Requirements for leadership and management personnel in the realization of national development goals today

ASSOC. PROF., DR. LE VAN CHIEN
Institute for Leadership and Public Policy,
Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

1. Current context for implementing national development goals

Over nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, coupled with the resilient and persistent efforts of the entire nation in building and developing the country, Vietnam has achieved significant economic, political, and social accomplishments and established its position on the international stage. as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed: “Our country has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today”(1). The 13th National Party Congress set forth the goal of developing a prosperous and happy country and specified specific tasks and goals: “By 2025: Becoming a developing country, with modern industry, surpassing the low middle income level. By 2030: Becoming a developing country, with modern industry, with high middle income. By 2045: Becoming a developed country, with high income”(2).

To realize these goals, it is necessary for the country to prepare a variety resources, focusing on high-quality human resources, with leadership and management personnel being the most critical. This task becomes increasingly urgent in the context of a rapidly changing and complex world like today.

Vietnam is pursuing its national development goals amidst significant challenges and unprecedented complexities on a global scale. Globalization has become increasingly unpredictable, while the world is undergoing Industrial Revolution 4.0, characterized by the rapid development of science and technology that can comprehensively change modern society- from production and business methods to human interaction and societal operations. This context poses new and more complex problems for the nation’s leadership and management teams, requiring breakthroughs in thinking and action to realize the national development goals as set out by the 13th National Party Congress.

The complex global context

Globalization continues to surge, marked by high levels of production relocation and massive flows of international trade, finance, and knowledge. While globalization originally stemmed from economic and trade demands, over time, various sectors-ranging from financial and technological exchanges to political activities and policymaking-have become deeply interdependent.

The scientific and technological revolution with the wave of Industrial Revolution 4.0 based on the pillars of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data has been creating a world with a rapid pace of change, high levels of uncertainty, and dispersed power. These are the challenges of the times that humanity in general and leaders in particular must face, requiring innovative thinking and new approaches to adapt and develop, and so on.

Although “the world is undergoing great changes, evolving very rapidly, complicatedly, and unpredictably”(3), the major trend in the world is still “peace, cooperation, and development”(4), and “globalization and international integration continue to progress”(5), “the globale situation continues to shift towards multipolarity and multicenter”(6). At the same time, the global situation poses significant challenges that could affect Vietnam’s stability and development, such as: “strategic competition among major countries, local conflicts that persist in various complex and intense forms, increasing risks to the economic, political, and international security environment”(7), extreme nationalism, great power hegemonism, and pragmatism in international relations are increasing; strategic competition between major countries is particularly complex and fierce, with the multipolar order becoming increasingly apparent, etc.; In the Asia-Pacific region, especially the situation in the East Sea, significant challenges and latent risks of conflict remain(8).

National Context

Over nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process, our country has achieved significant accomplishments, transitioning from one of the world’s poorest countries to a developing country with lower-middle-income status. Vietnam is increasingly engaging in deep international integration, not only in the economic sector but also in politics, culture, and security, etc. The standard of living has improved, from an average income per capita of only about USD 200 in the early 1990’s, to about USD 4,284 in 2023. The scale of Vietnam’s economy is currently USD 430 billion (in 2023)(9), and Vietnam’s international position and reputation are steadily strengthening. However, compared to other countries in Asia such as Korea, China, and Singapore during their early stages of development, Vietnam’s economic growth rate in recent years remains at a lower rate, and is showing signs of deceleration. The risks of economic backwardness, deviation from socialism, corruption and social evils, and the plot of “peaceful evolution” by hostile forces identified by our Party still exist, with some issues becoming more complicated. New issues that Vietnam is facing such as climate change and non-traditional security threats are also significant challenges in the process of Vietnam realizing its development goals.

That context presents challenges that leaders and managers must face and solve, as well as many opportunities that they must know how to take advantage of and promote. First and foremost, they must recognize the critical and decisive issues that will determine whether Vietnam can achieve its national objectives.

In respect of opportunity

Firstly, social consensus and national unity around the Communist Party of Vietnam. In a world marked by unpredictable changes like we see today, political stability, social consensus, and the unity of the entire nation around the Communist Party of Vietnam are invaluable conditions. These are sacred assets that need to be cherished and promoted on the path to realizing the national aspirations set forth by the Party. Since its inception, our Party has operated solely for the people’s benefit. Our Party has led the entire nation from one victory to another, from the national democratic revolution to the socialist revolution, always prioritizing the people’s interests as its guiding principle and ultimate goal. This commitment has established the Party’s “legitimacy” throughout the nation’s history.

Today, the unity of “top-down and bottom-up consensus”(10) is an unparalleled strength that propels the nation towards its future, realizing the goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation. Leaders and managers at all levels need to respect, preserve, and promote these values ​​as a tremendous driving source, ensuring success in development. This is a unique advantage not all countries in the world possess.

Secondly, Industrial Revolution 4.0 and digital technology present a “golden opportunity” for Vietnam to realize its development goals. As a country heavily devastated by wars, Vietnam entered the post-war period of national reconstruction with a very low starting point. To progress rapidly and “stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s great powers”, the path of industrialization and modernization of the country according to a “take a short-cut” model, industrialization and modernization following a “compressed model” that leaps directly into advanced technology is an inevitable necessity. If we continue to carry out the industrialization and modernization of the country in the traditional way, Vietnam will face many difficulties because it requires a lot of capital while our country’s economic accumulation is still very low. In this context, Industrial Revolution 4.0 with digital technology is a great opportunity for Vietnam to leapfrog to modernity. Unlike previous industrial revolutions, Industrial Revolution 4.0 is not based on capital investment but on knowledge. An individual or a company can get rich quickly without much capital Individuals and companies can rapidly gain wealth with minimal capital investment (e.g., taxi companies without investing in cars, supermarkets without stocking inventory, or requiring physical spaces). With the intelligence of the Vietnamese people, this represents a “golden opportunity” for Vietnam to enter the digital age and develop quickly and sustainably, realizing its goal of becoming a developed country by mid-century. Leaders and managers need to make the most of this opportunity to drive local and national development.

Thirdly, new global value chains fueled by innovation and creativity. In an economy increasingly based on knowledge and virtual interactions, emerging and developing nations like Vietnam have clearer opportunities to participate in high-value-added segments of the global value chain. In the digital environment, virtual space, intelligence is an invaluable asset. For economic development, countries no longer require large reserves of tangible resources like natural materials or capital; instead, knowledge, innovation, and creativity are the keys to growth. The Vietnamese people are intelligent, creative, and flexible, so they are well-suited for the current development context. This is a huge advantage for Vietnam, and a historic opportunity for our nation to create an economic breakthrough.

On challenges

Firstly, virtual territorial borders. One of the biggest challenges that can affect all processes of realizing development goals is virtual space. Today, cyberspace serves as the primary platform for interaction in modern and future societies, where individuals may operate more in virtual than physical space. Thus, the virtual space is also a “territory” of a country, parallel to its physical space. In fact, this is also Vietnam’s “economic territory”, where a significant volume of economic activities and globalization take place.

Leaders and managers, therefore, must be aware of this issue and must have an appropriate approach to occupy and control this “territory”. This is the basis for transmitting the Party’s policies, the State’s policies, and the messages from leaders and managers. Conversely, if leaders and managers cannot control this space, the consequences can become unpredictable. Recent developments show that when “virtual territories” are not managed, and unverified information reaching the public, can cause widespread confusion.

Secondly, the traditional growth model based on exports faces many challenges. From an economic perspective, the question is how to achieve rapid and sustainable economic growth. Globalization was once the foundation for miraculous economies like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China to soar. A common feature among these economies (except Japan) was that their miracle growth was based on exports, especially in the cases of South Korea and China. These countries all fully leveraged globalization to develop their economies. However, the current global context has changed. the favorable conditions that existed in the previous period no longer exist, trade regulations among countries have become stricter, the trend of protectionism among countries has increased, and trade wars among major countries have also affected the foreign trade of developing countries, including Vietnam.

Thirdly, the need for a foundation for a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation. In today’s context of Industrial Revolution 4.0, scientific and technological knowledge is at the heart of economic development models while capital, labor, and resources play a more limited role. Meanwhile, Vietnam is a country that has just emerged from poverty and underdevelopment, with low economic reserves and weak scientific and technological capabilities that have yet to receive substantial investment. This situation becomes even more challenging in a global market that is increasingly demanding. It poses a significant obstacle to Vietnam’s progress in achieving its development goals.

Fourthly, challenges related to non-traditional security. In the current context, to maintain independence and autonomy in development, every country must effectively address security and defense challenges that threaten their independence. Unlike it in the past, Vietnam now faces both traditional and non-traditional security challenges in all economic, social, environmental, and cultural fields, with non-traditional issues being predominant and exerting constant pressure.

2. Key requirements for leaders and managers in the current period

To fulfill their mission in the new context, leaders and managers need to fulfill the following basic requirements:

Firstly, arouse and spread the aspiration for a strong Vietnam.

In times of peace, the threat to the nation’s survival may not appear overtly. However, the risks to the nation’s aspirations for independence, self-reliance, and self-strengthening are not reduced, On the contrary, the Vietnamese people are facing many challenges simultaneously, from national security and defense to economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues. Therefore, the aspiration for independence and self-reliance must be emphasized and disseminated, serving as a unifying foundation for action for each individual and the entire nation.

It is essential to foster a shared understanding of the meaning and significance of national aspirations across all social classes: the vision of a Vietnam overcoming all adversities and challenges to become a prosperous nation.

Secondly, demonstrate dedication, wisdom, and a willingness to devote oneself to the common good of the nation.

The goal of national development can only be achieved when our Party builds a force of Party members who are truly dedicated, wise, imbued with national aspirations, steadfast, and ready to sacrifice for the common good. Party members, first and foremost the leaders and managers, must truly embody the cause of national development for a “strong Vietnam”. The leaders and managers must understand the trends of the times and the global context, while simultaneously having a deep understanding of the core values ​​and quintessence of the nation. They must know how to promote those values, to lead the nation to achieve its development goals.

History teaches us that in the early stages of nation-building, leaders often emerge as figures instrumental in founding the country. They are political and military leaders who grow through the struggle for independence and freedom, embodying the collective cause and earning the people’s unwavering trust. Subsequent generations of leaders, who inherit the governance of an established nation, face multidimensional and complex challenges. This period demands exceptional determination, intellect, and effort while also exposing leaders to significant temptations that could divert them from the goal of national prosperity. The legitimacy of this generation of leaders is only affirmed if they successfully resolve the above challenges. Vietnam currently finds itself in this stage of leadership, not associated with the founding of the country. Leaders ability to define new objectives for the nation, navigate modern challenges, and lead the country forward will impact the regime’s resilience.

Thirdly, establish and operate a suitable and optimal institution that maximizes the potential and internal strength of the entire nation.

Historical lessons reveal periods of remarkable national development are often associated with two outstanding characteristics: (i) The emergence of a cadre of leaders, particularly top leaders, who are virtuous and talented, embodying the will and aspirations of the people and committed to the greater cause. This contingent of leaders and managers establishes a suitable institutional frameworks that mobilize, organize, and direct national resources toward the common goal of ensuring the well-being and happiness of the people.

Ultimately, the value of a society lies in the sum values ​​created by individuals and organizations. Producing this value requires passion, creativity, perseverance, and investment of effort, intelligence, and finance into specific, unique issues. To optimize the total value of the whole society, the State needs to build institutions so that each individual and organization can maximize the value they can create on the basis of common prioritized orientations. The apparatus should focus on leadership and management, minimizing costs and obstacles for individuals and organizations in their value-creation processes, while ensuring redistribution efforts align with societal objectives.

Therefore, the current crucial task for the Party, specifically for its leaders and managers, is to concentrate maximum intelligence and courage on the work of successfully building and operating an institution that will direct the entire system to work for the common goal of the nation, aiming to make Vietnam a developed country by the middle of the 21st century.

With numerous Party and State policies aimed at building a strong cadre of leaders and managers - especially at the strategic level, such as Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated May 19, 2018, by the 7th Plenum of the 12th Central Committee on focusing on building cadres at all levels, particularly strategic-level leaders, with the necessary qualities, capabilities, and credibility to meet their responsibilities, and the National Strategy on Talent Attraction and Utilization by 2030 with a vision to 2050 (Decision No. 899/QD-TTg dated July 31, 2023, by the Prime Minister) - Vietnam is on the path to realizing its goal of becoming a developed nation by the mid-21st century as set forth by the 13th Party Congress.

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Received: June 11, 2024; Revised: July 16, 2024; Approved for publication: July 24, 2024.

Endnotes:

(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol.I, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, p. 25, 36, 105, 105, 105, 105, 105, 207-208.

(9) To Ha: The size of Vietnam’s economy is about USD 430 billion, https://nhandan.vn/, posted on January 1, 2024.

(10) Nguyen Phu Trong: Resolutely and persistently fight against corruption and negativity, contributing to building our Party and State to be increasingly clean and strong. National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2023, p.523.