Full remarks by General Secretary, President To Lam at celebration marking 79th National Day of Viet Nam

Distinguished guests!

Comrades, compatriots and international friends!

Today, in the heroic atmosphere of the historic August days in Ha Noi, the capital with thousand years of culture and heroism and the city for peace, we solemnly celebrate the 79^th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

On behalf of the Party, State and People of Viet Nam, I warmly welcome and extend my sincere greetings and best wishes to the leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, Viet Nam Fatherland Front, Ambassadors, diplomats, heads of international organizations in Viet Nam, revolutionary veterans, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, distinguished guests, and all comrades, compatriots nationwide, overseas Vietnamese.

Comrades, compatriots and international friends!

On September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, solemnly announcing to the world the birth of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Over the past 79 years, under the leadership of the Party, following his call, echoing the Oath of Independence, with the immortal thought "Nothing is more precious than Independence and Freedom, the entire Vietnamese people have united in heart and mind, all as one, together with pure international solidarity, Viet Nam has gained victory after victory, liberating the nation, unifying the country, and successfully carrying out the renovation process, and steadily moving towards socialism.

From a land without a name on the world map, from a war-torn country, Viet Nam has risen to become a symbol of peace, stability, hospitality, and a destination for international investors and tourists.

From a backward economy, Viet Nam has emerged to be among the top 40 leading economies, with a trade volume in the top 20 economies in the world, an important link in 16 free trade agreements involving 60 major economies in the region and the world.

From an isolated country, Viet Nam has established diplomatic relations with 193 countries around the globe, strategic and comprehensive partnerships with 30 countries including all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major countries, and is an active member of more than 70 regional and international organizations.

As happiness and prosperity as the goal to strive for, Viet Nam is considered by the United Nations and international friends as a success story, a bright spot in poverty reduction, constantly improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

The great achievements gained after 79 years of the country's founding came as a result of the patriotism, the great national solidarity, the will of self-reliance and self-improvement, and the strong desire for independence, freedom and happiness of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam; together with the wise and talented leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam – a Party that always considers serving the people as its way of life and goal, always absolutely and indefinitely stays loyal to the interests of the nation and the people, as President Ho Chi Minh once said "a part from the interests of the Fatherland and the people, our Party has no other interests, which have helped the Party to steer the boat of revolution and lead the country to sail through ups and downs and create many miracles.

Looking back over the past 79-year journey, we express our boundless gratitude to the immense contributions of great President Ho Chi Minh – the genius leader of our Party and our people, of our predecessors including late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, of millions of heroic martyrs who bravely fought and sacrificed for the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland, for socialism and noble international obligations, as well as the great contributions of the people who have sacrificed themselves to build and defend our beloved socialist Fatherland of Viet Nam. We always stick in our mind and express our deep gratitude for the valuable support and assistance that international friends and people around the world have offered to Viet Nam.

Comrades, compatriots and friends!

The Party, State and people of Viet Nam are doubling efforts to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13^th National Party Congress, towards the 80^th anniversary of independence, the 50h anniversary of national reunification, stay determined to realize the development goals by 2030, the 100^th founding anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in 2045, making Viet Nam a developed and high-income country in which the people have a prosperous and happy life, live in a secure and safety environment with no one left behind.

We are resolved to fulfill the wish in Uncle Ho's will in which he wrote "Our entire Party and people unite to strive to build a peaceful, united, independent, democratic, prosperous and strong Viet Nam, and make worthy contributions to the world's revolutionary cause.

In the context of global landscape with both opportunities and challenges, Viet Nam, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam will certainly enter the a new era, an era of rising up, constantly striving, making greater contributions to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world by promoting the spirit of self-reliance, self-confidence, and national pride, taking the great national solidarity and pure international solidarity as the driving force, strongly mobilizing the people's strength, closely linking the Party's will with the people's hearts as the foundation.

The Party, State and people of Viet Nam wish to continue to receive support and cooperation from friends, partners and peace-loving people around the world, in which diplomats, heads of international organizations in Viet Nam and foreign investors play the bridging role in the process of national construction and development.

We firmly believe that, together, we will overcome all challenges, seize opportunities to join hands to build a world of peace and sustainable development, and shape a fair international political and and economic order based on the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Finally, I wish all distinguished guests, compatriots, comrades and international friends good health, happiness, and to join together on the path of building a prosperous, democratic, fair and civilized Viet Nam, and for the Vietnamese people to have a prosperous and happy life, towards a better future for all humanity.

Thank you very much!

For reference only