June 26, the the 8th Congress of Fatherland Front Committee is open with first session for 2014-2019 tenure. The Congress is organized in the context of the new Constitution, affirming the organization of Fatherland Front Committee as voluntary political union of social critique functions, representing the people. Thus, this time Congress is a major cornerstone in content and operation reforms to improve quality of the committee in the new stage. Thorough preparation Being aware of the meaning and the important role of the Congress, Provincial Fatherland Front Committee concentrated on the preparation for a successful Congress. Deputy Chair of Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Mr. Nguyen Huynh Dinh informed of the parallel implementation of Directive No. 25-CT/TW dated May 20, 2013 of Secretariat of Central Committee of CPV and Directive No. 31-CT/TU dated June 28, 2013 of Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee on hosting all-level Congress of Fatherland Front Committees, linked with Circular No. 24/TT-MTTQVN on guidance of Congress organization orienting to the 8th National Congress of Fatherland Front Committee. Member of Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee, Chair of Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Mr. Huynh Van Nhi presents gifts to socially-privileged and poor families in Phu Loi Ward of Thu Dau Mot City on the Festival of People’s Grand Unity. Photo by Q. Chien Standing Committee of Provincial Fatherland Front Committee decided to established 3 units to service the 8th provincial Congress including agenda, information dissemination, and services. The speech documents and related reports have been thoroughly prepared. Accordingly, the draft agenda of the Congress has been commented upon by fatherland front committees in the grassroots. The very draft agenda, then, was modified and edited together with projection of staffing before submitting to the Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee and Central Committee of Fatherland Front Committee for approval. Previously, the organization of requisite congresses of commune, ward, town, district, and Thu Dau Mot City fatherland front committees has been timely made within the agendas oriented by the central government, Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee and Standing Committee of Central Committee of Fatherland Front Committee while creatively making use of characteristics and realistic status of each locality. The organization of such congresses is the process of reinforcing structure organization and specialized staffing of Fatherland Front Committee, assuring reasonable structures, upholding the representativeness of policies and doctrine of the Party on intensifying people’s grand unity and improving role and position of the fatherland front committees in the new stage. Operation reforms Before the Congress is officially kicked off, the Standing Committee of Provincial Fatherland Front Committee held a press conference to inform of the contents and orientation of information dissemination about the Congress. Flags and flowers flourish the routes leading to the site of the Congress. Photo by Q. Chien At the press conference, Member of Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee and Chair of Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Mr. Huynh Van Nhi informed that the event is a widespread political activity to improve awareness and responsibility of the whole political system and people’s classes in the province regarding the strategic policies and pathways of the Party regarding the improvement of people’s grand unity, regarding the role of fatherland front committees in the new stage while promoting patriotism emulations as well as all the movements of fatherland front committee system in the province. The 8th Congress is to offer an opportunity of evaluating results of the previous term while identifying the results and drawbacks to improve quality operation for the success of socio-economic targets and national defense-security in accordance with Resolution of the 9th Party Congress of 2010-2015 tenure. The Congress shall have time for construction of action plans from 2014 to 2019 while contributing ideas to draft agenda of the upcoming national Congress of fatherland front committee. Aside from completion of reports summing up the previous term and orientation, duties and action plans for the next term, the Congress stays concentrated on constructing programs and plans with social inspection and critique of fatherland front committees and socio-political unions. The regulations of fatherland front committees and socio-political unions and participating people in constructing the Party and authority in accordance with Decision No. 218-QD-TW dated December 12, 2013 of the Politburo are implemented. Thorough preparation of the 8th Congress for 2014-2019 tenure of Provincial Fatherland Front Committee is the in-depth political event of the people to create new transformation of awareness and actions of the committee in the process of successful implementation of socio-economic targets, national defense and security of the province. Reported by Tri Dung – Translated by Vi Bao