A child's gratitude for the love of their parents and teachers must be turned into a real contribution to the country, said President Nguyen Minh Triet on May 31.

On the occasion of the International Children's Day, Triet held a meeting with students from Yen Phong district of Bac Ninh province who had overcome difficulties to achieve good results in their studies.

Addressing the children, Triet said that many of them had more favourable conditions to study and learn than in the past. He also advised them to behave well for their parents and families as well as their teachers and schools.

The President said children should always be proud of the country's traditions and of the sacrifices that generations had made for their freedom. He said he hoped children in Yen Phong District as well as the rest of the province would follow in these fine footsteps.

On the same day, President Triet took part in a meeting to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Hanoi Children's Palace.

At the meeting, the President praised the palace's achievements in the past 55 years as a place where entertainment and training activities were organised for children.

Triet noted that the palace was built right after the capital was liberated, which serves as a testament to the care and thought that the State and Hanoians dedicated to the next generation of the country.

Following the palace's success, Triet noted that the capital needed to continue improving the quality of entertainment activities for children and open more recreational centres.

The President sent his best wishes to the children in the capital and throughout the country.

Founded in 1955, the Hanoi Children's Palace is a centre for entertainment and training activities that focuses on developing children's skills.

Currently the palace serves about 40,000 children annually.

The palace now organises classes in 64 subjects in the fields of arts, sports, language and technology. It also connect benefactors with poor children through charity programmes./.