The Party Central Committee has made clear that achieving breakthroughs in human resources means creating mechanisms that enable people to realize their potential, empower officials to perform effectively, and improve the overall functioning of the system.
A new approach to talent
Making effective use of talent begins with defining the nation’s development needs. In his closing remarks at the 4th plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee on Thursday, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said: “Personnel development, training, placement, and utilization must be guided by the requirements of specific tasks, and performance evaluations should inform selection and screening, ensuring continuity through tenures. Qualifications, political mettle, competence, and credibility must be demonstrated by work results. Performance assessments must take into account the difficulty of assignments, the conditions of their implementation, and their long-term value.”
The top leader’s remarks reflect a strategic vision for personnel work which covers identifying the right people for strategic tasks, assigning responsibilities, delegating authority, and providing the necessary resources. This is a fundamental shift in thinking. A nation seeking rapid and sustained growth must establish mechanisms that allow capable people to take on the right jobs, play to their strengths, and create value. Without appropriate responsibilities, decision-making authority, and adequate resources, individual capabilities cannot be fully utilized.
The Party Central Committee's resolution places the effective use of talent at the heart of its strategy, emphasizing that talented people do not necessarily have to work in state agencies but can contribute through scientific research, business activities, expert partnerships, or specific development projects.
Party leader and President Lam said: “We must connect domestic talent with Vietnamese professionals overseas and foreign experts, while strengthening links between educational institutions, research institutes, and businesses. Developing and training domestic talent must remain the foundation for the long term. Organizations employing talented people must assign them work commensurate with their abilities, enable them to master technologies, build teams, and transfer knowledge, while ensuring fair recognition and remuneration for both recruited talent and those already contributing.”
The approach is particularly relevant as Vietnam advances digital transformation, green growth, and strategic industries such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and biotechnology. Greater cooperation with overseas Vietnamese experts and foreign scientists can expand Vietnam's knowledge base and strengthen its capacity to master advanced technologies.
Improving implementation and accountability
Attracting talent alone is not enough. Effective implementation, clear accountability, and sound governance are equally important. Officials should be assessed against their assigned tasks, the authority and resources available to them, and their actual performance.
Major General Nguyen Van Sau, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute for Defense Strategy and History under the Ministry of National Defence, welcomed the new resolution.
Mr. Sau said: “I’m very hopeful that personnel work will shift from managing people to developing and making effective use of their capabilities. Instead of preparing personnel primarily for individual terms of office, we should develop a leadership talent pool capable of meeting the country's long-term strategic needs. Competent people should be entrusted with major responsibilities and given the authority to deliver. Those who create value should receive due recognition, while those who fail to meet requirements should be replaced in a timely manner.”
The 4th plenum's resolutions reaffirm that people are central to Vietnam's future. Investing in talent, improving personnel management, and strengthening capacity will help Vietnam harness its domestic strengths, enhance its competitiveness, and achieve rapid, sustainable growth in the new era.
