The principle "The people are the root" is a guiding principle for designing and implementing policies (Illustrative image: VOV2)

“People as the root” is a major ideological tenet and principle intrinsic to the laws of development of the Vietnamese revolution and nation. It is also one of the core themes emphasized in the documents of the 14th National Party Congress.

Central role of the People in the revolutionary cause

Throughout Vietnam’s revolutionary history, the principle that “People are the root” has been a moral truth and fundamental guideline by which the Communist Party of Vietnam has rallied, organized, and mobilized the people in the struggle for national independence and in national construction and development. That truth has been reflected consistently and coherently in the Party’s leadership.

At the 14th National Party Congress, that principle was once again strongly underscored. The Congress affirmed that all viewpoints, guidelines, and policies of the Party, and all laws of the State are directed at serving the interests of the people and improving their lives. The Congress documents have made the “People as the root” concept an evaluation criterion, the highest yardstick for all policy decisions.

The Communist Party of Vietnam has no other interests than the interests of Fatherland, class, and nation. All interests are ultimately for the people.

General Secretary To Lam presents the Report of the 13th Party Central Committee on the documents submitted to the 14th Party Congress. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the Congress, Party General Secretary To Lam said: “The guiding principle throughout the Congress documents and the source of the strength of the Vietnamese revolution is considering the People to be the root. The People are the center, the subject, the goal, the driving force, and the resource of development. All guidelines and policies must aim to improve the material and spiritual lives of the People, ensure their right to mastery, and respect, listen to, and rely on them. The Party must maintain close ties with the People, wholeheartedly serve them, accept their oversight, and be accountable to them for all its decisions.”

Proven in practice

General Secretary Lam has turned the principle of “People as the root” into a practical standard of assessment, the supreme measure of every policy decision.

The principle measures every decision by whether people’s lives are made more convenient, whether their rights and interests are better protected, and whether social trust is strengthened. Modernizing the concept of “People as the root” has meant shifting from a management-oriented to a service-oriented mindset, from simply issuing policies to making sure they’re effectively implemented, and putting people’s lived experience and satisfaction at the center. That’s the core message of the documents of the 14th National Party Congress.

General Secretary Lam said: “The people’s trust in the Party is not elicited by words, but by actions, by cadres’ fairness and integrity, by the effectiveness of the state apparatus, by equity in the distribution of benefits, and by tangible results in protecting legitimate rights and interests and promptly and thoroughly addressing the legitimate concerns of citizens and businesses.”

Professor Carly Thayer (Photo: Viet Nga/VOV-Australia)

Professor Carlyle Thayer at the Australian Defense Force Academy said the principle of “People as the root” has been the fundamental principle of decisions over the years and is even more important today, when people constitute the core internal strength enabling Vietnam to enter a new era.

"That theme emerges through almost all the documents when you see sustainable development and decentralization, down to the local level, now that the, the restructuring of the government has taken place, and when you're looking at breakthroughs, one is quality human development, but in other words, the Vietnamese culture, the public health, sustainable development, dealing with the effects of climate change.  You can see across the board, when you get into the appendices in the political report," said Professor Carlyle Thayer.

The close bond between the Party and the People and the harmony between the Party’s will and the people’s aspirations constitute a powerful driving force and a solid foundation for a new era of development. The “People as the root” principle is ultimately about safeguarding Vietnam’s future and enabling it to successfully achieve its development goals.