Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered his best wishes to incumbent and former leaders of the Party and State as well as the entire Vietnamese people yesterday on the occasion of the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Those attending the get-together in Ha Noi included former Party General secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, and Politburo member and President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan.

The Party chief highlighted important achievements reached in 2015, including growth beyond expectations, a stabilised macro-economy and accelerated economic restructuring.

While people's living standards were improved at home, external activities and international integration helped promote Viet Nam's stature in the world.

Defence and security were enhanced, and national sovereignty was safeguarded. The 13th National Assembly approved a number of laws which institutionalise the 2013 Constitution and meet the demands of the new phase of national development, Trong said.

He also underlined the success of the congresses of all-level Party organisations and the 12th National Party Congress, adding that those achievements were garnered thanks to efforts of the entire nation under the Party's leadership and the State's effective management.

At the gathering, the leader expressed gratitude to revolutionary veterans, officials, Party members, soldiers, and people at home and abroad for their contributions to the nation's revolutionary cause.

He sent best wishes to officers and soldiers who are safeguarding the country's territorial and maritime sovereignty. He also thanked foreign organisations and friends for supporting Viet Nam.

2016 is the first year that the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020 will begin to be implemented, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said. The 14th National Assembly and all-level People's Councils will be elected this year, and the State apparatus from central to grassroots levels will also be fine-tuned, he said.

International and domestic situations pose various opportunities along with challenges, which require the entire Party, people and army to exert their utmost efforts to accomplish the missions set for this year, Trong said.

Trong meets professionals

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met nearly 150 outstanding intellectuals, scientists and artists in Ha Noi yesterday, hailing them as an important resource for national development.

Participants thanked the Party and State for providing support for their activities and expressed their determination to fulfill the goals set by the 12th National Party Congress.

The Party chief attributed the success of the Congress to the efforts of people from all walks of life, including intellectuals, scientists and artists.

Each person should uphold the spirit of patriotism and the power of national unity to materialise the resolution adopted by the Congress as well as the 2016 socio-economic development blueprint and successfully hold the 14th National Assembly election and the all-level People's Councils elections for the 2016-2021 tenure, he said.

The leader took the occasion to pledge all possible assistance to intellectuals, scientists and artists nationwide and wished them more success in the New Year.

Leaders pay tribute

A delegation of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) yesterday paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Ha Noi on the 86th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party.

Attending the ceremony were Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and President of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Former Party, State, NA and Politburo members were also present at the ceremony to show their respect and gratitude to the late President – the founder of the Party.

The delegation also laid a wreath at the Monument to War Heroes and Martyrs.

On the same day, delegations from the Central Military Commission, the ministries of Defence and Public Security, and the Party Committee and People's Committee of Ha Noi, also showed their respect to President Ho Chi Minh, heroes and martyrs.

The establishment of the Communist Party on February 3, 1930 was an important turning point in the country's revolutionary history, marking a milestone on its development path.

Over the past 86 years, under the leadership of the Party, Viet Nam has overcome many difficulties and challenges, and achieved great accomplishments during the reform process.

Celebrations

A series of activities have been held across the country to mark the 86th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

At a ceremony held by the Party Committee of southern Binh Duong province on February 2, Secretary Tran Van Nam recalled the 86-year tradition of the Party.

After more than 40 years of the country's reunification and 19 years of the province's re-establishment, Binh Duong has become a developed locality with a high speed of industrialisation and urbanisation in the key southern economic zone, he stated.

A similar event was also organised by the Party Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, during which municipal leaders asked local Party organisations and authorities to effectively implement the recently-closed 12th National Party Congress's Resolution and the 13th municipal Party Congress's resolution.

Earlier, a delegation from the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region and the municipal Party Committee paid tribute to the city's martyr cemetery and laid a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh Monument at Ninh Kieu wharf.

Also the same day, Party members in the northern province of Thai Binh also offered incense at Uncle Ho Memorial to show respect to the late President Ho Chi Minh.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue visited the local Ho Chi Minh Museum and offered incense at Hue City's martyr cemetery on this occasion. 

VNS