(Nhan dan Newspaper): The whole nation needs to show ever greater efforts to achieve a comprehensive fulfillment of the socio-economic plan issued by the ninth Party Congress, stressed CPV's General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in an interview granted to Nhan Dan newspaper on the occasion of the 2005 lunar New Year.

A: 2005, the Year of the Rooster, is of great importance for Vietnam in fulfilling the five-year socio-economic plan and the Party's resolution. Therefore, it is necessary to look back at what has been achieved in the past four years in order to determine the tasks of 2005 for a comprehensive fulfillment of the ninth Party Congress's resolution.

Entering the 21st century, Vietnam faced both opportunities and challenges in the process of implementing a socialist-oriented market economy and boosting international economic integration and cultural exchange. Economies in the region and the world are recovering but with complicated price fluctuations. Peace, co-operation and development become an increasing trend but are mixed with the threats of political and economic instability together with urgent issues in the fight against anti-terrorism, poverty, diseases, social evils and environmental changes. These cause a significant impact on socio-economic development in Vietnam. However, the efforts and clear-sighted leadership made by the entire Party, people and armed forces led to political and social stability. GDP in the first four years of the five-year plan increased continuously with higher rates in the following years (about 7.2% per year), a high growth compared to other countries in the region. Other achievements include the development of different economic sectors, the remarkable promotion of internal resources, increased export, people's improved income and living standards, a sharp reduction of poor people, and positive changes in cultural and social issues. As a result, international friends and Vietnamese people living abroad highly value such important achievements during their visits to the country.

Nevertheless, the Party and State are fully aware of the realities: growth rate is as high yet to reach the planned targets, the economy has still moved slowly concerning low growth quality and competition effectiveness, the natural environment has been damaged, serious traffic accidents and social evils still occurred, observation of law and order in the State apparatus and in society remains poor, and corruption and wastefulness has yet to be pushed back, making it a great worry of the entire people.

Such a situation has posed heavy tasks for 2005 in fulfilling the 2001-2005 socio-economic plan set by the ninth Party Congress. 2005 is hoped to see stronger changes regarding the economy's higher growth, quality, efficiency and sustainability and at the same time settling down pressing social issues, pushing back corruption and wastefulness and preserving national defence and security. The recent sixth session of eleventh National Assembly adopted a number of tasks, targets and solutions, especially the resolutions on infrastructure construction and the use of State budget and education which are expected to accelerate the comprehensive fulfillment of the five-year plan.

A: Since the implementation of the renovation policy, the Party has always considered economic development as the central task and Party building as a key task, thus gradually improving people's spiritual and material life. The ninth Party Congress decided to "strengthen the Party and raise its leading and combat capability" so as to be worthy of such a key task and leadership. The congress stressed the need to promote the important work: educating political and ideological awareness and promoting revolutionary virtues, fighting against individualism, continuing the personnel restructure, consolidating Party units, improving the organisation and renewing the leadership.

In the past four years, the Party building and strengthening work has seen certain results but it is still a heavy task.

In the above four important tasks, some have met the requirements while others still face problems.

In 2005, the widespread political activities at local Party congresses are a good opportunity to encourage cadres and Party members to increase their political awareness and virtues in the light of Ho Chi Minh Thoughts. Excellent examples among Party members and State employees should be expanded to support the fight against individualism, opportunism and pragmatism. It is a good choice to get the co-ordination from people and competent agencies to monitor cadres and State employees. Strong measures should be taken to push back bureaucracy, corruption and wastefulness and use the Party principles and State law to deal with those who are reported with mistakes regardless their positions.

During the preparations for the Party congresses at different levels, it is necessary to expand democracy, and promote the collective intelligence and dependence on people's organisations to build an appropriate development orientation and select qualified and talented Party members with high spirit in struggling against bureaucracy, corruption and wastefulness to work for the Party Committees at different levels.

The most important issues for the ruling Party is to continuously raise its mind so as to be capable of working out a clear-sighted line and policies on national development. In addition, the Party must ensure its purity and righteousness, promote its ties with the people and do everything for the people. 2005 must include positive changes in these fields.

A: On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to wish my comrades and people at home and abroad a new year of good health and prosperity. Each Vietnamese should contribute a part to fulfilling the socio-economic development tasks in 2005 and in the 2001-2005 plan to serve the building of a stable, prosperous and strong country and happy wealthy families, thus lifting Vietnam from the position of low development by 2010 and creating a foundation to reach the target of an industrial country by 2020 towards the trend of modernisation and maintenance of socialist orientation.

On the occasion of the new year, I would like to wish staff of Nhan Dan newspaper and the press across the country good health and happiness. I hope that mass media agencies will continue its efforts in highlighting good deeds and good individuals, exposing negative activities and creating a healthy public opinion so as to help boost socio-economic development, Party building and strengthening and administrative reform and preserve social stability and progress.