The 40th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam and nationalreunification was marked with a grand ceremony at Thong Nhat(Reunification) Square in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30.
Leaders officiating the event included Party General Secretary NguyenPhu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung,National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, President of the VietnamFatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, and former Party and Stateofficials.
The commemoration was also attendedby Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith, Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister Men Sam An, and Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’sCentral Committee Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera.
Representatives of Vietnamese heroic mothers of war heroes were inattendance, joining veterans who participated in the general offensiveand uprising in the South in 1975.
In hisaddress, PM Nguyen Tan Dung hailed the 1975 Spring Victory as aglorious chapter in Vietnam’s history that liberated the South andreunified the country, heralding a new era of independence andreunification and building Vietnam into a strong nation with prosperouspeople and a just, democratic and civilised society.
He expressed his gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh, outstandingParty and State leaders, war heroes, and people who devoted their livesto the fight for national independence and reunification.
He also thanked socialist countries, particularly the Soviet Union andChina, and peace-loving governments, organisations, and people aroundthe globe for their material and spiritual support to Vietnam’s strugglefor independence and reunification.
Though facing amultitude of challenges after accomplishing the liberation andreunification, Vietnam has exerted all-out efforts to overcome thesevere consequences of the war, prevail over trade embargos, and bravelyprotect its northern and southwestern borders, the leader said, addingthat the country had also helped Cambodia escape from the genocidalKhmer Rouge regime.
Highlighting the country’sachievements after 30 years of its ‘doi moi’ (reform) policy, the PMnoted that from an underdeveloped nation, Vietnam has become a middleincome developing country with an annual average growth of 7 percent andan estimated per capita GDP in 2015 of 2,200 USD.
The poverty rate fell sharply to less than 6 percent while lifeexpectancy increased from 64.8 in 1986, when the ‘doi moi’ started,to 73.5 this year. Vietnam has also fulfilled most of theUnited Nations Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, he said.
The country has firmly ensured defense, security,and national sovereignty while actively promoting foreignaffairs and international integration, he added, elaborating thatVietnam has established diplomatic, trade and investment relations withalmost all countries and territories around the world. It currentlyhouses more than 18,200 FDI projects with total registered capital of256 billion USD.
Vietnam’s global standinghas been growing, and the country is grateful and looking forward tothe continued support and effective assistance of the internationalcommunity, the PM said.
He called upon theentire country to bring patriotism into full play, accelerate the ‘doimoi’ process, reinforce national solidarity, build a strong politicalsystem, ensure political and social stability, and attain rapid andsustainable socio-economic development, thus forming a solid cornerstonefor Vietnam to soon become a modern industrialised country.
In his address, he stressed that Vietnam persistently pursues thepolicy of being a friend, a trustworthy partner, and a responsiblemember of the international community; respecting independence,sovereignty, territorial integrity; not interfering in other countries’internal affairs; and contributing to peace, national independence,democracy, and social progress in the world.
Healso underlined the trust that the Party, State, and people put in theyouth who will make great efforts to master modern science andtechnology and make self-improvement to succeed the revolutionary causeby former generations and support national development.
At the celebration, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thai, formerPolitical Commissar of Division 7 under Army Corps 4, recounted theresounding triumphs in Vietnam’s history, especially the decisivevictory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign that liberated Saigon (now Ho ChiMinh City) four decades ago. He expressed his belief that Vietnam willsucceed in the national reform, development and protection.
Representing the youth, Nguyen Dao Phuong Thuy, a student of the HCMCity-based University of Law, emphasised that the nowadays younggeneration is well aware of their responsibility of contributing to thenational development, and they commit to studying and striving for aprosperous Vietnam.
Following the speeches, theforces of the Vietnam People’s Army and Police went on parade, joined byrepresentatives of people from all social strata, showcasing thenation’s united aspirations for peace and prosperity.-VNA
Leaders officiating the event included Party General Secretary NguyenPhu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung,National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, President of the VietnamFatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, and former Party and Stateofficials.
The commemoration was also attendedby Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith, Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister Men Sam An, and Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’sCentral Committee Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera.
Representatives of Vietnamese heroic mothers of war heroes were inattendance, joining veterans who participated in the general offensiveand uprising in the South in 1975.
In hisaddress, PM Nguyen Tan Dung hailed the 1975 Spring Victory as aglorious chapter in Vietnam’s history that liberated the South andreunified the country, heralding a new era of independence andreunification and building Vietnam into a strong nation with prosperouspeople and a just, democratic and civilised society.
He expressed his gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh, outstandingParty and State leaders, war heroes, and people who devoted their livesto the fight for national independence and reunification.
He also thanked socialist countries, particularly the Soviet Union andChina, and peace-loving governments, organisations, and people aroundthe globe for their material and spiritual support to Vietnam’s strugglefor independence and reunification.
Though facing amultitude of challenges after accomplishing the liberation andreunification, Vietnam has exerted all-out efforts to overcome thesevere consequences of the war, prevail over trade embargos, and bravelyprotect its northern and southwestern borders, the leader said, addingthat the country had also helped Cambodia escape from the genocidalKhmer Rouge regime.
Highlighting the country’sachievements after 30 years of its ‘doi moi’ (reform) policy, the PMnoted that from an underdeveloped nation, Vietnam has become a middleincome developing country with an annual average growth of 7 percent andan estimated per capita GDP in 2015 of 2,200 USD.
The poverty rate fell sharply to less than 6 percent while lifeexpectancy increased from 64.8 in 1986, when the ‘doi moi’ started,to 73.5 this year. Vietnam has also fulfilled most of theUnited Nations Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, he said.
The country has firmly ensured defense, security,and national sovereignty while actively promoting foreignaffairs and international integration, he added, elaborating thatVietnam has established diplomatic, trade and investment relations withalmost all countries and territories around the world. It currentlyhouses more than 18,200 FDI projects with total registered capital of256 billion USD.
Vietnam’s global standinghas been growing, and the country is grateful and looking forward tothe continued support and effective assistance of the internationalcommunity, the PM said.
He called upon theentire country to bring patriotism into full play, accelerate the ‘doimoi’ process, reinforce national solidarity, build a strong politicalsystem, ensure political and social stability, and attain rapid andsustainable socio-economic development, thus forming a solid cornerstonefor Vietnam to soon become a modern industrialised country.
In his address, he stressed that Vietnam persistently pursues thepolicy of being a friend, a trustworthy partner, and a responsiblemember of the international community; respecting independence,sovereignty, territorial integrity; not interfering in other countries’internal affairs; and contributing to peace, national independence,democracy, and social progress in the world.
Healso underlined the trust that the Party, State, and people put in theyouth who will make great efforts to master modern science andtechnology and make self-improvement to succeed the revolutionary causeby former generations and support national development.
At the celebration, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thai, formerPolitical Commissar of Division 7 under Army Corps 4, recounted theresounding triumphs in Vietnam’s history, especially the decisivevictory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign that liberated Saigon (now Ho ChiMinh City) four decades ago. He expressed his belief that Vietnam willsucceed in the national reform, development and protection.
Representing the youth, Nguyen Dao Phuong Thuy, a student of the HCMCity-based University of Law, emphasised that the nowadays younggeneration is well aware of their responsibility of contributing to thenational development, and they commit to studying and striving for aprosperous Vietnam.
Following the speeches, theforces of the Vietnam People’s Army and Police went on parade, joined byrepresentatives of people from all social strata, showcasing thenation’s united aspirations for peace and prosperity.-VNA
