The great legacy left by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

The news that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away made me extremely emotional. I fondly recall my memories and impressions with the General Secretary at this moment.

The time I spent working and getting close to comrade Nguyen Phu Trong left me with good impressions. My first and most profound impression of him is that he was a leader with a tolerant demeanor, open personality, and sincere feelings for his comrades, especially for lower-level officials. Those impressions of him were also deeply reinforced in me when watching his interactions with voters, being very close to the people.

There is a memory that I will never forget, which is the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee with the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at 35 Hung Vuong Street. At the end of the working session, we exchanged and met each other in the meeting room lobby, and I accidentally stood near comrade Nguyen Phu Trong. Suddenly, he turned and asked:

"Is the road in your hometown finished now?"

Indeed, at that time, his question shocked me. Because I was only one of 500 National Assembly Delegates, I am not too close or intimate with him. Yet he remembered my hometown (Phu Thi, Gia Lam, Hanoi). He recalled an unfinished road there when he moved from Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee to Chairman of the National Assembly. Just that one question from him helped me understand that he has a sincere concern for others, unlike some leaders who may not be at a high level.

My second impression of comrade Nguyen Phu Trong is that in running the National Assembly and working in the Editorial Team of Documents of the 11th Congress, he highly respected working principles and was democratic. These two characteristics always go together because they respect the working principle; it was very democratic but still within the working principle. During 5 years of working under the direction and management of Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, I have never seen him limit the right of National Assembly delegates to express their opinions. Even if there are sometimes incomplete opinions, he always has clever and subtle reminders.

In particular, before each decision, the National Assembly Standing Committee – under the leadership of Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong – carefully consults with National Assembly Delegates. I remember a number of events at that time, two of which were the policy of building a North-South high-speed railway and expanding the administrative boundaries of Hanoi Capital. The National Assembly Standing Committee organized these crucial issues to collect opinions from delegates prudently and democratically.

After discussing the construction of the North-South high-speed railway in groups and conference halls, the National Assembly Standing Committee sent a poll to poll delegates. Based on the preparation of the project and the economic situation at that time, most delegates did not agree. Later, in the National Assembly Standing Committee report on the results before the National Assembly voted, several delegates and I discovered some things that needed to be corrected. I wrote a reflection letter to Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong at the conference hall. In the letter, I added: “Sir, many delegates discovered that the National Assembly Standing Committee report had inaccuracies and asked you to review it.” However, the Chairman still happily accepted the letter, and later, he gave that opinion to the National Assembly Standing Committee to correct the report, organize voting, and project the road. The North-South high-speed railway was not approved at that time.

The third thing I remember and have a deep impression of is comrade Nguyen Phu Trong's transparent and incorruptible lifestyle.

This was a seemingly insignificant story, but it shows that Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong was a person whose integrity was a permanent quality from within, becoming the correct attitude in everything. His action was an example for officials, especially senior officials. What must be done to prevent all opportunities that others can take advantage of to give money and gifts? That was a person with vision and true integrity.

The second story was when I worked at the National Assembly's Committee on Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents, and Children. When comrade Nguyen Phu Trong's eldest sister passed away (I know she was a significant person to him), we visited and were surprised to see that his house was just a 5-room tiled house and the land was limited. As Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, if it were someone else, her younger brother would likely influence the locality to grant more land to his sister. Even in that position, many people just need to give the "green light," and the locality can create conditions. But here, he certainly doesn't allow it, so no one dares.

Indeed, everyone thinks that because the General Secretary is a person of integrity, he can launch an anti-corruption campaign and cope with the highly complicated corruption that has been happening all this time. That was absolutely right! But fighting corruption also requires bravery and courage. Fighting corruption is fighting against people who are experienced, have positions of power, are powerful, and are dangerous. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was ready to face challenges to purify the Party, State, and society. That was highly respectable and admirable. He launched and commanded the fight against corruption not only because of his opposition to this evil but also because of something much nobler and more important, which was correct discipline so that the Party continues to be worthy of its leadership, gathering and promoting the strength of the entire people, building a strong country and a truly democratic, fair and civilized society.

Second, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has fundamentally innovated organization and anti-corruption methods. We previously established an Anti-Corruption Steering Committee, but it was not practical. When the 11th National Assembly discussed the Anti-Corruption Law, we could not assign people to self-inspect and detect negative things they did because that would be inadequate and unjust. The results are entirely different since anti-corruption activities were transferred directly to the Central Anti-Corruption Steering Committee. That was a wise approach bearing the mark of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Finally, I always think that our Party, People, and Fatherland are lucky that Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong appeared in time. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, our country has achieved many tremendous and solid achievements in all fields of economy - society, defense - security, and foreign policy. Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong's actions and deeds show that he was a party member and a typical leader who studied and followed the moral example, style, and ideology of Ho Chi Minh.

That is the great legacy left by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. We hope that the comrades who continue the position of General Secretary in particular, and the leaders of the Party and State in general, will continue the career of comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, following the shining example of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to fulfill the aspirations of the entire nation to help the country take off with the times.