Sustainable development associated with institutional improvement

The 13th Party Central Committee has announced the full text of the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Party Congress. Many scientists, experts and intellectuals expressed their interest and made many practical proposals, focusing on fundamental issues such as sustainable development, environmental protection, building a well-rounded Vietnamese person and perfecting institutions, considering these as important pillars to ensure the country's rapid and sustainable development in the new period.

Panorama of the opening session of the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly , October 15. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Sustainable development associated with people

Dr. Nguyen Song Tung, Director of the Institute of Geography and Humanities (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), said that it is necessary to have a more realistic view in the assessment of the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress in the draft documents submitted to the 14th National Party Congress, especially the content on " agriculture rapidly shifting towards ecology, greenness, circularity, and high-tech application". In fact, the current level of transformation is still slow, and the scale of green and circular agricultural models is still small. A correct assessment of the nature of this process will help policy making work more suitable to the conditions and resources of each locality.

According to Dr. Nguyen Song Tung, for environmental protection work, it is necessary to add social awareness and responsibility of cadres and civil servants to the group of limiting causes. The lack of uniformity in awareness of environmental protection is one of the important reasons why the implementation of goals on climate change response and sustainable development has not achieved the desired results.

Regarding the development goals for the 2026-2030 period, Dr. Nguyen Song Tung said that the targets in the draft are basically reasonable, but should be adjusted to focus more on sustainability. Specifically, it is necessary to increase the forest cover rate from 42% to about 45% to be consistent with the Green Growth Strategy and the goal of reducing net emissions to zero; at the same time, increase the rate of trained workers with degrees and certificates to meet the requirements of industrialization and modernization of the country.

Dr. Nguyen Song Tung also proposed that the draft should more strongly affirm the goal of “perfecting and synchronizing the socialist-oriented market economic institutions”, considering this a key breakthrough for rapid and sustainable development in the new era. Along with that, increase investment spending on education, science, technology, innovation, create favorable conditions for private enterprises to develop strongly, form corporations with international competitiveness, and contribute greatly to growth.

In the field of culture and people, the draft should more clearly demonstrate the construction of standards for Vietnamese people in the new period, with core values: "Patriotism, solidarity, self-reliance, loyalty, honesty, responsibility, discipline, creativity. At the same time, add the target of improving people's happiness index to the group of key tasks, towards harmonious development between material and spiritual, between economic growth and social progress.

"Sustainable development can only be achieved when institutions, economy, society and environment are harmoniously connected, in which people are both the center and the subject of all policies. Culture, environment and people are the foundation of development. When institutions are perfected, sustainable development policies will have a solid foundation to enter life," Dr. Nguyen Song Tung commented.

Perfecting institutions, creating a foundation for sustainable development

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hung Cuong, Director of the Institute of Social Science Information, the announcement and public consultation on the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Congress of the Party demonstrates the spirit of openness, democracy and science in the preparation process for the Congress. The draft Political Report this time has a new, concise, comprehensive and effective approach, when integrating the content of three documents compared to previous Congresses.

This draft Political Report accurately reflects the country's position and development potential in the context of complex and unpredictable changes in the international and regional context; at the same time, it clearly identifies three new growth drivers including science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; creating a foundation for the formation of value chains associated with green transformation, energy transformation and the development of high-quality human resources.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hung Cuong commented that in order for development goals to be realized, it is necessary to determine the economic growth target for the 2026-2030 period in a reasonable, feasible and sustainable manner. Setting a double-digit growth target represents a great aspiration, but can only be achieved with a solid institutional foundation, adequate resources and effective implementation capacity. Therefore, the growth target should be adjusted to maintain around 6-8% per year, along with stabilizing the macro economy, controlling inflation and aiming for sustainable development, instead of pursuing growth at all costs.

The draft Political Report also clearly demonstrates the determination to innovate the growth model from relying on public investment, export and consumption to a model based on productivity, science, technology and institutional efficiency. However, for the three new driving forces to truly be effective, it is necessary to perfect mechanisms and policies to promote innovation, improve labor productivity, unleash potential in the private sector and enhance the competitiveness of the economy.

Regarding the structure of economic sectors, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hung Cuong highly appreciated the fact that the draft Political Report continues to affirm that the private economy is the most important driving force of the national economy, in parallel with the state economy playing a leading role in leading, orienting strategies and ensuring major balances. He also said that it is necessary to clarify the connotation between the "leading role" of the state economy and the "most important driving force" of the private economy, to avoid overlap, while creating conditions to maximize the role of both sectors.

In addition, the state economy should focus on strategic areas that have long-term directional significance for national defense, security, science and technology; meanwhile, the private sector should be encouraged to develop strongly, becoming a pioneering force in production, business and international integration.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hung Cuong also highly appreciated the draft's frankness when pointing out the limitation that "organization of implementation is still the weak link". Clearly identifying this weak link is a warning and a direction for overcoming in the next term. In the context of the country shifting to a two-level local government model, perfecting the apparatus and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of management will be important conditions for the Party's guidelines and policies to truly come into life.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/phat-trien-ben-vung-gan-voi-hoan-thien-the-che-20251022085040253.htm