Phnom Penh (VNA) – The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) represents a historic inflection point in the country’s development, ushering in a fresh wave of reforms that reflects strong political resolve across the Party, army and people to steer Vietnam into a new era, a Cambodian scholar has said.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency in Phnom Penh, Uch Leang, Acting Director of the Department of Asian, African and Middle East Studies at the International Relations Institute of Cambodia under the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), said the draft Political Report to be submitted to the Congress had been meticulously prepared, offering a comprehensive and clear reflection of the nation’s key priorities.
Uch Leang, who also serves as President of the Cambodian Alumni of Vietnam Association (CAVA), noted that the Congress’s theme underscores the central role of the 14th Congress as a milestone shaping Vietnam’s long-term development trajectory.
He said the Congress goes beyond a review of recent Party and Government performance, serving instead as a powerful call to action that galvanises the entire nation to accelerate efforts towards set development goals.
Describing the event as a landmark opening a new chapter for Vietnam, the scholar stressed the country’s determination to meet two historic targets on schedule: the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPV in 2030 and the centenary of the founding of modern Vietnam, alongside the ambition of becoming a developed, high-income economy by 2045.
From an academic perspective, Uch Leang pointed out that the 14th Congress coincides with 40 years since the launch of the Doi moi (Renewal) policy in 1986, a turning point that propelled Vietnam from a least developed country towards a socialist-oriented market economy.
Since then, he said, Vietnam has transformed from a struggling agrarian economy into a major regional economic force. In 2025, its gross domestic product had exceeded 500 billion USD, ranking fourth in ASEAN and 32nd worldwide.
With exports surpassing 900 billion USD in 2025, Vietnam now stands among the world’s top 15–25 economies in terms of trade scale and economic openness, while maintaining its appeal as an investment destination thanks to strong recovery and growth momentum amid global uncertainty.
Against this backdrop, Uch Leang described the 14th Party Congress as a momentous political event that showcases the CPV’s intellect, mettle, and responsibility in guiding the nation through a new phase of development.
He voiced confidence that the Congress will further inspire the Vietnamese people’s aspiration to build a strong and prosperous country, sustaining national progress in a new era and helping Vietnam advance towards its goal of standing alongside the world’s powers. The Congress, he added, carries major significance in shaping Vietnam’s development path and accelerating the journey towards socialism./.
