Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has hailed the Vietnam War Veterans’ Association for its past achievements, making practical contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister delivered the praise at a working session with leaders of the association in Hanoi on June 18.

The Government leader expressed his wish that the association will continue bringing into full play its gained results, further upgrading political thought for its members, consolidating political will, revolutionary morality, upholding the nature of “Uncle Ho soldiers”, fighting against wrong thinking and defeating ill plots of hostile forces.

It is important to increase awareness of the Party and Government’s policies among veterans, thus creating good examples for citizens from all walks of life, playing an active part in national construction and defence, the Prime Minister said.

Chairman of the association Nguyen Van Duoc reported that his agency’s operations in the past years have been expanded with prominent results shown in the movement of veterans helping each other do business, and reducing poverty. He said that in 2012, nearly 30,000 veteran households were removed from the list of poor cases.

In addition, the association has been active in combating wrong attitudes against the Party’s guidelines and the State’s legal policies in the fight against corruption, wastefulness and social crimes, the chairman added.

Duoc also called on the association’s chapters to coordinate with relevant agencies to nurture the patriotic and revolutionary tradition among the youth, effectively involving them in people-to-people foreign affairs with veterans of other countries.

During the session, the Prime Minister and leaders of ministries and central agencies gave opinions on several proposals put forth by the association.-VNA