Vietnam from the perspective of a member of the Communist Party of Britain
WVR - On the foundation of the traditional friendship between the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Kyril Whittaker, a British scholar, shares his observations, evaluations, and expectations regarding Vietnam's development direction before and after the 14th Party Congress.
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| Kyril Whittaker at the Ho Chi Minh Museum (Hanoi). (Photo TGCC) |
Strong friendship
The CPB and CPV have a long-standing close relationship. During the Vietnam War, communist members in Britain played a core role in the anti-war movement, collaborating with peace movements and organizing numerous activities to support the Vietnamese people. Young communists traveled across Britain to raise funds to buy bicycles, mobilize medical supplies, and donate blood to send to Vietnam. A historically symbolic act was a young Briton raising the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam atop Nottingham Castle.
Throughout historical phases, leaders of the two Parties have regularly met and exchanged views. CPB General Secretaries have met with President Ho Chi Minh and General Secretary Le Duan, laying the foundation for long-term solidarity and friendship.
Recently, in September 2025, a CPB delegation led by General Secretary Robert Griffiths visited Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th National Day and worked with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. In October 2025, in London, General Secretary To Lam received the CPB delegation led by General Secretary Robert Griffiths; I was honored to be a member of this delegation. Both sides discussed measures to strengthen the relationship between the two Parties and expand practical cooperation, aligning with development needs in the new phase.
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| General Secretary To Lam meets with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain Robert Griffiths and delegation members on October 29, 2025, in London. In the photo, the author is on the far left of the CPB delegation. (Source: VNA) |
Efforts and impressions
The 14th Congress takes place as Vietnam enters a phase of rapid and extensive development, with many major programs and projects completed or making significant progress.
In the draft documents of the 14th Congress, I am particularly interested in the elevation of environmental issues, placing this field at the center. In recent years, Vietnam has made significant strides in environmental policy, notably the green transition in public transportation, increasing the share of renewable energy, and continuing to strengthen achievements in forest protection and development. Identifying the environment as a strategic pillar reflects a clear understanding of the need for sustainable development based on achieved successes.
Another highlight is the consistency in promoting the people's ownership rights. The draft documents emphasize the role of the cadre team, anti-corruption, streamlining the apparatus, promoting digital transformation, and the democratic spirit in organizing the Congress. The motto “Solidarity – Democracy – Discipline – Breakthrough – Development” clearly reflects this orientation. The tradition of promoting the people's democracy in law-making and policy planning continues to be inherited and developed at the 14th Congress.
The collection of over 13 million public opinions on the draft documents, with broad societal participation, is a large-scale and profoundly meaningful effort, providing valuable experience for many countries. The 14th Congress continues to refine democratic institutions, concretizing the viewpoint “people as the root” and the motto “people know, people discuss, people do, people check, people supervise, people benefit”.
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| Kyril Whittaker, Member of the Communist Party of Britain. (Photo TGCC) |
Expectations after the 14th Congress
The draft documents of the 14th Congress clearly and concisely outline the tasks and development directions for Vietnam in the coming period. Breakthroughs in science and technology, infrastructure, environment, foreign relations, and promoting the people's ownership rights are components of a comprehensive policy system, embodying the mindset of a “new era for the nation”.
On this basis, I expect Vietnam to continue achieving new accomplishments, implementing more large-scale projects, and continuously improving the material and spiritual life of the people.
According to Resolution No. 252/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly, Vietnam aims to become a powerful, prosperous, and happy nation by 2050; a developed, high-income country with a fully, comprehensively, and modern socialist-oriented market economy; a fair, democratic, and civilized society. With this vision, Vietnam has the foundation to maintain rapid development momentum, aiming for significant milestones such as the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding, the 100th National Day, and beyond.
On the international stage, the 14th Congress is expected to continue driving Vietnam's foreign relations to develop more deeply, substantively, and balancedly, contributing positively to regional peace, stability, and cooperation. Additionally, the experiences and development practices of Vietnam derived from the 14th Congress will make practical contributions to the common discussions of the international communist and workers' movement, providing valuable models and lessons for progressive forces worldwide.
