The 40th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam and national
reunification 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 Nguyen
Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung,
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, President of the Vietnam
Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, and former Party and State
officials.
The commemoration was also attended
by Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith, Cambodian Deputy Prime
Minister Men Sam An, and Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’s
Central Committee Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabrera.
Representatives of Vietnamese heroic mothers of war heroes were in
attendance, joining veterans who participated in the general offensive
and uprising in the South in 1975.
In his
address, PM Nguyen Tan Dung hailed t he 1975 Spring Victory as a
glorious chapter in Vietnam’s history that liberated the South and
reunified the country, heralding a new era of independence and
reunification and building Vietnam into a strong nation with prosperous
people and a just, democratic and civilised society.
He expressed his gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh, outstanding
Party and State leaders, war heroes, and people who devoted their lives
to the fight for national independence and reunification.
He also thanked socialist countries, particularly the Soviet Union and
China, and peace-loving governments, organisations, and people around
the globe for their material and spiritual support to Vietnam’s struggle
for independence and reunification.
Though facing a
multitude of challenges after accomplishing the liberation and
reunification, Vietnam has exerted all-out efforts to overcome the
severe consequences of the war, prevail over trade embargos, and bravely
protect its northern and southwestern borders, the leader said, adding
that the country had also helped Cambodia escape from the genocidal
Khmer Rouge regime.
Highlighting the country’s
achievements after 30 years of its ‘doi moi’ (reform) policy, the PM
noted that from an underdeveloped nation, Vietnam has become a middle
income developing country with an annual average growth of 7 percent and
an estimated per capita GDP in 2015 of 2,200 USD.
The poverty rate fell sharply to less than 6 percent while life
expectancy increased from 64.8 in 1986, when the ‘doi moi’ started,
to 73.5 this year. Vietnam has also fulfilled most of the
United Nations Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, he said.
The country has firmly ensured defense, security,
and national sovereignty while actively promoting foreign
affairs and international integration, he added, elaborating that
Vietnam has established diplomatic, trade and investment relations with
almost all countries and territories around the world. It currently
houses more than 18,200 FDI projects with total registered capital of
256 billion USD.
Vietnam’s global standing
has been growing, and the country is grateful and looking forward to
the continued support and effective assistance of the international
community, the PM said.
He called upon the
entire country to bring patriotism into full play, accelerate the ‘doi
moi’ process, reinforce national solidarity, build a strong political
system, ensure political and social stability, and attain rapid and
sustainable socio-economic development, thus forming a solid cornerstone
for Vietnam to soon become a modern industrialised country.
In his address, he stressed that Vietnam persistently pursues the
policy of being a friend, a trustworthy partner, and a responsible
member 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.
He
also underlined the trust that the Party, State, and people put in the
youth who will make great efforts to master modern science and
technology and make self-improvement to succeed the revolutionary cause
by former generations and support national development.
At the celebration, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thai, former
Political Commissar of Division 7 under Army Corps 4, recounted the
resounding triumphs in Vietnam’s history, especially the decisive
victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign that liberated Saigon (now Ho Chi
Minh City) four decades ago. He expressed his belief that Vietnam will
succeed in the national reform, development and protection.
Representing the youth, Nguyen Dao Phuong Thuy, a student of the HCM
City-based University of Law, emphasised that the nowadays young
generation is well aware of their responsibility of contributing to the
national development, and they commit to studying and striving for a
prosperous Vietnam.
Following the speeches, the
forces of the Vietnam People’s Army and Police went on parade, joined by
representatives of people from all social strata, showcasing the
nation’s united aspirations for peace and prosperity.-VNA