Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has extended his thanks and New Year greetings to all veteran revolutionaries, leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and the Vietnam Fatherland Front, people and soldiers nationwide and overseas Vietnamese.

Speaking at a meeting on February 14, just days before the start of the Year of the Goat, the Party General Secretary also sent his thanks to foreign organisations and friendly countries for their cooperation with and support for Vietnam.

“Our country has made remarkable achievements in 2014 despite numerous difficulties and challenges in both the international and domestic situations,” he said, citing a three-year high GDP growth rate of 5.98 percent, stabilised macro-economy and major economic balances, inflation under control and well-ensured social security and welfare.

The Party leader also noted that national defence has been strengthened, helping ensure national sovereignty and national security and social order and safety, while external activities were boosted, enhancing the country’s prestige in the international arena.

At the same time, progress was seen in strengthening the Party and the political system through the implementation of the Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee on Party building and the campaign of following the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh, he said.

The fight against corruption and wastefulness has gained speed and democracy has been enhanced in the Party and society, he said, attributing the achievements to the great efforts made by the entire nation under the close and sound leadership of the Party, the proactive management of the State, which demonstrate the will, the strong brainpower and strength of the national unity bloc.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said the key tasks for 2015 are to fulfil socio-economic goals by focusing efforts on removing difficulties for production and business activities, carrying out strategic breakthroughs and economic restructuring in combination with shifting the growth model for a higher growth rate.

He noted that this is also a year when Party organisations at all levels hold congresses for the 2015-2020 tenure and prepare for the 12th Party National Congress while continuing to push forward with the implementation of the Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee and the campaign on following the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh, thus creating greater progress in Party building work.

The Party leader called on the Party, the people and armed forces as a whole to uphold unity, patriotism, national traditions and their firm will to overcome all challenges to build an increasingly prosperous and happy country.

VNA