(VOVWORLD) - At the 26th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption last week, General Secretary and President To Lam, who heads the committee, reaffirmed a resolute stance against corruption with the motto “relentless, restless, without exceptions, no matter who the person is”. The Party chief also said anti-corruption efforts should support socio-economic development and should not hinder economic progress.
 Party General Secretary and President To Lam speaks at the 26th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption (Photo: VOV) |
In his concluding remarks, General Secretary and President To Lam stressed that anti-corruption measures must align with socio-economic development goals. The fight against corruption and negativity should extend to the grassroots level of the Party, involve Party cells, and be overseen by cadres, Party members, and the public.
Not affecting socio-economic development
According to the Steering Committee, in the first half of this year 308 Party organizations and 11,005 Party members were disciplined. The Party Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat, and Inspection Commission have disciplined 47 high-ranking officials. The inspectorate and auditing sectors have focused on areas prone to corruption and have uncovered cases under the Steering Committee's direction, leading to the recovery and financial handling of hundreds of millions of USD.
Competent authorities have removed or reassigned officials involved in corruption cases, upholding the principle of "handling one case, alerting an entire region or field," with "no prohibited areas and no exceptions."
These efforts have significantly contributed to Party building and rectification, political stability, and socio-economic development. At a regular meeting for July, the Government reported that the socio-economic situation in the first seven months of the year had improved across most sectors.
Growth was evident in industry, agriculture, and services, with 60 out of 63 provinces and cities reporting an increase in industrial production. Notably, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in July 2024 reached 54.7 points, the highest since November 2018, reflecting strong growth in output and new orders.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang said: "Industrial production is bouncing back strongly against 2023 and the growth momentum has been maintained. The processing and manufacturing industries have played a leading role. Industrial production has grown across most localities, especially in localities crucial to industrial development. Domestic enterprises are recovering steadily, ready to seize new market opportunities. The confidence of both domestic and foreign enterprises has increased sharply."
Major infrastructure projects have been completed, opening up new development opportunities. Over 2,000 kilometers of highways are now operational, and the 500kV Circuit 3 project is being expedited for completion by National Day.
Ensuring healthy competition, national benefit
The Vietnamese Party and State’s clear stance is that those who engage in corruption will be held accountable. The State encourages and facilitates production, business activities, and investment and ensures a healthy business environment.
At an international press conference on August 3 in Hanoi following his swearing-in ceremony, General Secretary and President To Lam said: "Building and rectifying the Party and combating corruption and negativity will continue with the same vigor and principles as before. The fight against corruption and negativity will be bolstered with the motto "relentless, restless, without exceptions, no matter who the person is; dealing with one case will make an example for an entire region and an entire field". We need to expand this fight outside the state sector to contribute to the clean-up of the Party organization and state agencies. This work must be done in a resolute and radical manner in order to defeat this internal enemy."
The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption has outlined its focus for the rest of the year: complete the investigation, prosecution, and trial of 30 major cases and resolve six others under its supervision and direction. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen and refine institutions.
The fight against corruption in Vietnam should not hinder socio-economic development but fosters a favorable environment for investment and healthy competition. Anti-corruption efforts are also vital in strengthening public trust in the Party’s leadership, reinforcing political and social stability, and achieving the goal of building a clean society for the benefit of the entire nation.