Like the roc bird that has spread its immense wings and freely fluttered, the man with a big heart and burning love for the Fatherland, has also devoted all his passion to return to the sky. And from here, that heart will merge into a beautiful stretch of mountains and rivers...

“We need sustainable development in harmony with nature to ensure a clean living environment for present and future generations...” - General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. (In photo: A corner of terraced fields in Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa). Photo: Hoang Dong

The talented creator!

Every path that is explored and shaped begins with the first steps imprinted on the ground. The path to socialism in Vietnam is the same, with the first person to lay the foundation being the great President Ho Chi Minh. From this foundation, the stature of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in today’s era was built and shaped. In that process, it is undeniable that there is the talented hand of “architect” Nguyen Phu Trong.

As an excellent theorist, with the sharp thinking and strategic vision of the leader of our Party, and through the process of grasping profound reality, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has summarized the "inner meaning" of the socialist society that the Vietnamese people are striving to build, which is: "We need a society in which development is truly for the people, not for profit that exploits and tramples on human dignity. We need economic development that goes hand in hand with social progress and justice, not increasing the gap between rich and poor and social inequality. We need a humane, united, mutually supportive society, oriented towards progressive and humane values, not unfair competition, "big fish swallowing small fish", for the selfish interests of a few individuals and groups. We need sustainable development, in harmony with nature to ensure a healthy living environment for present and future generations, not must be to exploit, appropriate resources, consume material goods without limit and destroy the environment. And, we need a political system where real power belongs to the people, by the people and serves the interests of the people, not just for a wealthy minority. Are those good wishes the true values ​​of socialism and also the goal, the path that President Ho Chi Minh, our Party and our People have chosen and are steadfastly and persistently pursuing" (Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam).

From summarizing practice to elevate it to theory; then returning, applying that theory to practice; at the same time, drawing valuable lessons. That is a "process" of a serious scientific nature. It can be said that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is the one who deeply embodies the teaching of President Ho Chi Minh, that "Party cadres must understand revolutionary theory and theory and practice must always go hand in hand". Because practice is considered the measure, the standard of truth. Therefore, only when putting theories into practice, so that practice can test their rightness and wrongness, can success be achieved.

But how to practice to bring results is not an easy question to answer. As the General Secretary himself has pondered, "Both theory and practice show that building socialism is creating a qualitatively new type of society, which is by no means simple or easy. This is a great creative undertaking, full of challenges and difficulties, a voluntary, continuous, long-term undertaking that cannot be rushed." Understanding the law very well, the General Secretary has repeatedly pointed out that in order to build a Vietnam with a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization, it is necessary to determine that 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. Then, the enormous and historically significant development achievements that our country has achieved over the past decade have once again affirmed the strategic vision and intelligence of the talented creator - General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong!

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at a meeting with Vietnamese-Chinese friendship figures and young generations (December 2023). Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA

In many profound lessons learned during the process of leading the renovation and national construction, the leader of our Party has repeatedly emphasized the lesson of taking “people as the root”. “People are the root” because “people are precious” and also because “Phuc chu thuy tin dan do thuy” (meaning when a boat capsizes, one knows the strength of the people is like water). The Vietnamese people are the factor that creates invincible strength and are the ones who make history. Therefore, gathering the strength of the people, the strength of the people’s hearts, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome. Starting from that very humane viewpoint and perspective, in many of the Party’s policies - with the “constructive” mark of the General Secretary - people have always been placed at the center of policy, the center of development and upholding human dignity. From there, people’s trust in the Party’s leadership is built, to arouse unity, unity of heart and mind among the people, and to bring the Party’s policies into life.

This is even more true to our Party's orientation on building "The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people, for the people" and "mastered by the people" (Article 2, Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Therefore, the lesson of taking "the people as the root" has never been old to the Vietnamese people. And in his position as the head of our Party, that lesson has been firmly grasped and practiced by the General Secretary in a very humane and effective way. There are many typical examples, in which Vietnam's success in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring the socio-economy all started from the lesson of taking "the people as the root". In particular, also by firmly grasping and thoroughly practicing that viewpoint, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has created a "legacy of trust" in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

The person who carries the aspiration to "become a Dragon" for the nation!

When looking deeply into the past of thousands of years of building and defending the country of our people, it is not difficult to realize that, despite always having to face the danger of foreign invasion or countless internal adversities and difficulties, our ancestors have never stopped their desire for prosperity and stability for the nation. Therefore, under the reign of Emperor Le Thanh Tong, Dai Viet became a powerful nation in the region, and when discussing the ideology of "governing the country, bringing peace to the people" of the King of the Early Le Dynasty, later generations have summarized it into a very short and concise sentence: "Millions of people are pacified, hundreds of tasks are rectified, education is widely given, and the army is greatly determined". Then, in the Ho Chi Minh era, when the whole nation was struggling for the most arduous and fierce long journeys, President Ho Chi Minh always believed that the future of the Vietnamese nation would be "as bright as the spring sun" and aspire to "stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the five continents".

A few decades ago, if we talked about the aspiration to "become a Dragon" for the Vietnamese people, many people would have thought it was a far-fetched dream. However, there is a very obvious truth that, in order to develop and prosper, we must first have a burning desire for prosperity for the nation. From this strong urge, people will constantly seek and design specific and correct directions to realize that great aspiration. Throughout the years of holding the highest responsibilities and positions of the Party and State, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has never forgotten his concern: how to make the people rich, the country strong and enhance the position of the nation? And, it was also the General Secretary who pointed out that, in order to create a strong driving force for the country's development, domestic and foreign affairs must become "two wings of a bird, creating strength and power for each other".

Many politicians and scholars, when studying the life and career of the General Secretary, have agreed that: General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left a strong mark in many fields and in many development achievements of Vietnam. But the strongest mark, or the greatest legacy, must be mentioned as an extremely unique and effective diplomatic school; along with the arduous fight against "internal invaders", to clean up the apparatus and for the strength of the Party.

The "Vietnamese Bamboo Diplomacy" school, as the General Secretary himself has summarized, is a diplomacy that originates from the depths of national history: full of spirit, rich in humanity, peace, respect for reason, justice and righteousness. Because, our ancestors, despite having gone through many wars of invasion from the North and despite being on the winning side, never changed their peaceful viewpoints and attitudes, to maintain good relations, which is also to maintain peace and national independence. That is why, when fighting to make the Ming army scared out of their wits, having to trample on each other to escape, King Le Loi of Binh Dinh still said: "Than Vu did not kill, following the will of heaven, I opened a path of compassion for life/ Ma Ky and Phuong Chinh, gave them five hundred boats, but when they reached the sea, their souls were still flying/ Vuong Thong and Ma Anh, gave them several thousand horses, but when they returned to their country, their hearts were still pounding/ They were afraid of death and were truly peaceful/ I would rather take the whole army, so that the people could rest...". That viewpoint also comes from the deep compassion, kindness, tolerance, and altruism of the Vietnamese people.

“Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy” is also based on the diplomatic foundation that President Ho Chi Minh pointed out, which is “Responding to all changes with the unchanging”. In storms, bamboo always stands firm because its roots are firmly rooted in the ground. In diplomacy, “responsing to all changes” means putting independence, sovereignty, and national interests above all and first. As for “responding to all changes” - like the bamboo shoots can flexibly turn in the direction of the wind; in diplomatic strategy, depending on the historical moment and specific requirements, one can be flexible and adaptable to suit. Also from the diplomatic school that is both gentle and clever but also very resilient and determined; knowing how to be gentle, knowing how to be firm; knowing the time, knowing the situation; knowing oneself, knowing the enemy; knowing how to advance, knowing how to retreat, “adapting to the situation”, Vietnam has stood firm in the “tightrope game” with the world’s leading superpowers. At the same time, according to many scholars, this diplomatic school has demonstrated the very clear and intelligent strategic vision of our Party, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, when it has seen through the "pulse" or "main flow" of the world, to find and take advantage of the best interests for the country in the current complex world context.

Along with the success in foreign affairs that has contributed to creating a new position for Vietnam in the international arena; in domestic affairs, besides the strategies to promote socio-economic development, a mark that clearly demonstrates the mettle, prestige, determination and fierceness of the leader of our Party is the fight against corruption and negativity. According to a foreign scholar, when the General Secretary launched the anti-corruption campaign, he was required to be a pure "ten-gold bar" and not afraid of fire. And the reality of the past years has proven that, with the shining morality of a staunch communist, whose only ideal of service is for the interests of the nation and people; with the dignity of a "powerful and indomitable" scholar, who refuses to bow down to any force; with the spirit of fierce struggle, "no forbidden zones, no exceptions"... General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has set a shining example of impartiality in the uncompromising fight against "internal invaders". Although we know that handling erring officials is very painful, for the sake of the purity and strength of the Party, and for the trust and expectations of the People, we must still do it and do it without stopping.

The achievements in both domestic and foreign affairs over the past decade have become the foundation for the country's socio-economic development to develop remarkably and comprehensively. Therefore, we can proudly affirm: "The Vietnamese people have never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today". That is also the affirmation of the process of realizing the "dream of becoming a Dragon" of the Vietnamese people. And on that challenging but glorious and proud journey, there is the mark of the intelligence, courage, talent and experience of the leader of our Party - General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The one with the heart on fire!

During his lifetime, whenever he mentioned the beloved President Ho Chi Minh, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong could not hide his emotion and choking. The life of a great man who “has no medals on his chest and a heart behind his chest” has probably permeated deeply into the thoughts, feelings, perceptions and actions of the General Secretary. So, throughout his life serving the Fatherland and the People, the General Secretary always carried “under his chest” a pure heart burning with love for his Fatherland and his fellow countrymen.

And in the end, only a heart filled with love - love understood as a concept with the deepest and most comprehensive meaning - can become the basis for explaining the tireless, unceasing contributions of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the revolutionary cause of the Party, of the nation, of our People. That big heart has beaten strongly, to urge and gradually realize the aspiration for an everlasting country, a prosperous country, and a prosperous and happy people. That big heart has beaten heartily for a "new face of Vietnam" - so that the world will know Vietnam today not only through historical lessons, or a glorious historical past; but also as a confident and strong Vietnam in the international arena, ready to be a friend and a reliable partner with other countries. That great heart has been beating with aching beats, for the ideals of the Communist Party, for the prestige and integrity of a ruling Party - the representative of the conscience and intelligence of the nation and the times. That great heart has been beating with a concern for the cadres and party members, wondering how to make that team worthy of the honor and dignity of a true party member. That great heart has been beating with a burning beat, to light the "furnace" against corruption and negativity, with the hope that our Party will always be "moral, civilized", the torch illuminating the path for the Vietnamese revolution...

Now, when that great heart has returned to the "world of the good people", the fire he lit - the fire of patriotism, pride, self-respect, self-reliance, national self-reliance; the spirit of tireless struggle of a true communist for the Party's ideal; the spirit of self-sacrifice for the country, for the people... - will certainly be rekindled in millions of Vietnamese people's hearts. So that from that "Danko heart" will urge each person to continue to maintain faith and strongly step on the path of national development that the Party and President Ho Chi Minh have chosen. And even though that heart has stopped restless, this country will forever engrave the mark of the intelligence, courage, morality, and dignity of the very beautiful Vietnamese people. For an inevitable reason, those who have contributed to making the nation famous, are always worthy of becoming a monument: A monument of the spirit of justice and courage of a true, exemplary communist in the hearts of the People!

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For example, the lotus flower, a flower that lives in the mud but is a symbol of noble beauty, purity, steadfast will, and indomitable will to live, "close to the mud but not tainted by its smell". This exemplary person in morality, personality, dignity and life philosophy, has gone through countless challenges and temptations, but still has a heart of two bright red parts: One for the beloved Fatherland and one for the glorious Party. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has lived his life fully and faithfully, just as the young communist Paven Coocsaghin (a character in the novel "How the Steel Was Tempered" by Russian writer Nicolai Ostrovsky) said, which he knew by heart. That is also the guiding principle for life, the noble ideal of the steadfast communist Nguyen Phu Trong - an excellent student of the great teacher Ho Chi Minh, that: "The most precious thing for a human being is life and the honor of living, because a human life is only lived once. We must live so as not to feel regret for the years we have lived in vain, wasted; so as not to be ashamed of the mean, cowardly actions, and being despised by everyone; so that when we close our eyes and pass away, we can be proud that: All my life, all my strength, I have devoted to the most noble cause in the world - the cause of fighting for national liberation, human liberation, bringing happiness to the People"!

Le Dung