Hanoi, March 26, 2026 – The Europe Today: Tô Lâm has called for the early formulation of a national development model driven by science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, describing it as a “driving force of driving forces” to achieve double-digit economic growth.
Addressing the closing session of the second plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee, the Party chief said the leadership had reached strong consensus on key strategic issues, including organisational reforms, personnel matters and foundational Party regulations.
He emphasised the importance of strengthening Party building in political and ideological terms to enhance leadership capacity, discipline and unity, while urging members to uphold Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought, alongside continued implementation of the Đổi mới (Renewal) policy.
On economic priorities, General Secretary Lâm stressed that double-digit growth is an objective necessity for Vietnam’s development stage. “Low growth is not an option,” he stated, underscoring the need for sustainable and high-quality expansion.
He outlined key principles including maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring efficient resource allocation, prioritising major projects and public-private partnerships, and improving living standards while promoting social equity.
To support these goals, the Party Central Committee will soon draft a resolution on a new development model centred on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, to be presented at its third plenum.
Highlighting governance reform, Lâm described the transition to a two-tier local administration model as a shift aimed at improving efficiency, reducing bureaucracy and leveraging technology to better serve citizens and businesses. He stressed that decentralisation must be accompanied by adequate resources, capacity building and strict oversight.
On anti-corruption, he called for stronger inspection, supervision and power control mechanisms, warning of increasing risks amid expanding investment and major development projects. He emphasised the need to build institutions that make corruption “impossible,” while ensuring strict accountability and continuous enforcement.
At the same time, he advocated protecting innovative and proactive officials acting in the public interest, distinguishing between intentional wrongdoing and mistakes arising from reform efforts.
Addressing national defence, security and foreign affairs, Lâm stressed the importance of maintaining strategic autonomy, institutional strength and resilience against both traditional and non-traditional threats, including cybersecurity and economic vulnerabilities.
He called for closer integration of defence, security and foreign policy into socio-economic strategies, ensuring that growth remains sustainable and sovereign while enhancing Vietnam’s capacity to respond proactively to emerging challenges.
The Party leader concluded by emphasising the need to strengthen national unity and public trust, describing them as essential pillars for achieving rapid, sustainable development and reinforcing Vietnam’s comprehensive national strength in the years ahead.
