspects, and demonstrated a very high level of consensus in introducing and electing the position of General Secretary of the 13th Party Central Executive Committee.

Being trusted by the Politburo to introduce, trusted by the Party Central Committee to elect and assign the important responsibility of General Secretary, I am deeply aware that this is a great honor, and at the same time an honorable responsibility before the Party, State and People; before the tradition of our ancestors and the glorious history of thousands of years of civilization of the nation; before generations of previous leaders, before the requirement to successfully implement the path of innovation and build socialism in our country.

As General Secretary, I will join the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat to inherit and promote the glorious traditions and valuable experiences of our Party, to bring into full play the spirit of "self-reliance, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, and national pride"; to strengthen solidarity and unity within the Party and the great national unity; to unite thoughts and actions, Party ideas and people's hearts; to strive to successfully implement the Party's policies and guidelines, first of all the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of Delegates; to devote ourselves, to devote ourselves, to strive and sacrifice for the glorious cause of the Communist Party of Vietnam, for a prosperous, democratic, equitable, civilized Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and for the Vietnamese people to have a prosperous and happy life.

Firmly apply and creatively develop Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thought, the goal of national independence, socialism and the Party's renovation policy; ensure the highest national and ethnic interests; wholeheartedly serve the Fatherland and the People, consider the happiness of the People as the joy and reason for living; fully and deeply care for the people's lives. Socio-economic development is the center, Party building is the key, cultural development is the spiritual foundation, ensuring national defense and security is essential and regular; combine national strength with the strength of the times, maximize internal strength, take advantage of external strength, in which internal resources and human resources are the most important.

General Secretary and President To Lam speaks at the press conference. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Continue to lead the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army to resolutely and effectively implement the major orientations and strategic breakthroughs set forth by the 13th National Party Congress, with 6 key focuses: (1) Maintain independence and self-reliance; strengthen national defense and security potential; resolutely and persistently protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, sea, islands, and airspace of the Fatherland. Persistently pursue the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification, and constantly increase Vietnam's contribution to peace and development in the region and the world.

(2) Promote the strength of national solidarity in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. Firmly maintain the stance, viewpoint and practice of "people are the root", "people are the subject and center of the innovation process"; ensure that all people enjoy the fruits of innovation and development, live happily in a secure and safe environment, and no one is left behind.

(3) Focus on building a truly clean and strong Party; resolutely and persistently fight against corruption and negativity; build a contingent of cadres and Party members with qualities, abilities, and prestige equal to their tasks, wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland and the People.

(4) Continue to promote socio-economic development, together with national potential; strongly promote investment, production and business; mobilize maximum social resources for the cause of sustainable national development, environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

(5) Arouse the spirit, will, determination, and promote to the highest extent the values ​​of Vietnamese culture and the Vietnamese socialist people in building a rich, democratic, equitable, and civilized Vietnam.

(6) Prioritize effective and quality direction of documents and preparations for Party congresses at all levels towards the successful organization of the 14th National Party Congress.

(Photo: Tuan Anh)

We vow to faithfully continue the great cause of President Ho Chi Minh, continue to realize his noble ideals and the legacy left by previous generations of leaders, including the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; together with the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army, constantly strive to create new development miracles, successfully realize the teachings of the great President Ho Chi Minh and the aspiration of the entire nation " Our entire Party and people unite to strive to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam, making a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause ".

We firmly believe that, with the correct and lawful political line; always taking serving the People as the goal to strive for, operating for the interests of the working class, the working people and the whole nation, for the goal of national independence and socialism; with the wholehearted trust of the People and support of international friends, our Party will promote its fine traditions, grow increasingly mature, strong, and last forever with the nation, blending into the hearts of the people.

Dear comrades, in addition to the great achievements and results that our country has achieved today, we are also facing great difficulties and challenges, the world situation is extremely complicated. The 14th National Congress of the Party is approaching, there are still many tasks to be implemented. Today, I have been entrusted by the Central Executive Committee with a very important responsibility. I hope to continue to receive valuable help from revolutionary elders, leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Fatherland Front and organizations, agencies, departments, branches, localities, sectors, compatriots, soldiers nationwide, overseas Vietnamese and international friends and partners... to help me successfully complete the assigned tasks.

Finally, once again I would like to express my sincere and deep gratitude for the Party, State and People's trust in me with this great responsibility. I wish you all good health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much!