Thoughts on economic and social management need to be renewed.
The Politburo issued a number of guidelines, which clearly stated that the Fourth Industrial Revolution requires renewing thoughts on economic and social management, rationally formulating and improving institutions.
The Politburo also noted that it is necessary to have an open, creative, and pilot approach to new practical problems, creating all favorable conditions for innovation. It is also a must to avoid all expressions of indifference, lack of confidence, and passive attitudes while refraining from subjectivity, haste, and voluntarism.

At the same time, it is necessary to make the most of resources and ensure that there are enough resources for proactively participating in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Internal resources are identified as decisive, strategic, and long-term fundamentals, while external resources are important, breakthroughs, ensuring the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and promoting the strength of the whole society.
The Politburo sets out general objectives including effectively taking advantage of the opportunities brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution to promote the renewal of the growth model, restructuring the economy in association with the implementation of strategic breakthroughs, and national modernization.
Along with that are the strong development of the digital economy, fast and sustainable development based on science – technology, innovation, and high-quality human resources, the improvement of people’s quality of life and welfare, a solid guarantee of national defense and security, and protection of the ecological environment.
8 Guidelines and policies
Politburo proposes 8 guidelines and policies to proactively participate in the fourth industrial revolution.
Firstly, it is necessary to renew thoughts, unify awareness, strengthen the leadership role of the Party and State management, and promote the participation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations.
Second, it is required to improve institutions to facilitate proactive participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the process of national digital transformation, while focusing on innovative start-ups, intellectual property, e-government, smart urban development, etc.
At the same time, a number of new business lines with investment incentives need to be added to promote participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
There must be a mechanism for state-owned enterprises to invest in technology research and development, venture capital, and invest in innovative start-ups. Multinational companies are encouraged to locate research and development facilities in Vietnam.
The third is the policy on developing essential infrastructure, which includes the deployment of high-quality broadband nationwide, strict management and control of online forms of cross-border payments; investment in upgrading technical infrastructure to ensure network safety and security, etc.
The fourth is the policy on developing and enhancing the national innovation capacity, which includes the construction and development of national innovation centers, focus on the core technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Applying special and breakthrough mechanisms and policies to innovation centers.
On the basis of Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park (Hanoi), Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park, developing innovative urban areas of international level.
Promoting the development of the creative startup ecosystem, speeding up the establishment of national creative startup centers, in the immediate future in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.
The fifth is the policy on human resource development, which includes minimum digital and foreign language skills in the general education curriculum, the innovation of teaching and learning methods based on the application of digital technology, the continuous improvement of mechanisms and policies to encourage, attract and use talents and high-quality human resources, etc.
The sixth is the policy on developing priority industries and technologies, in which the focus is on developing priority industries with high readiness such as the information technology industry, electronics – telecommunications, network safety and security, intelligent manufacturing industry, finance – banking, ecommerce, digital agriculture, digital tourism, digital culture industry, health, education and training, etc.
The seventh is the policy on international integration, which includes the active participation in the global innovation network, the improvement of laws and policies on foreign direct investment, foreign-invested venture capital, etc.
The eighth is the policy on promoting digital transformation in the Party and State agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, pioneering in implementation, ensuring unity, interconnection and synchronization.
Building a digital database of the Government and authorities at all levels, creating favorable conditions for all citizens to update necessary information about the State’s activities.
Along with that is the focus on building a contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, standardization and capacity building of state management staff at all levels, direct transaction maximum reduction.
Targets to 2025:
– Maintaining the ranking on the Global Innovation Index (GII) among the top 3 ASEAN countries.
Building digital infrastructure to reach the advanced level of ASEAN region; Broadband Internet covers 100% of communes.
– Digital economy accounts for about 20% of GDP; labor productivity increased by an average of over 7%/year. Digital transformation in the Party and State agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations will be basically completed.
– Belonging to the group of 4 leading countries in ASEAN in the ranking of e-government according to the assessment of the United Nations. Having at least 3 smart cities in the 3 key economic zones in the North, South and Central Vietnam.
Targets to 2030:
– Maintaining ranking on the Global Innovation Index (GII) among the top 40 countries in the world.
– 5G mobile network covers the whole country; everyone can access broadband Internet at low cost.
– Digital economy accounts for over 30% of GDP; Labor productivity increases by an average of 7.5%/year.
Completing the formulation of an e-government.
– Forming smart urban chains in the northern, central and southern key economic zones; step by step connecting them to regional and global smart urban networks.
Vision toward 2045:
Vietnam will become one of the leading smart manufacturing and service centers, start-ups and innovation centers in Asia, with high labor productivity, being capable of mastering and applying modern technologies to all fields of socio-economics, environment, national defense and security.
Source: Vietnam.net