2024 viewed as a “very miraculous” year for Vietnam: Chinese veteran journalist

Spending more than 18 years working in and researching Vietnam, Ling Dequan has called himself an “old friend” of Vietnam and a “little student” of President Ho Chi Minh. He was once present in Vietnam during important moments, such as the fierce resistance war against the US after Vietnam carried out reforms and before the time both nations normalized their relations.

Talking to a VOV correspondent in Beijing about his impressions of Vietnam, he affirmed that 2024 is viewed as a "very miraculous" year for the place he has been attached to for decades.

“There were many important events during the past year. What impressed me most was that Vietnam had implemented a smooth transition of the top leadership generation, while ensuring socio-political stability, and economic growth of more than 7%. After the passing of late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, led by Party leader To Lam, has been decisive in all aspects of Party and State affairs, inheriting the past, moving toward the future, striving to improve, and achieving many outstanding successes both domestically and internationally.

In addition, through exchange visits, the two nations' senior leaders reached an important consensus, leading the relations between the two Parties and countries to develop at a higher level. The China-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future that carries strategic significance have been further strengthened. This also left a deep impression on me in 2024,” Ling said.

Reviewing Vietnam's achievements during the renewal process, the Chinese journalist, who personally experienced the years of war and the difficult period of the early 1980s in Vietnam, noted a deep appreciation of Vietnam’s tremendous accomplishments over the past nearly four decades, saying "There has been a historic transformation in Vietnam." He said the achievements of renewal made possible Vietnam's new era of rise, a new epoch in Vietnam’s history.

The restructuring and streamlining of the apparatus that Vietnam is currently undertaking is robust and extensive and could open up new development opportunities for Vietnam, he noted.

It can be said that after nearly 40 years of pursuing the Doi Moi (renewal) process, Vietnam has recorded many significant achievements.

Regarding the role and significance of these achievements for the "New Era - The Era of the Nation’s Rise", as well as the implementation of the two 100-year goals, the Chinese scholar stated that the new era marks the next stage in the modern history of Vietnam.

In 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born. In 1975, Vietnam won two resistance wars and unified the country. After that, Vietnam entered the stage of building socialism and the renewal process in 1986. In 2025, the country celebrated the 80th anniversary of its founding. These are all starting points of history and the starting point of an era.

“I personally experienced the years of resistance against the US, and also witnessed the difficult situation in the early period of renewal in the 1980s. I deeply feel the glorious victories in the two resistance wars and the cause of national unification as well as the great achievements over the 40 years of renovation since the 6th Congress, these are truly "earth-shattering" changes of historical significance for Vietnam. The 13th National Party Congress set two "100-year" vision goals and the 14th Congress will officially open the "new era of national development" of Vietnam,” he said.

After a long period of colonialism and decades of war, Vietnam was once one of the poorest and most backward countries in the world. But in just a few decades, Vietnam has developed into one of the fastest growing economies. From 1989 to 2023, GDP per capita surged 40 times. Within 20 years, more than 40 million people have escaped poverty. The country has fulfilled the poverty reduction goals in the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda ahead of schedule and is considered by the international community as a bright spot in global poverty reduction.

The first outstanding achievement after the 6th National Party Congress opened the renovation process that was to escape from the serious socio-economic crisis and follow the right path of development. The innovation of agricultural economic management in 1988 turned Vietnam from a "food-deficient country" into one of the main food exporters in the world, thereby quickly solving the problem of food and clothing.

Entering the 21st century, Vietnam has gained significant achievements in the renewal process, with the economic growth rate continuing to be maintained at a high level. In the 2021 – 2025 period, the average annual growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) reached 5.7-5.9%, leading the region and the world; the economic scales soared by 0.45 times, entering the group of middle-income nations.

Vietnam's GDP is likely to hit US$500 billion by 2025, with per capita income also increasing significantly from US$3,400 to roughly US$4,650.

By 2030, Vietnam is set to become an upper middle-income country. Notably, the lives of Vietnamese people have see significant improvement, while the nation’s international position and influence are increasingly elevated.

Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam which represents a historical juncture, and opens a historical opportunity. Great achievements are bringing Vietnam into a new era – an era of the nation’s rise which realizes the dream of the Vietnamese people, successfully building a socialist Vietnam with rich people living in a democratic, equitable and civilized society.

To achieve this goal, the 10th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee has reached a high consensus, proposed new thinking, and demonstrated political determination for strategic implementation and breakthroughs in order to successfully carry out the goals of the 13th National Party Congress’ Resolution, towards the successful organization of the 14th National Party Congress.

“I believe that under the steadfast leadership of the CPV, Vietnam's renewal process will make new breakthroughs, enter a new stage of strong and sustainable development, successfully achieve the 100-year goal of the Party's founding, lay a solid foundation to realize the 100-year goal of the nation’s founding, thereby realizing President Ho Chi Minh’s wish to make Vietnam a strong country to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s powers,” Ling said.

Asked about what issues Vietnam needs to focus on dealing with on the way to the new era and what lessons China can share with Vietnam, Ling said the 10th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee has proposed viewpoints and solutions to enter a new era. Recently, many important meetings of the Vietnamese Party, Government and army have summarized the achievements and limitations of the past year and devised goals and tasks for the coming year.

2025 is seen as another extremely important year for Vietnam. Not only will there be many major anniversaries, it will also be the year of party congresses at all levels and Vietnam will then host the 14th National Party Congress in early 2026, he added.

“I believe that the documents of the 14th National Party Congress will be an upgraded version, continuing the past, looking towards the future, pioneering and innovating the documents of the 13th Congress, firmly maintaining the viewpoints, directions, guidelines and core leadership goals, while outlining a development plan for the new period and clarifying specific issues and solutions that Vietnam needs to concentrate on resolving on the new journey. I am looking forward to the documents of the 14th Congress,”  Ling went on.

The continuous exchange of experience in Party and national governance and the exploration of a socialism development path suitable to each country’s conditions are unique features and valuable traditions in the relationship between the two Parties and countries. In the new development stage and new situation, in-depth exchange and mutual learning are becoming more and more important and will become necessary content in building a China-Vietnam Community of Shared Future that carries strategic significance.

“I am glad to see that in 2024, the two Parties and countries have had regular, in-depth and substantive exchanges and interactions.

I do not think that China's model can be applied to any country and only China can share its experience with Vietnam, but the two sides can completely exchange and learn from each other.

I am full of confidence in the prospects of Vietnam's renewal process, just as I believe in China's modernization process. We will definitely overcome difficulties and challenges and notch up greater victories,” he said.

With regard to the current work of streamlining the State apparatus in Vietnam, the Chinese scholar said streamlining the apparatus may be a common need of many countries, even international organizations in the world. There are many complex reasons leading to the establishment, expansion, streamlining of the apparatus and the repetition of this work in countries.

The reform of the apparatus in Vietnam this time is very strong and covers many areas.  Vietnamese senior leaders stress that the reform of the apparatus is a "revolution" and fully recognize the importance, urgency and difficulties of the work, he emphasized

“I hope that the revolution of restructuring and streamlining the apparatus that is taking place strongly and drastically in Vietnam will achieve its set goals and serve the implementation of the common goals set by the Vietnamese Party and the State.

China has carried out many reforms relating to the Party and State apparatus. The decision of the 3rd Plenum of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China clearly stated that deepening the reform of the Party and State apparatus is a profound reform to accelerate the modernization of the national governance system and capacity”, Ling said.

This conclusion shows the important role of deepening the reform of the Party and State apparatus in boosting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. It also indicates the correct direction that deepens the reform the Party and State apparatus must take, according to him.

Promoting the modernization of the national governance system and capacity is a complex and systematic project that must move towards a new era, effectively govern the country and society, fine-tune the socialist market economic institution, implement the people-centered development ideology, and persevere and strengthen the Party's comprehensive leadership.

These are closely related to the establishment of the Party and State apparatus, functional structure, and ability to perform tasks. All of these need to be conducted through in-depth reform of the Party and State apparatus, Ling concluded.