PM's speech at National Day Banquet

Excellency Ambassador Jorge Rondon Uzcategui of Venezuela, Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,

Excellencies Ambassadors, Chargés d’Affaires and Chief Representatives of International Organizations to Ha Noi,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

On behalf of the leaderships of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, I warmly welcome all distinguished guests – our close friends - to the reception celebrating the 68^th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

On 2^nd September 1945, President Ho Chi Minh delivered the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the birth of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

In the past 68 years, the Vietnamese people always stand united as one to rise above all ordeals and hardships with great fortitude to safeguard national independence, freedom and unification, to build and develop a strong, wealthy country with democratic, just and advanced society, and to contribute to peace and progressiveness in the region and the world.

We in Viet Nam forever keep in our heart the enormous support and valuable cooperation from Governments, people, international organizations and friends across the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

We are living in a world of increasing openness, and it is getting smaller thanks to the miraculous achievements of science and technology. The trend of peace, cooperation and development remains prevailing, but dangers and challenges still exist by a significant measure. The world economy has seen signs of bottoming out, but the growth momentum is yet to be solid.

With effective, meaningful cooperation and assistance of countries and international organizations, we have been pressing ahead with economic restructuring, have maintained macroeconomic stability and growth rate, and ensured social security and welfare and political stability. Viet Nam always strives to fulfill its role as an active, responsible member of the regional and international community.

Mutually beneficial cooperation and friendship between Viet Nam and other countries and international organizations have been constantly solidified, expanded and deepened with greater effectiveness in all domains. Viet Nam and other ASEAN members have been accelerating the process of realizing the ASEAN Community, which is the common house for the Southeast Asian Nations. Various regional mechanisms have been maintained and promoted, including the East Asia Summit, APEC, ASEM, ARF, which provide the building blocks for peace, cooperation and prosperous development of Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific and the world.

Under the cooperation frameworks of the UN, Non-Aligned Movement and other multilateral arrangements, Viet Nam always makes every effort together with other countries and international organizations to strengthen cooperation, build and enhance strategic trust for conflict prevention and settlement of disagreements for the maintenance of peace, and an enabling environment for the people all over the world, especially those in needy regions.

Viet Nam hopes to continue promoting and deepening cooperation with all countries, regional and international organizations. We strongly believe that with sincere friendship, strategic trust, constructive spirit and respect for each other’s interest, we will together overcome all difficulties and challenges for a world of peace, stability and prosperous development.

Friends,

Your capacity as the representatives of countries and international organizations is high and essential, if not indispensable. You are the bridge of friendship and cooperation between your countries and organizations with Viet Nam. I hope your special role will continue to be promoted. I also hope and believe that the time you and your families living and working in Viet Nam will be those filled with warm friendship, memorable and meaningful.

With that, may I invite you all to join me in a toast:

-     To the prosperity of Viet Nam and the happiness of her people,

-     To the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and other nations, and international organizations,

-     To a world of peace, stability and prosperous development,

-     To the health and happiness of all of you all.