National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man presided over the opening session on behalf of the Politburo. Before the session, delegates laid wreaths and offered incense at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son Street in Hanoi.
To Lam said the 14th National Party Congress had set major orientations and strategic goals, while the second and third plenums had adopted important policies on Party building, personnel, development and national defence. The fourth plenum, he said, must create conditions for implementation and prepare the theoretical, organisational and human resources foundations for Vietnam's long-term development.
He identified strengthening the Party's leadership and ruling capacity and promoting national unity as the overarching requirements. Party building, leadership methods, personnel and socio-economic development should be addressed together, linking immediate tasks with the goals for 2030 and 2045 and a longer-term vision.
To Lam called for a comprehensive review of 15 years of implementing resolutions and conclusions on Party building and rectification. He asked delegates to identify why some weaknesses remained unresolved and why violations recurred despite earlier warnings. New resolutions should address root causes and clearly assign responsibility.
He said Party building must genuinely rely on the people. Public trust should be strengthened by listening to public opinion, addressing legitimate interests and correcting shortcomings among officials and Party members. The role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations should be strengthened so people can take part in policymaking, monitor implementation and benefit from development.
On renewing the Party's leadership methods, To Lam said organisational restructuring must be accompanied by changes in working methods. The Party should provide unified strategic orientations, define responsibilities clearly and encourage initiative at each level and agency. The system in which the Party leads, the State manages and the people exercise mastery must work effectively, without overreach or weak leadership.
Decentralisation and delegated authority should provide real capacity for action under the two-tier local administration model. Authority must be matched with responsibility and resources, while collective and individual responsibilities should be distinguished clearly.
On personnel, the Party General Secretary called for a new approach to developing and using cadres based on current tasks and long-term national development. Assessment should focus on actual capability, integrity, prestige and performance, especially the ability to handle difficult tasks. Strategic-level officials should have vision and systems thinking, while grassroots officials should be able to solve practical problems and serve the people.
To Lam also called for stronger mechanisms to attract and use talent from the private sector, overseas Vietnamese communities and other countries. He urged wider opportunities for young people, women, ethnic minority officials and specialists in science and technology.
On socio-economic development, he asked the Central Committee to assess implementation of the 2026 targets comprehensively. The assessment should cover not only growth, but also productivity, business performance, incomes and living standards.
To Lam said 2027 must be a year of acceleration and breakthroughs. Efforts should focus on removing institutional bottlenecks, improving capital absorption, providing infrastructure, energy and human resources, and mobilising private and foreign investment.
He called for more effective State budget management, with resources directed to priority tasks and spending assessed by actual results. Rules on Party members' participation in investment and business should define rights and limits clearly and prevent conflicts of interest.
The Party General Secretary urged delegates to focus on major choices and unresolved problems, distinguish policy shortcomings from implementation weaknesses, and link responsibility to the quality and progress of institutionalisation and enforcement.
Every policy, he said, should have clear objectives, resources, responsibilities and a mechanism for evaluating and adjusting results. Immediate tasks should be linked with the 2027 plan and budget, while long-term initiatives should have clear outputs and timelines.
To Lam called on Central Committee members to hold democratic and frank discussions and place national interests and the legitimate rights and interests of the people above all else. The fourth plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee is scheduled to run through Thursday.
Sources: Viet Nam News
