The people's unity under the leadership of the Vietnam Communist Party was a key component in the war against the US four decades ago, said participants attending a State seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3-4.

The seminar titled Great Victory in Spring 1975 – the Power of Will for the Country's Reunification and Aspiration for Peace was organised by the Ministry of National Defense, the Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity and Education, and HCM City's Party Committee to mark the 40th anniversary of the victory of the country's reunification.

Besides the presence of leaders and former leaders, a letter from President Truong Tan Sang was read during the event, which was held to educate officials, soldiers and people about the previous generations' revolutionary tradition, which paved the way to the country's industrialisation and modernisation.

Nguyen Thanh Cung, Deputy Minister of National Defense, who delivered the opening speech, said the victory after 21 years of fighting the Americans in the harshest military conflict after the Second World War was the result of the leadership of the Communist Party, combined with the power of the people who aspired for peace as well as the country's reunification.

Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, Deputy Minister of National Defence, said the victory helped liberate the people from war between 1945 and 1975 under the leadership of the Party and the international community.

Le Thanh Hai, Politburo member and Secretary of HCM City's Party Committee, said the people of Sai Gon – Gia Dinh, the Southern region and the entire country 40 years ago sought reunification.

The power of the people converged with the Ho Chi Minh Operation, which helped to liberate Vietnam's Southern region on April 30, 1975.

"The victory was recorded in the world's history as a great victory of the 20th century. It came from the power of national unity and the strong determination of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the people to free the country," Hai said.

Hai said the seminar would help explain how Vietnam, a small country, defeated two world powers – France and the US – within a 30-year period.

Forty years, after the victory, HCM City is the country's biggest economic hub and a site of economic and cultural exchange with other countries.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the seminar, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, said that besides the intelligent leadership of the Party and the army, Vietnamese people's aspiration for peace was essential for the victory.

Through the seminar, participants explained the reasons for the victory and withdrew lessons from the event.

The seminar received 101 reports contributed by army generals, scientists and researchers

It focused on the role of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh's leadership and guidelines for the victory, Vietnamese people's will in liberating the southern region and reunifying the country, and the spirit and creativity of the army during the war as well as the supporting role of the citizens.-VNA