The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee held a get-together in Hanoi on May 19 to mark the 70 th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Independence Alliance Association (Viet Minh Front for short) – the VFF’s predecessor.

Speaking at the event, VFF Central Committee President Huynh Dam said the Viet Minh Front, initiated by Nguyen Ai Quoc (then President Ho Chi Minh), united and gathered all social classes, people of all strata, patriotic parties, national salvation organisations, ethnic groups and religions to repel French imperialists and Japanese fascists and set up the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The VFF had also joined hands with national, democratic and peace forces in Vietnam in leading the people to defeat US invaders in the 1975 Great Spring Victory, securing the compete liberation of South Vietnam and national reunification, he added.

“To fit that glorious tradition, the VFF commits itself to continuously strengthening its organisation, renovating contents and methods of operations and well perform its role, functions and tasks, helping promote the strength of the great national unity in socio-economic development and national construction in the transitional period to socialism, for a strong nation with wealthy people and a democratic, fair and civilised society,” Dam stressed.

He affirmed the VFF’s immediate tasks of successfully organising the elections for the 13th National Assembly and People's Council at all levels for the 2011-16 term scheduled for May 22 and mobilising people of all strata to effectively realise the government’s Resolution No. 11 on curbing inflation, stabilising the macro economy and ensuring social welfares./.