ASSOC. PROF. DR. NGUYEN BA CHIEN
President, Academy of Public Administration and Governance (APAG)
At the 13th National Congress, the Party of Viet Nam proposed the policy to “renew national governance towards modernity and effectiveness”(1). Effectively implementing modern and effective national governance is one of the crucial and urgent solutions to propel the country into a new era—the era of nation’s rise.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, APAG President
The necessity of implementing modern and effective national governance
Modern and effective national governance in Viet Nam is understood as a process in which the State, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, plays a central role. This governance is based on universal principles and standards of good governance, utilizing appropriate tools, means, and methods to mobilize all social resources and engage various stakeholders in formulating and implementing political, economic, cultural, and social policies to drive national development in a modern and effective manner.
The Party’s affirmation of the policy to renew national governance towards modernity and effectiveness reflects its strategic vision regarding the critical role of governance in national development. The Party and State of Viet Nam are placing significant emphasis on advancing governance in this direction. Implementing modern and effective national governance is imperative in the current era for the following reasons:
First, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital transformation.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, with its breakthroughs in digital technology, is driving a revolution in productivity and quality and reshaping governance mindset. Humanity is entering the digital age, marked by profound and comprehensive changes in how individuals, organizations, and nations live, work, and operate. This transformation is based on digital platforms and intelligent technologies, fundamentally altering production methods and problem-solving approaches. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, with digital transformation at its core, is profoundly reshaping production tools in the digital economy. This shift is causing deep transformations in the production forces, creating tensions with existing production relations, and forming new production methods that necessitate fundamental changes in how production is organized and society is managed. Consequently, modern and effective national governance becomes essential to meet the objective demands of development in the digital era.
This revolution enables nations to develop rapidly and shorten the time required to achieve key goals through technological applications. However, it can also leave countries behind—sometimes significantly—if they fail to fully leverage scientific and technological advancements. This calls for modern and effective national governance, characterized by visionary leadership, breakthrough thinking, resource concentration, and appropriate governance methods.
Second, the shift in perception and mindset from “management” to “governance”.
The concept of “governance” originally emerged in the private sector, particularly in corporate governance. Governance is closely linked to efficiency, which is measured by the results and benefits achieved relative to the resources invested and the pre-set objectives. These resources include funding, time, effort, and human capital. In public administration, effectiveness is evaluated not only in economic terms but also through political, social, and cultural outcomes, as well as stakeholder satisfaction. Today, the public sector—like the private sector—is increasingly shifting its mindset and practices to focus on efficiency in operations. This evolving mindset is a crucial condition for transitioning towards modern and effective national governance, while also serving as a driving force for its advancement.
Third, the aspiration and goal of building a prosperous and happy nation; a strong and everlasting people.
The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam outlined: “Ignite the spirit, will, and aspiration for national development, with determination to build a prosperous and happy country; a strong and everlasting people.” The set targets include transforming Viet Nam into a developing country with upper-middle income by 2030 and achieving developed, high-income status by 2045.
To accomplish these critical goals, it is essential to transform governance and management methods. If the traditional management approach with outdated thinking persists, these aspirations and objectives cannot be realized. Therefore, transitioning towards modern and effective national governance is inevitable.
Fourth, the growing limitation of traditional societal resources.
Traditional societal resources, such as land and natural resources, are increasingly limited, whereas human intelligence, science, and technology are boundless. At the same time, the demands of the people and society are continuously evolving, becoming more diverse and sophisticated. This presents both challenges and requirements for national governance—ensuring present needs are met while safeguarding the future. For instance, while fostering rapid economic growth, it is equally essential to pursue sustainable development and protect the ecological environment. Additionally, national governance must address the question: “How can we maximize the intellectual potential of human resources, the most vital asset of any nation?”
Fifth, a dynamic, complex, and uncertain social environment.
As societies continue to develop, they are increasingly confronted with volatility, complexity, and uncertainty. Examples include economic crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the recent Storm No. 3 that affected Viet Nam and several other countries. Additionally, the rise of social media has made it difficult to distinguish between accurate and false information. Traditional management methods struggle to adapt to these challenges, necessitating a governance model that is flexible and responsive—in other words, a modern and effective national governance system is essential.
Sixth, the success of many countries in implementing modern and effective national governance.
Several nations have successfully implemented modern and effective national governance, including:
- China: To modernize and enhance national governance, China has reformed its institutions and governance structure. It has redefined fundamental interests, power structures, and actions within the national governance system, clarifying the status, roles, powers, and responsibilities of governance entities while also restructuring the relationships between governing bodies.
- Singapore: Renowned for its ability to efficiently utilize limited material and environmental resources, Singapore has built a highly competitive economy, a sustainable environment, and a high quality of life. Its success is primarily attributed to its modern and effective national governance model.
- Republic of Korea (RoK): The RoK’s governance model is performance-based. To modernize governance, the RoK’s government transitioned early from procedural control and management to a people-centered governance approach that prioritizes effectiveness, transparency, and public participation. This transformation has redefined government functions and the role of citizens, shifting from a provider-beneficiary model (where the government supplies and citizens benefit) to a partnership model, in which the government and citizens co-manage and share resources.
Implementing modern and effective national governance as a fundamental solution for advancing into a new era
First, prioritizing modernity and effectiveness in national governance.
Modernity and effectiveness are essential characteristics and key criteria in contemporary national governance. These principles must be consistently prioritized across the organization and operations of the Party of Viet Nam, the State of Viet Nam, political and social organizations, businesses, and individuals, as well as at the national level. Modernity is reflected in efforts such as accelerating digital transformation and incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into specific tasks. Effectiveness is demonstrated through measures like optimizing administrative structures and human resources to balance costs and outcomes and strengthening anti-corruption and waste prevention initiatives.
Second, implementing bold reforms in mindset and ensuring a forward-looking vision aligned with the era’s development.
A transition to modern and effective national governance—and achieving the goal of a prosperous and powerful nation with a happy population—cannot be realized if governance mindset remains rooted in the past or limited to the present. A fundamental and radical transformation in mindset is required. Having a far-reaching and correct vision is crucial to achieving significant and lasting success.
Digital transformation demands new awareness and new mindset. Shifting mindset plays a pioneering role in fostering determination and creating optimal conditions to enhance productivity and efficiency. Innovating governance mindset and action is essential for restructuring the economy, developing the digital economy and digital society—critical factors in boosting productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness.
Digital transformation facilitates the transition from “management” to “governance” through open mechanisms. This means shifting from traditional hierarchical systems to peer-level, interconnected systems that enhance information accessibility, eliminate interaction barriers, and promote transparency in state governance processes. As a result, government agencies must undertake bold institutional and administrative reforms.
Additionally, digital transformation enhances human-machine collaboration, enabling more accurate and effective data-based decision-making. Consequently, the State of Viet Nam must improve the quality of its workforce, ensuring that cadres and civil servants possess the necessary analytical skills and capabilities to build and apply data-driven governance models in practice.
In reality, a significant number of cadres, civil servants, and public employees still have outdated mindsets or struggle to keep up with rapid changes. Therefore, continuous education, training, and capacity-building efforts are essential to fostering a shift in mindset. At the same time, it is crucial to create a work and social environment that encourages innovative thinking, in which the role of leaders and managers is particularly important.
Transformation always comes with challenges, risks, and even fear of the unknown, as it may exceed one’s capabilities or affect personal interests. This makes it even more necessary to implement targeted solutions that help individuals overcome their fear of change.
Third, prioritizing the development of high-quality human resources.
Without a capable workforce, there will be no suitable individuals to implement modern and effective national governance. High-quality human resources—including exceptional talents and skilled professionals—are the most critical factors for successfully realizing modern and effective governance. This high-caliber workforce can be categorized into key groups:
- Elite leaders and managers with outstanding strategic vision and decision-making capabilities.
- Scientists, experts, and specialists who drive innovation and expertise in various fields.
- A strong team of business leaders with the ability to expand enterprises and establish global brands.
- A professional workforce equipped to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Regarding the key stakeholders in governance:
- The Communist Party of Viet Nam provides leadership in setting strategic direction;
- The State serves as the central governing body responsible for implementation.
- Organizations and individuals act as partners and participants in governance processes.
These stakeholders must be able to meet the requirements of modern and effective national governance, particularly in terms of mindset, vision, execution capabilities, and adaptability to change and development.
Fourth, building and perfecting a comprehensive institutional framework to foster rapid and sustainable national development.
A strong institutional framework that supports rapid and sustainable national development is a crucial solution, aligning with the fast-paced evolution of society and global progress. This framework consists of multiple elements, with a particular emphasis on technology adoption and investment in technological development (including technological human resources) and mobilizing all available resources and encouraging broad participation from individuals and organizations in national development.
To accelerate digital transformation, the institutional framework must facilitate the development of digital-based products, services, and new economic models. Legal systems should promote innovation and digital transformation, ensuring that regulations are proactive, adaptable, and open to experimentation. Institutions must take a forward-thinking approach by defining clear visions and objectives while preparing the necessary resources for implementation.
Efforts should focus on reforming institutions, policies, and legal frameworks to align with market mechanisms and international best practices. This will enable Viet Nam to advance science, technology, and innovation with businesses as the central drivers and support the growth of new business models, the digital economy, and a digital society. A modern institutional and legal framework is critical to the success of digital transformation. The digital era introduces new realities and challenges, requiring governance, legal structures, and policies to evolve accordingly. Sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved if institutional and policy barriers remain unresolved.
Fifth, promoting technological application, national digital transformation, and investment in technology development (including technological human resources).
Digital transformation is fundamentally a revolution in mindset, shaping a new societal structure influenced by the advanced stage of the digital revolution. This transformation necessitates changes in social governance models to adapt to new conditions.
To proactively drive digital transformation and master fundamental digital platforms, it is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of science and technology based on the technological advancement of the economy. Key actions include strengthening research and development (R&D) activities, with a focus on applied research and commercialization of results; selecting and prioritizing key industries for technology application and development.
Digital transformation must go hand in hand with enhancing the effectiveness of the national innovation ecosystem, fostering a thriving startup and innovation environment, with businesses at the core. Viet Nam should strengthen its scientific and technological capabilities to tap into emerging research directions and develop priority technologies with high application potential, particularly in digital technology, information technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation.
Significant investment in R&D, technological advancement, and human resource training is crucial. Developing core technologies and AI requires large-scale investments and a skilled workforce; coordination among research institutions, application centers, and development organizations at a broad level; strong and effective international cooperation. Additionally, Viet Nam must develop a science and technology market linked to the creation of a national science and technology database.
Clearly identifying investment priorities ensures that resources are allocated effectively and sufficiently. Developing high-quality human resources is indispensable, requiring long-term strategic investment with substantial funding and commitment.
Sixth, mobilizing all social resources and multi-stakeholder participation in national governance.
The shift from management thinking to governance thinking necessitates a multi-stakeholder approach in state governance. At the same time, it requires the mobilization of all societal resources, adopting a “total mobilization” mindset in national governance. This further reinforces the criterion of effectiveness in national governance.
Seventh, prioritizing quality development, green economy, circular economy, and sustainable growth.
National development must focus on quality-driven growth, serving as a crucial foundation for rapid and sustainable development. Quality development is based on applying scientific and technological advancements; reducing reliance on natural resources; protecting the ecological environment; enhancing the added value of products and goods. In line with this, there is an urgent need to promote the green economy and circular economy as essential pathways to sustainable development.
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(1) Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates, National Political Publishing House, Ha Noi, 2021, vol. I, p. 203
translated from Communist Review (Tạp chí Cộng sản)
Original link: https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/chinh-tri-xay-dung-dang/-/2018/1058902/thuc-hien-quan-tri-quoc-gia-hien-dai%2C-hieu-qua–de-dat-nuoc-vuon-minh-buoc-vao-ky-nguyen-moi.aspx
