Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the Mekong delta city of Can Tho to develop into a modern and civilised city, becoming a gateway for the region.

Can Tho city must be a city of industry, trade-service, tourism, education-training, science-technology, health and culture as well as an important hubfor domestic and international transport, PM Dung said at a ceremony to celebrate the 35 th anniversary of liberation of south Vietnam held in Can Tho city on April 25.

The PM underlined the city’s advantages, including its location in the southern key economic region, the recent inauguration of Can Tho bridge, the upgrade of airport and the construction of the Trung Luong-Can Tho highway and major projects as new opportunities of the city. He said the city’s party committee, administration, army and people should unite and be determined to build the city into a model urban centre and a polar of development, playing a driving force to promote the development of the region.

Can Tho, in the middle of the Mekong delta, plays a special important strategic position. In the past, the puppet regime selected Can Tho for its headquarters of region IV equipped with modern arms, depots, airport and wharf for war.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Bureau of South Vietnam, the Can Tho party committee, army and people showed their determination to win the victory. Can Tho’s liberation was announced on the Can Tho radio in the afternoon of April 30, 1975.

Over the past 35 years since liberation, Can Tho has unified, healed war wounds and focused on construction and economic development. Since Can Tho became a central city in 2004, it has obtained remarkable progresses in all aspects.

On behalf of the Party, State and Government leaders, PM Dung praised efforts and achievements made by the Can Tho City Party Committee, Administration and people.

On the same day, PM Dung attended the inauguration of the Can Tho Radio and Television Technical Centre./.