Vietnam’s first ever general election on Jan. 6, 1946 to elect the National Assembly is a resplendent milestone in the nation’s history, marking an outstanding advance in democratic institution and opening up a new development stage of the nation.

NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made the statement on Jan. 5, 2010 at a ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary of the general election at the Hanoi Opera House where the first NA session was held.

This was the first time in history the nation had become an independent country with a State body legally representing people’s will, desire and right to mastery, which decided the country’s important issues on behalf of the people, he added.

The NA leader said that over the past 65 years with 12 tenures, the NA has unceasingly upheld the role and position as the people’s highest representative agency and the nation’s most powerful State agency. It has effectively exercised its power and carried out its tasks in accordance with the country’s constitution and law, thus making great and important contributions to national liberation, reunification, construction and defence.

He said the NA will bring into play its experiences and achievements gained over the past 65 years and continue renovating to further improve the quality and effectiveness of its activities so as to meet the nation’s political tasks and requirements in the industrialisation and modernisation process.

Addressing the event, former NA Vice Chairman Dang Quan Thuy expressed his happiness at the unceasing development of the NA, saying its sessions have grown very democratic and NA deputies have offered frank, whole-hearted and responsible opinions regarding the nation’s important issues.

He recommended that the NA further enhance its close relationship with the people, promptly deal with issues of people’s concern and continue renovating the NA’s organisation and activities and building a strong socialist law-governed State.

The NA’s celebration was attended by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Huynh Dam and many Party, State and VFF leaders and former leaders.

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the first General Election, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Huynh Dam and NA leaders and former leaders laid a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on Jan. 5.

The same day, a delegation led by NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong paid a visit to General Vo Nguyen Giap, who was a NA deputy throughout the first to the seventh tenures./.