Online exchange on 70 years of President Ho Chi Minh’s Appeal for Patriotic Emulation

The event was organized to implement the Directive 22-CT/TW of the Party Secretariat on promoting patriotic movements towards the 70th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s Appeal for Patriotic Emulation.

Back in the spring of 1948, the country was struggling as it waged its resistance war against the French. To encourage the entire nation to contribute to the war, President Ho Chi Minh made an appeal for patriotic emulation on June 11th, 1948.

Opening the appeal he wrote: “The purpose of patriotic work emulation is to eliminate poverty and hunger and illiteracy and foreign aggressors. It means our entire people have enough rice to eat and clothing to wear. The entire population will know how to read and to write. The soldiers will have enough food and weapons to defeat the foreign aggressors. These are aimed to unite the entire nation. Thus we will have an independent nation, free civil rights and happy welfare of the people."

The event aimed to contribute to improving awareness and responsibilities of party committees, authorities, fatherland front, organizations, cadres, civil servants as well as people of position and role of emulation and commendation according to President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology.

It drew the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Duy Quat, former Permanent Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission of Popularization and Education; Mrs. Tran Thi Ha, Vice Minister of Home Affairs; Vice President of Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Tran Van Thuat; Secretary of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Nguyen Ngoc Luong; Dr. Tran Doan Tien, Editor-in-chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper; Head of the Department of Theoretical Education under the Party Central Committee’s Commission of Popularization and Education Nguyen Phuong Hoa; Dr. Nguyen Cong Dung, Permanent Vice Editor-in-chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper; Dang Xuan Hanh, an outstanding peasant from Nguyen Ly commune, Ly Nhan district, the northern province of Ha Nam; and Tran Quang Tuyen, an outstanding worker from Dong Anh district, Hanoi.

Participants focused on topics, including President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology on patriotic movement; the Party’s policies and State’s laws on patriotic emulation and commendation; the role of the patriotic movement; outstanding results of the patriotic movement over the past 70 years; experiences of examples in patriotic movements and studying and following President Ho Chi Minh.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Could you please tell us your viewpoint about President Ho Chi Minh’s and our Party’s ideology on patriotic emulation?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Duy Quat: President Ho Chi Minh’s patriotic ideology is an important element of President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. It consists of a system of President Ho Chi Minh’s viewpoints on patriotic ideology established and developed by receiving and creatively applying Marxism – Leninism’s basic ideological viewpoints on emulation, on socialism emulation, and the role of the public, including the viewpoints that the revolution is the process of the public; the socialist revolution is the process of millions and millions of the public; and the socialist revolution is the festival of the public.

Receiving and strongly promoting Vietnamese patriotism into Vietnamese revolutionary heroism, from the reality of the struggle of the Vietnamese revolution under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology on patriotic emulation was highlighted in the work “Patriotic emulation appeal” delivered during the national congresses of emulation soldiers and heroes and in over 30 speeches and letters of President Ho Chi Minh to patriotic emulation meetings of the sectors, forces and localities from 1951 to 1968.

Studying President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology on patriotic emulation, we need to attach great importance to research specific activities of President Ho Chi Minh in directing and instructing the organization of patriotic emulation; awarding each circle, class, locality, agency and individual belonging to every class of people, group, religion and age.

Journalist Hien Hoa: The congress of outstanding followers of Uncle Ho’s teachings was held on May 19th in Ho Chi Minh city. Could you please share with readers your impression about the congress?

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Luong: The fifth congress is a very significant content to preliminarily summarize 2 years of implementing Directive 05 on promoting the studying and following of the ideology, morality and style of President Ho Chi Minh and celebrate the 128th anniversary of Uncle Ho’s birth (May 19th), and the 70th anniversary of Uncle Ho’s appeal for patriotic emulation.

The congress focused on two points:

Firstly, all contents and work targeted popularizing through social networks and new toolkits, such as a mobile application to provide all information and material for delegates to express their thoughts and emotions, or exhibitions and art programs which use modern science and technology to enhance interactivity and attractiveness of the event.

Secondly, we focused on improving the quality of honored outstanding examples. On this occasion, 336 outstanding followers were honored in different fields and areas domestically and internationally. They are simple examples who studied and followed Uncle Ho’s teachings in their daily specific work without fearing difficulties, devoted and ready to go to anywhere.

With such examples, in such acts, we hope and work together with them to create greater diffusion to other young people and urge them to strive to study, train and work hard in the coming time.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Dear Mrs. Tran Thi Ha, on the occasion of celebrating the 70th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal for patriotic emulation (June 11th), which significant activities will be organized?

Mrs. Tran Thi Ha: Since January, the Secretariat has issued Directive 23 enhancing the patriotic emulation campaign in combination with the 70th anniversary of Uncle Ho’s appeal for the patriotic emulation. After that, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Central Emulation and Reward Council built and issued specific plans.

For central activities:

On June 3rd, a ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Uncle Ho’s appeal for the patriotic emulation will be held by Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, honoring 700 outstanding followers who are heroes of armed forces and heroic workers around the country.

A national seminar themed “Appeal for Patriotic Emulation – Theoretical and Practical Processes”, a photo exhibition about the anniversary and exchanges to honor the outstanding followers will be organized.

Ministries, branches, and associations will meet outstanding followers to promote the pride and self-respect of each individual and the people of the whole nation.

A conference between the People’s Committees of Ho Chi Minh city and Thai Nguyen where the appeal originates, the implementation of the appeal, and local movements, especially examples of good people and good deeds, will be popularized widely.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Dear comrade, the activities towards the homeland’s sea and islands are also a highlight in the patriotic emulation movement of the staff. How have the staff responded to these activities?

Comrade Tran Van Thuat: In addition to promoting the patriotic emulation movement among staff, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour has deployed and implemented a number of humanitarian, efficient and widespread activities such as: "Trade Union Shelter"; Caring Tet for the labourers - Tet Gathering; "Building schools/ boarding houses for students and teachers"; "Caring for labourers’ child and poor students"; and "Supporting people affected by typhoons and floods".

Activities towards the homeland’s sea and islands are also a highlight in the patriotic emulation movement, which is welcomed by many staff. For example, the program "the fishing nets of love for fishermen in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa", launched in 2013, always accompanies members of the fisheries union and fishermen, supplying fishing gear, repairing boats for fishermen to feel secure on the sea; supporting the fishermen VND10 billions from contributions of staff across country. In which, the support for fishermen, ship owners suffering natural disasters, repairing, building boats is more than VND11 billion; supporting fishermen to buy equipment about VND15 billion.

The "Love for Hoang Sa - Truong Sa" program since it was launched in 2014 has now mobilized over VND222 billion. The Golden Labor Fund has contributed from VND30 million to VND110 million per case for relatives of the 64 martyrs who died in Gac Ma Battle on March 14th, 1988; more than 20 veterans of Gao Ma, and relatives of Hoang Sa self-denying are also supported. Besides, funds were also spent to support law enforcement and fishermen of nearly VND5 billion; building the memorial to the soldiers of Gac Ma Battle with about VND100.9 billion.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Ladies and gentlemen, the movement of studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s moral example in recent years has become an act of self-consciousness of each person. This is also the result of implementation of the Party’s and State’s directives and resolutions. Dear comrade Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, could you please share some positive changes from this studying movement to a reader at address minhchunghanam@yahoo.com?

Comrade Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa: Over the past 15 years, we have persevered, determined and taken drastic measures in promoting the studying and following of Ho Chi Minh’s moral example. Up to now, it can be said that the studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings has gradually come into order, it has gradually become the consciousness of many cadres, party members and people. Many localities and units which follow the spirit of Directive 05 have focused and selected outstanding issues, urgent problems in the people to solve.

In fact, we have solved many fundamental and urgent problems, which are supported by the people, such as 18 major cases were under investigation and 37 backlog and complicated cases were solved in Hanoi. Also in 2017, the Hai Phong municipal Party Committee directed to solve completely 11 prolonged cases of complaints and denunciations. Bac Ninh organized 548 direct dialogues with the people;

Thus, it can be seen that many localities have focused on effectuating specific tasks as required by the people. Studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example is closely attached to the performance of the Politburo's tasks. Exciting results in socio-economic development, security and national defense in 2017, as well as in the first months of 2018, have been partly attributed to the studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Dear comrade Nguyen Ngoc Luong, Vietnam Outstanding Youth Face is a noble award, which has always received the recognition of not only young people, but also many other people. Can you tell us about the significance of the attraction of this award?

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Luong: By this time, Vietnam Outstanding Youth Face Award has been organized for 22 times. Every year, we honour 10 outstanding young faces and 10 promising young faces.

Over a long period of time, under the attention of all levels, sectors and the companionship of the press, so far, this is a precious award, creating the great attraction from many aspects, but first of all from the young people honoured every year. They come from many sectors, circumstances and ages, but they all have patriotism, spirit of national pride, will and aspiration for creativity and dedication in their fields, jobs, study, labour and daily life. Their contributions to society have spread positive factors, inspiring other young people to further dedicate themselves on their jobs.

Through this award, the honoured young people will continue to train, try and dedicate more to deserve the award they receive.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Dear Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Duy Quat, how does popularization work play the role in the movement of patriotic emulation? How should we renew the content and method of this work to fit the new stage?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Duy Quat: The socialist revolution is the self-conscious cause of millions of the masses. The Party, through ideological work, popularization and education, stimulates and encourages the spiritual strength and creative potential of cadres, party members and people to make the patriotic emulation to be a self-aware and positive revolutionary movement of the entire people.

The current situations happen very fast and complicated, opportunities and challenges alternate. There are many emerging issues such as emulation in the socialist-oriented market mechanism, so it is necessary to seriously sum up the practice over 30 years of patriotic emulation movement in the cause of innovation to draw important lessons to help us renovate the contents vigorously and methodically, of  this mode of popularization in the patriotic emulation movement.

Educating and enlightening public awareness of emulation will benefit each person, each family, each village and the whole country, and how to emulate to show the emulator is the most patriotic person. Through reality, all the emulation movements mentioned above showed that the more self-conciousness the number of people participates in, the more good education and enlightenment of popularization is.

I think that the Party now really attaches importance to education and communications. The best method for emulation and education is to set an example. At present, the Party and State have launched an exemplary movement from high-ranking leaders such as Politburo members to officials of agencies, localities, departments and sectors. This is a real innovation. If all from high-ranking leaders to local comrades implement apply the movement well, emulation work will reach desired results.

I think reporters and direction of the Emulation Council are important and must be synchronized. It is necessary to provide information on the decrees of the Emulation Board and Emulation Council; and instruct to do well each movement. Leaders must be really examples.

To provide timely information, propagandists must follow movements to honour examples in grassroots emulation movements. I know that the “Good Deed” programme of Vietnam Television are moved and spread.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Dear comrade Tran Thi Ha, at the ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation, we will honour outstanding collectives and individuals. Could you tell us specifically about this content?

Ms. Tran Thi Ha: As I said above, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation, we will honour 700 outstanding examples chosen by ministries, sectors and localities from millions of outstanding examples at grassroots levels. I think that there are a lot of outstanding examples, including those from remote areas, but for many reasons we fail to reach to honour them.

Among 700 outstanding examples, 150 of them come from armed forces, labour heroes in the anti-French and anti-American resistance wars, while the remaining come from the fields of culture, society, healthcare, education and business, and they are entrepreneurs, workers and farmer. 30% of delegates, who are farmers and workers, will attend the 70th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for patriotic emulation. The rate of women attending the ceremony is also high at 159, accounting for nearly 25%. Particularly, the oldest outstanding example is 86 years old and the youngest is 11 years old.

In spite of working in different fields and sectors, these are 700 outstanding examples in the patriotic movement over the past 70 years.

Journalist Hien Hoa: Responding to the Appeal for Patriotic Emulation, the whole Party, army and people have been involved in movements, contributing to building the nation to be more prosperous. Patriotic emulation movements among staff have been promoted and encouraged the staff be creative, determined to overcome difficulties and successfully complete assigned tasks. Dear Comrade Tran Van Thuat. Can you give information about movements?

Comrade Tran Van Thuat: Over the past years, Trade Unions at all levels have paid attention to renovating and promoting emulation movements among staff. Movements attracted the participation of staff members, and contributed to successfully implementing socio-economic development tasks. They are movements on good labour, creative labour, green-clean-beautiful, emulation for agricultural industrialization and modernization and rural development.

In the field of business, movements on better productivity and quality, better services are promoted.

Especially, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour coordinated with relevant agencies to launch and carry out emulation movements on key national works such as building Ho Chi Minh Trail, Dung Quat Refinery, Son La Hydropower Plant, and Lai Chau Hydropower Plant. The movements sped up construction, saved raw materials, fuel and human resources to benefit the State by thousands of billion VND. For example, Son La Hydropower Plant exceeded three years in comparison with the resolution of the National Assembly, for a benefit of over ten trillion VND. Lai Chau Hydropower Plant beat their progress goal by one year, for a benefit of over seven trillion VND./.